By Whose Authority?

Daily Devotional

Vessels

Day 9/26 – Earthen Vessels

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Salvation Not by Works  – Titus 3:5 (ESV)  “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”  Titus 3:5

“The ability to be a disciple is ours through the resources of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1: 3); the only factor we need to add to the equation is that of our wills.”     Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt”)

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ATTENTION MEN: Check out Zion Bootcampcoming up the first weekend in December… this is for sure a NOmiss Event …for more information and to register, click: 

11th Annual Zion Boot Camp 2019

(Please register now)

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Earthen Vessels

Day Two Hundred Sixty-nine

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

Again and again Paul reminds us of our precious Possession.  Christ who dwells in us is in sharp contrast to the container.  We are a vessel, made like a piece of pottery, destined to again return to dust.  There is nothing about us that warrants the indwelling Christ.  It matters not how great we may think we are, a drop of contaminated water or a breath of bad air can kill us.  We are frail and easily destroyed.  The earthen vessels are not just our frail bodies, but weak, suffering, perishing people.

Paul contrasts the visible means and the effects produced as proof that the sufficiency is not in us, but in God.  Any propensity to pride is quickly dispelled by the reality of this contrast between the vessel and its Possession.  God designed us in this fashion so that the power in spreading the gospel should be recognized as His.  He chose humble instruments so that all could know that the power of

the gospel could not have been produced by our own ability.

Life surrounds you with infirmity; Christ surrounds you with glory.  The infirmity is yours; the glory is God’s.  The simplicity of your vehicle calls attention to the glory of the Occupant.

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

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Isaiah 1-2 Galatians 5 (New King James Version)

Isaiah 1-2

Judah Called to Repentance

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, andHezekiah, kings of Judah.

The Wickedness of Judah

2 

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!

For the Lord has spoken:

“I have nourished and brought up children,

And they have rebelled against Me;

3 

The ox knows its owner

And the donkey its master’s [a]crib;

ButIsrael does not know,

My people do not [b]consider.”

4 

Alas, sinful nation,

A people [c]laden with iniquity,

A [d]brood of evildoers,

Children who are corrupters!

They have forsaken the Lord,

They have provoked to anger

The Holy One of Israel,

They have turned away backward.

5 

Why should you be stricken again?

You will revolt more and more.

The whole head is sick,

And the whole heart faints.

6 

From the sole of the foot even to the head,

There isno soundness in it,

Butwounds and bruises and putrefying sores;

They have not been closed or bound up,

Or soothed with ointment.

7 

Your country isdesolate,

Your cities areburned with fire;

Strangers devour your land in your presence;

And it isdesolate, as overthrown by strangers.

8 

So the daughter of Zion is left as a [e]booth in a vineyard,

As a hut in a garden of cucumbers,

As a besieged city.

9 

Unless the Lord of hosts

Had left to us a very small remnant,

We would have become like Sodom,

We would have been made like Gomorrah.

10 

Hear the word of the Lord,

You rulers of Sodom;

Give ear to the law of our God,

You people of Gomorrah:

11 

“To what purpose isthe multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”

Says the Lord.

“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

And the fat of fed cattle.

I do not delight in the blood of bulls,

Or of lambs or goats.

12 

“When you come to appear before Me,

Who has required this from your hand,

To trample My courts?

13 

Bring no more futile[f] sacrifices;

Incense is an abomination to Me.

The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—

I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

14 

Your New Moons and your appointed feasts

My soul hates;

They are a trouble to Me,

I am weary of bearing them.

15 

When you [g]spread out your hands,

I will hide My eyes from you;

Even though you make many prayers,

I will not hear.

Your hands are full of [h]blood.

16 

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.

Cease to do evil,

17 

Learn to do good;

Seek justice,

Rebuke [i]the oppressor;

[j]Defend the fatherless,

Plead for the widow.

18 

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool.

19 

If you are willing and obedient,

You shall eat the good of the land;

20 

But if you refuse and rebel,

You shall be devoured by the sword”;

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

The Degenerate City

21 

How the faithful city has become a [k]harlot!

It was full of justice;

Righteousness lodged in it,

But now murderers.

22 

Your silver has become dross,

Your wine mixed with water.

23 

Your princes arerebellious,

And companions of thieves;

Everyone loves bribes,

And follows after rewards.

They do not defend the fatherless,

Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

24 

Therefore the Lord says,

The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,

“Ah, I will [l]rid Myself of My adversaries,

And [m]take vengeance on My enemies.

25 

I will turn My hand against you,

And thoroughly[n] purge away your dross,

And take away all your alloy.

26 

I will restore your judges as at the first,

And your counselors as at the beginning.

Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”

27 

Zion shall be redeemed with justice,

And her [o]penitents with righteousness.

28 

The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall betogether,

And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.

29 

For [p]they shall be ashamed of the [q]terebinth trees

Which you have desired;

And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens

Which you have chosen.

30 

For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,

And as a garden that has no water.

31 

The strong shall be as tinder,

And the work of it as a spark;

Both will burn together,

And no one shall quench them.

The Future House of God

2 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days

Thatthe mountain of the Lord’s house

Shall be established on the top of the mountains,

And shall be exalted above the hills;

And all nations shall flow to it.

3 

Many people shall come and say,

“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

To the house of the God of Jacob;

He will teach us His ways,

And we shall walk in His paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 

He shall judge between the nations,

And rebuke many people;

They shall beat their swords into plowshares,

And their spears into pruning [r]hooks;

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

Neither shall they learn war anymore.

The Day of the Lord

5 

O house of Jacob, come and let us walk

In the light of the Lord.

6 

For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob,

Because they are filled with eastern ways;

They aresoothsayers like the Philistines,

And they [s]are pleased with the children of foreigners.

7 

Their land is also full of silver and gold,

And there is no end to their treasures;

Their land is also full of horses,

And there is no end to their chariots.

8 

Their land is also full of idols;

They worship the work of their own hands,

That which their own fingers have made.

9 

People bow down,

And each man humbles himself;

Therefore do not forgive them.

10 

Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust,

From the terror of the Lord

And the glory of His majesty.

11 

The [t]lofty looks of man shall be humbled,

The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,

And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

12 

For the day of the Lord of hosts

Shall comeupon everything proud and lofty,

Upon everything lifted up—

And it shall be brought low—

13 

Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that arehigh and lifted up,

And upon all the oaks of Bashan;

14 

Upon all the high mountains,

And upon all the hills that arelifted up;

15 

Upon every high tower,

And upon every fortified wall;

16 

Upon all the ships of Tarshish,

And upon all the beautiful sloops.

17 

The [u]loftiness of man shall be bowed down,

And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;

The Lord alone will be exalted in that day,

18 

But the idols [v]He shall utterly abolish.

19 

They shall go into the holes of the rocks,

And into the caves of the [w]earth,

From the terror of the Lord

And the glory of His majesty,

When He arises to shake the earth mightily.

20 

In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver

And his idols of gold,

Which they made, eachfor himself to worship,

To the moles and bats,

21 

To go into the clefts of the rocks,

And into the crags of the rugged rocks,

From the terror of the Lord

And the glory of His majesty,

When He arises to shake the earth mightily.

22 

Sever[x] yourselves from such a man,

Whose breath isin his nostrils;

For [y]of what account is he?

Footnotes:

  • Isaiah 1:3 mangeror feed trough
  • Isaiah 1:3 understand
  • Isaiah 1:4 Lit. heavy, weighed down
  • Isaiah 1:4 offspring, seed
  • Isaiah 1:8 shelter
  • Isaiah 1:13 worthless
  • Isaiah 1:15 Pray
  • Isaiah 1:15 bloodshed
  • Isaiah 1:17 Some ancient vss. the oppressed
  • Isaiah 1:17 Vindicate
  • Isaiah 1:21 Unfaithful
  • Isaiah 1:24 be relieved of
  • Isaiah 1:24 avenge Myself
  • Isaiah 1:25 refine with lye
  • Isaiah 1:27 Lit. returners
  • Isaiah 1:29 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; some Heb. mss., Tg. you
  • Isaiah 1:29 Sites of pagan worship
  • Isaiah 2:4 knives
  • Isaiah 2:6 Or clap, shake hands to make bargains with the children
  • Isaiah 2:11 proud
  • Isaiah 2:17 pride
  • Isaiah 2:18 Or shall utterly vanish
  • Isaiah 2:19 Lit. dust
  • Isaiah 2:22 Lit. Cease yourselves from the man
  • Isaiah 2:22 Lit. in what is he to be esteemed

Galatians 5

Christian Liberty

5 Stand[a] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is [b]a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt tobe justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not comefrom Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even [c]cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not useliberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, evenin this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Walking in the Spirit

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [d]adultery, [e]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [f]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told youin time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [g]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who areChrist’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Footnotes:

  • Galatians 5:1 NU For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore, and
  • Galatians 5:3 obligated
  • Galatians 5:12 mutilate themselves
  • Galatians 5:19 NU omits adultery
  • Galatians 5:19 sexual immorality
  • Galatians 5:21 NU omits murders
  • Galatians 5:23 meekness

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PRAYER REQUESTS 

Please continue to Pray for Lisa Long and her family …  UPDATE: as you know, Lisa was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday, September 18, on her eyes… awaiting an update as to the results of that surgery, we just found out she did not have the surgery. Prior to the scheduled surgery, she fell out of bed resulting in dislocating her shoulder, and because of the bleeding and swelling, the doctor postponed the surgery. We continue to Pray for His Miraculous Holy Touch on Lisa and those surrounding her. 

Please continue to Pray for Darrell Blalock who has Parkinson’s disease.  Pray for Darrell to become closer to the Lord. 

Please continue to Pray for John LaPorte whose doing ministry at UNLV … a student named Tyler is propaganda machine for the enemy… he continuously interrupts their ministry.  Pray God will intervene and radically save Tyler and that our God will use Tyler to bring many to Christ.  (Please continue to Pray for God’s supernatural strength of the witnessing group members as several are weakening.)

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Brother JohnLaPorte reports… Bryce, a UNLV student who recently received the Lord and came from occult background is engaging Tyler and defending the Faith. Please Pray for God to Grow Bryce and use him in a Holy Mighty Way.    

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

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

Please pray for Lisa Greene who is having both her hips replaced… Pray for her surgeon and her quickly for coverage and that God will be seen in her.  

Please continue to  Pray for Brother Lance going through perilous times. Pray he would let God’s strength and peace show through his weakness and his testimony be a Blessing to many. 

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

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

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

II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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

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

Please Pray for Brother Robert traveling to preach in several churches in several states. 

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 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 Pro-Life ministries 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.

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 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 8/8 – Parable of the Vineyard

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Honesty  – Leviticus 19:11 (ESV)  “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.”  Leviticus 19:11

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15 “God calls you to invest in the lives of others.  If you are a follower of Christ you are in the people business giving your life helping others to grow closer to the Savior.  The only question facing you is how you go about influencing them for Christ.”     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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Parable of the Vineyard

Day Two Hundred Twenty

“‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’  But he replied to one of them, ·Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you.'”  Matthew 20:12-14

Three factors determine what pay an employee” receives: The amount of time invested (if paid by the hour), the ability of the employee, and the profit he brings to the company.  Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven is determined by faithfulness to opportunity rather than by any of these three.  In the parable the owner selected people to work in the vineyard at various times of the day.  The owner decided when the laborer entered.  God decides how long each person spends in His vineyard.  At the end of the day each was paid the same amount.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were two of Christ’s disciples.  James was the first to die at the hand of Herod, and his brother John, in all probability was one of the last of the disciples to die. John spent about 60 years longer in God’s vineyard than his brother James.  If the length of time each spent in the vineyard determined their wage, then James was punished for being a martyr.

God distributes in unequal amounts certain gifts, abilities, and opportunities. The sickly person with few gifts who dies early is not handicapped in the economy of God.  Your reward in heaven will not be determined by what God gave you, but by what you do with what God gave you and why you do it.

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Psalm 74-76 Romans 9:16-33 (New King James Version)

Psalm 74-76

A Plea for Relief from Oppressors

A [a]Contemplation of Asaph.

74 

O God, why have You cast usoff forever?

Whydoes Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2 

Remember Your congregation, whichYou have purchased of old,

The tribe of Your inheritance, whichYou have redeemed—

This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.

3 

Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.

The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4 

Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;

They set up their banners forsigns.

5 

They seem like men who lift up

Axes among the thick trees.

6 

And now they break down its carved work, all at once,

With axes and hammers.

7 

They have set fire to Your sanctuary;

They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

8 

They said in their hearts,

“Let us [b]destroy them altogether.”

They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 

We do not see our signs;

There isno longer any prophet;

Nor is thereany among us who knows how long.

10 

O God, how long will the adversary [c]reproach?

Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

11 

Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?

Take itout of Your bosom and destroy them.

12 

For God ismy King from of old,

Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 

You divided the sea by Your strength;

You broke the heads of the [d]sea serpents in the waters.

14 

You broke the heads of [e]Leviathan in pieces,

Andgave him asfood to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 

You broke open the fountain and the flood;

You dried up mighty rivers.

16 

The day isYours, the night also isYours;

You have prepared the light and the sun.

17 

You have set all the borders of the earth;

You have made summer and winter.

18 

Remember this, thatthe enemy has reproached, O Lord,

And thata foolish people has blasphemed Your name.

19 

Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!

Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.

20 

Have respect to the covenant;

For the [f]dark places of the earth are full of the [g]haunts of [h]cruelty.

21 

Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!

Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22 

Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;

Remember how the foolish man [i]reproaches You daily.

23 

Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;

The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

Thanksgiving for God’s Righteous Judgment

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do[j] Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

75 

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!

For Your wondrous works declare thatYour name is near.

2 

“When I choose the [k]proper time,

I will judge uprightly.

3 

The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved;

I set up its pillars firmly. Selah

4 

“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’

And to the wicked, ‘Do not [l]lift up the horn.

5 

Do not lift up your horn on high;

Do notspeak with [m]a stiff neck.’ ”

6 

For exaltation comesneither from the east

Nor from the west nor from the south.

7 

But God isthe Judge:

He puts down one,

And exalts another.

8 

For in the hand of the Lord there isa cup,

And the wine is red;

It is fully mixed, and He pours it out;

Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth

Drain anddrink down.

9 

But I will declare forever,

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 

“All the [n]horns of the wicked I will also cut off,

Butthe horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”

The Majesty of God in Judgment

To the Chief Musician. On [o]stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

76 

In Judah God isknown;

His name isgreat in Israel.

2 

In [p]Salem also is His tabernacle,

And His dwelling place in Zion.

3 

There He broke the arrows of the bow,

The shield and sword of battle. Selah

4 

You aremore glorious and excellent

Thanthe mountains of prey.

5 

The stouthearted were plundered;

They [q]have sunk into their sleep;

And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands.

6 

At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,

Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

7 

You, Yourself, areto be feared;

And who may stand in Your presence

When once You are angry?

8 

You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;

The earth feared and was still,

9 

When God arose to judgment,

To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah

10 

Surely the wrath of man shall praise You;

With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.

11 

Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them;

Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.

12 

He shall cut off the spirit of princes;

He isawesome to the kings of the earth.

Footnotes:

  • Psalm 74:1 Heb. Maschil
  • Psalm 74:8 oppress
  • Psalm 74:10 revile
  • Psalm 74:13 sea monsters
  • Psalm 74:14 A large sea creature of unknown identity
  • Psalm 74:20 hiding places
  • Psalm 74:20 homes
  • Psalm 74:20 violence
  • Psalm 74:22 revilesor taunts
  • Psalm 75:1 Heb. Al Tashcheth
  • Psalm 75:2 appointed
  • Psalm 75:4 Raise the head proudly like a horned animal
  • Psalm 75:5 Insolent pride
  • Psalm 75:10 Strength
  • Psalm 76:1 Heb. neginoth
  • Psalm 76:2 Jerusalem
  • Psalm 76:5 Lit. have slumbered their sleep

Romans 9:16-33

16 So then it isnot of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

22 Whatif God, wanting to show Hiswrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25 As He says also in Hosea:

“I will call them My people, who were not My people,

And her beloved, who was not beloved.”

26 

“And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,

‘You arenot My people,’

There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,

The remnant will be saved.

28 

For [a]He will finish the work and cut itshort in righteousness,

Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”

29 And as Isaiah said before:

“Unless the Lord of [b]Sabaoth had left us a seed,

We would have become like Sodom,

And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

Present Condition of Israel

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law [c]of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they didnot seek itby faith, but as it were, [d]by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,

And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Footnotes:

  • Romans 9:28 NU the Lord will finish the work and cut it short upon the earth
  • Romans 9:29 Lit., in Heb., Hosts
  • Romans 9:31 NU omits of righteousness
  • Romans 9:32 NU by works,omitting of the law

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PRAYER REQUESTS 

Please Pray for the Second Saturdays Event coming up this Saturday, August 10, at 7pm (PST).  Pray God’s Spirit would move mightily in the men’s hearts and there would be both an inward and outward change in each man attending.  

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please continue to Pray for Brother John LaPorte’s roommate, Brother Freddy, whose commitment to Christ caused his wife to separate from him for 6 years. The couple have 2 daughters. 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 Pray for our President and ALL our government leaders of both parties. Pray they would submit their authority to His Authority and ask for His Wisdom in directing the affairs of our nation.  Please Pray that God would open their eyes and they would be obedient to His Will. 

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

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

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

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

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

Please continue to Pray for 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 6/11 – Two Kinds of Vessels

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Is there Fruit in your life?  – James‬ ‭1:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  James‬ ‭1:22

“How we read the Scripture is of integral importance because it determines whether or not we are tethered to the underlying spiritual reality of the universe, which is grounded in the authority of God. Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 11: 3, “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.” This statement expresses the reality of the authority structure that God built into the universe and human relationships and is not a solicitation of our opinion on the subject.” from “The Discipline of Delusion: How Secular Ideas Became the New Idolatry” by Jerry Bangert

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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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Two Kinds of Vessels

Day One Hundred Sixty-two

“In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble.  If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21

The context of Paul’s observation is the need for commitment if you wish to become engaged in the affairs of Christ.  In this section of his epistle to Timothy, Paul talks about commitment to the development of your own character.  He uses as an illustration what all people know to be true: people use two types of vessels.  You use one kind, such as a drinking cup, for sanitary purposes, and the other kind, such as a garbage pale, for dirty purposes.  You use both kinds, but you do not mix them.

So also God uses two kinds of vessels.  You are a vessel and God will use you. You must decide what kind of vessel you wish to be.  If you want the Lord to use you for holy purposes, you must clean up your life and live like a holy vessel. Failure on your part ensures your being used by God for ignoble purposes.

In the following verses Paul gives specific instructions on what a clean vessel looks like.  ” So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart,”236  etc. He says that you need personal holiness in order to help other people.  To become involved in the ministry is to invite people to drink deeply from your life, and who wants to drink from a dirty vessel?

236  II Timothy 2:22

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Ezra 1-2 John 19:23-42 (New King James Version)

Ezra 1-2

End of the Babylonian Captivity

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put itin writing, saying,

2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:

All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a [a]house at Jerusalem which isin Judah. 3 Who isamong you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which isin Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He isGod), which isin Jerusalem. 4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which isin Jerusalem.

5 Then the heads of the fathers’ housesof Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God [b]had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which isin Jerusalem. 6 And all those who werearound them [c]encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all thatwas willingly offered.

7 King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the [d]temple of his gods; 8 and Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 This isthe number of them: thirty gold platters, one thousand silver platters, twenty-nine knives, 10 thirty gold basins, four hundred and ten silver basins of a similar kind, andone thousand other articles. 11 All the articles of gold and silver werefive thousand four hundred. All theseSheshbazzar took with the captives who were brought from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem

2 Now these arethe people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his owncity.

2 Thosewho came with Zerubbabel wereJeshua, Nehemiah, [e]Seraiah, [f]Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, [g]Mispar, Bigvai, [h]Rehum, andBaanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the people of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; 4 the people of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; 5 the people of Arah, seven hundred and seventy-five; 6 the people of Pahath-Moab, of the people of Jeshua andJoab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve; 7 the people of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 8 the people of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five; 9 the people of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; 10 the people of [i]Bani, six hundred and forty-two; 11 the people of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three; 12 the people of Azgad, one thousand two hundred and twenty-two; 13 the people of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-six; 14 the people of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty-six; 15 the people of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four; 16 the people of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight; 17 the people of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three; 18 the people of [j]Jorah, one hundred and twelve; 19 the people of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three; 20 the people of [k]Gibbar, ninety-five; 21 the people of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three; 22 the men of Netophah, fifty-six; 23 the men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight; 24 the people of [l]Azmaveth, forty-two; 25 the people of [m]Kirjath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three; 26 the people of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one; 27 the men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; 28 the men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three; 29 the people of Nebo, fifty-two; 30 the people of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six; 31 the people of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 32 the people of Harim, three hundred and twenty; 33 the people of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five; 34 the people of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; 35 the people of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.

36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; 37 the sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 38 the sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; 39 the sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of [n]Hodaviah, seventy-four.

41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight.

42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-nine inall.

43 The Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44 the sons of Keros, the sons of [o]Siaha, the sons of Padon, 45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, 46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, 47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, 49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of [p]Nephusim, 51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 52 the sons of [q]Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah, 54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.

55 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of [r]Peruda, 56 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, and the sons of [s]Ami. 58 All the Nethinim and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two.

59 And these werethe ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, [t]Addan, and Immer; but they could not [u]identify their father’s house or their [v]genealogy, whether they wereof Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two; 61 and of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of [w]Koz, and the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name. 62 These sought their listing amongthose who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were excludedfrom the priesthood as defiled. 63 And the [x]governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.

64 The whole assembly together wasforty-two thousand three hundred andsixty, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there wereseven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred men and women singers. 66 Their horses wereseven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 67 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and theirdonkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

68 Someof the heads of the fathers’ houses,when they came to the house of the Lord which isin Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God, to erect it in its place: 69 According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly garments.

70 So the priests and the Levites, someof the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Footnotes:

John 19:23-42

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Behold Your Mother

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wifeof Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

It Is Finished

28 After this, Jesus, [a]knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put iton hyssop, and put itto His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day,that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and thatthey might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not oneof His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave himpermission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day,for the tomb was nearby.

Footnotes:

  • John 19:28 M seeing

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PRAYER REQUESTS 

Please 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, needs eye surgery. Please Pray for Logan and his surgeon. 

Brother John LaPorte’s niece is having baby girl (Praise Report). Please Pray for the health of the mother and her baby girl. 

Please Pray for Brother David Frear’s mother-in-law and husband, Pete. Pete is older and his health is failing him. Also, please Pray for Juan’s recovery from 2 transplants and added health issues since the transplants. 

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. 

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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. 

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 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.”

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.)