Day 331 of My 5th Bible Study Journey

Day 331, 27 November 2025 - 5th Day of Advent 

1) Romans 4, Romans 5, Romans 6, Romans 7

Romans 4

The Example of Abraham

1 (Ro 4:16) What then shall we say that Abraham,
our father according to the flesh, has found?
2 (1Co 1:31) If Abraham was justified by works,
he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3 (Ge 15:6; Ro 4:9) What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness."(Ge 15:6.)
4 (Ro 11:6) Now to him who works, wages are not given as a gift,
but as a debt.
5 (Ro 3:22) But to him who does not work, but believes in Him
who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6 Even David describes the blessedness of the man
to whom God credits righteousness without works:
7 (Ps 32:1-2) "Blessed are those
whose iniquities are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man
to whom the Lord shall not impute sin."
9 (Ro 4:3) Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only,
or upon the uncircumcised also? We are saying that faith was credited
to Abraham as righteousness.
10 How then was it credited? When he was in circumcision?
Or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 (Ro 3:22; Lk 19:9) And he received the sign of circumcision,
a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while being
uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe,
though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be credited
to them also,
12 and the father of circumcision to those who are not of the
circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith
of our father Abraham, which he had while still being uncircumcised.

[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the
flesh, hath found?
[2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but
not before God.
[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted
unto him for righteousness.
[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt.
[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
[6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God
imputeth righteousness without works,
[7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins
are covered.
[8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
[9] Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the
uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for
righteousness.
[10] How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in
uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
[11] And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness
of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the
father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that
righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
[12] And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision
only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham,
which he had being yet uncircumcised.

The Promise Received Through Faith

13 (Gal 3:29; Ge 17:4-6) It was not through the law that Abraham
and his descendants received the promise that he would be the heir
of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if those who are of the law become heirs, faith would be made void
and the promise nullified,
15 (Gal 3:10; Ro 5:13) because the law produces wrath, for where there is
no law, there is no sin.
16 (Ro 9:8; 15:8) Therefore the promise comes through faith, so that
it might be by grace, that the promise would be certain to all
the descendants, not only to those who are of the law,
but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us
all
17 (Jn 5:21; 1Co 1:28) (as it is written, "I have made you a father
of many nations" Ge 17:5.) before God whom he believed, and who raises
the dead, and calls those things that do not exist as though they did.
18 Against all hope, he believed in hope, that he might become
the father of many nations according to what was spoken,
"So shall your descendants be."(Ge 15:5.)
19 (Ge 17:17) And not being weak in faith, he did not consider
his own body to be dead (when he was about a hundred years old),
nor yet the deadness of Sarah's womb.
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,
but was strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21 (Ge 18:14; Heb 11:19) and being fully persuaded that what God
had promised, He was able to perform.
22 (Ro 4:3) Therefore "it was credited to him as righteousness."(Ge 15:6.)
23 (Ro 15:4; 1Co 10:11) Now the words, "it was credited to him," were not
written for his sake only,
24 (Ac 2:24; 1Pe 1:21) but also for us, to whom it shall be credited
if we believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 (Isa 53:5-6; Mt 20:28) who was delivered for our transgressions,
and was raised for our justification.

[13] For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to
Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of
faith.
[14] For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the
promise made of none effect:
[15] Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no
transgression.
[16] Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the
promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law,
but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us 
all,
[17] (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before
him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those
things which be not as though they were.
[18] Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of
many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
[19] And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead,
when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's
womb:
[20] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong
in faith, giving glory to God;
[21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also
to perform.
[22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification.

Romans 5

Results of Justification

1 (Jn 14:27; Ro 4:5) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 (1Co 15:1; Eph 2:18) through whom we also have access by faith
into this grace in which we stand, and so we rejoice in hope of the glory
of God.
3 (Jas 1:2-3; 1:12) Not only so, but we also boast in tribulation,
knowing that tribulation produces patience,
4 (Jas 1:12) patience produces character, and character produces hope.
5 (Gal 4:6; Php 1:20) And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 (Ro 4:25; 5:8_ While we were yet weak, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly.
7 Rarely for a righteous man will one die. Yet perhaps for a good man
some would even dare to die.
8 (Jn 15:13; 1Pe 3:18) But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 (Ro 1:18; 1Th 1:10) How much more then, being now justified by His blood,
shall we be saved from wrath through Him.
10 (2Co 5:18-19; Col 1:20-21) For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of His Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be
saved by His life.
11 (Ro 5:10; 2Co 5:18-19) Furthermore, we also rejoice in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5
[1] Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ:
[2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
[3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
[4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
[5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
[6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly.
[7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a
good man some would even dare to die.
[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
[9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through him.
[10] For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
[11] And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom we have now received the atonement.

Adam and Christ

12 (Ge 2:17; Ro 6:23; 1Co 15:21-22) Therefore as sin came into the world
through one man and death through sin, so death has spread to all men,
because all have sinned.
13 (Ro 4:15) For until the law, sin was in the world. But sin is not
counted when there is no law.
14 (1Co 15:45) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of Adam's sin,
who was a type of Him who was to come.
15 (Ro 5:12; Isa 53:11) But the free gift is not like the trespass.
For if through the trespass of one man many died, then how much more has
the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man,
Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
16 The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned.
For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift,
which came after many trespasses, leads to justification.
17 (Ro 5:12; Rev 22:5) For if by one man's trespass death reigned
through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance
of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One,
Jesus Christ.
18 (Ro 5:12; Jn 12:32) Therefore just as through the trespass of one man
came condemnation for all men, so through the righteous act of One came
justification of life for all men.
19 (Php 2:8) For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of One the many will be made righteous.
20 (Ro 6:1) But the law entered, so that sin might increase,
but where sin increased, grace abounded much more,
21 (Ro 5:14; 5:12) so that just as sin reigned in death, grace might
reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.

[12] Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
[13] (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when
there is no law.
[14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had
not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure
of him that was to come.
[15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the
offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by
grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
[16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment
was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto
justification.
[17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one, Jesus Christ.)
[18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon
all men unto justification of life.
[19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
[20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace did much more abound:
[21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6

Dead to Sin but Alive in Christ

1 (Ro 6:15) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin
that grace may increase?
2 (Col 3:3; 1Pe 2:24) God forbid! How shall we who died to sin live
any longer in it?
3 (Mt 28:19; Gal 3:27; 1Co 12:13) Do you not know that we who were
baptised into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
4 (Ro 7:6; 2Co 5:17) Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death,
that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 (Php 3:10-11; 2Co 4:10) For if we have been united with Him
in the likeness of His death, so shall we also be united with Him
in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 (Gal 2:20; Eph 4:22) knowing this, that our old man has been crucified
with Him, so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we should
no longer be slaves to sin.
7 (1Pe 4:1) For the one who has died is freed from sin.
8 (2Co 13:4) Now if we died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 (Rev 1:18; Ro 5:14) knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead,
will never die again; death has no further dominion over Him.
10 For the death He died, He died to sin once for all,
but the life He lives, He lives to God.
11 (Ro 6:2; 6:13) Likewise, you also consider yourselves to be dead to sin,
but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 (Ro 6:16; Ps 19:13) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body,
that you should obey it in its lusts.
13 (Ro 7:5; 12:1) Do not yield your members to sin as instruments
of unrighteousness, but yield yourselves to God, as those who are alive
from the dead, and your bodies to God as instruments of righteousness.
14 (Ro 6:12; 8:2) For sin shall not have dominion over you,
for you are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we
shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of
sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
him:
[9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath
no more dominion over him.
[10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he
liveth unto God.
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it
in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto
sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,
but under grace.

Slaves of Righteousness

15 (Ro 6:1-2) What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law
but under grace? God forbid!
16 (Jn 8:34; 2Pe 2:19) Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves
as slaves to obey, you are slaves of the one whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
17 (Ro 1:8; 2Ti 1:13) But thanks be to God, for you were slaves of sin,
but you have obeyed from the heart that form of teaching
to which you were entrusted,
18 (Ro 6:22; Jn 8:32; Ro 8:2) and having been freed from sin, you became
the slaves of righteousness.
19 (Ro 3:5; 6:13) I speak in human terms because of the weakness
of your flesh, for just as you have yielded your members as slaves
to impurity and iniquity leading to more iniquity, even so now yield
your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
21 (Ro 1:32; 6:23) What fruit did you have then from the things of which
you are now ashamed? The result of those things is death.
22 (Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:16) But now, having been freed from sin
and having become slaves of God, you have fruit unto holiness,
and the end is eternal life.
23 (Ro 5:12; Ge 2:17; Ro 2:7) For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under
grace? God forbid.
[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his
servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness?
[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have
obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
[18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
[19] I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:
for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity
unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto
holiness.
[20] For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
[21] What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for
the end of those things is death.
[22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have
your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
[23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 7

An Analogy From Marriage

1 Do you not know, brothers (for I speak to those who know the law),
that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
2 (1Co 7:39) For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her
husband so long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released
from the law regarding her husband.
3 (Mt 5:32) So then, she will be called an adulteress if she marries
another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies,
she is free from that law, so that she would not be an adulteress
if she marries another man.
4 (Ro 8:2; 7:6) So, my brothers, you also have died to the law through
the body of Christ, so that you may be married to another,
to Him who has been raised from the dead, so that we may bear fruit for God.
5 (Ro 6:13; 6:21) When we were in the flesh, the passions of sin,
through the law, worked in our members to bear fruit leading to death.
6 (Ro 6:4; 7:4) But now we are delivered from the law, having died
to things in which we were bound, so that we may serve in newness
of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter of the law.

[1] Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that
the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
[2] For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband
so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law
of her husband.
[3] So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she
shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from
that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another
man.
[4] Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body
of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised
from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
[5] For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the
law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
[6] But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were
held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of
the letter.

The Problem of Indwelling Sin

7 (Ro 3:20; Ex 20:17; Dt 5:21) What shall we say then? Is the law sin?
God forbid! But I did not know sin, except through the law.
I would not have known coveting if the law had not said,
"You shall not covet." (Ex 20:17; Dt 5:21. )
8 (Ro 7:11; 4:15; 1Co 15:56) But sin, taking opportunity through
the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting.
For apart from the law sin is dead.
9 I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came,
sin revived, and I died.
10 (Ro 10:5; Lev 18:5) And the commandment, which was intended for life,
proved to be death in me.
11 (Ro 7:8; Ge 3:13) For sin, taking opportunity through the commandment,
deceived me and killed me through it.
12 (1Ti 1:8; Ps 119:137) So then, the law is holy and the commandment
is holy and just and good.
13 Therefore has that which is good become death unto me? God forbid!
Rather, sin, that it might be shown to be sin, was working death in me
through that which is good, so that sin through the commandment
might become exceedingly sinful.
14 (1Ki 21:20; 21:25) We know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal,
sold under sin.
15 (Gal 5:17) For what I am doing, I do not understand, for I do not practice
what I will to do, but I do the very thing I hate.
16 (Ro 7:12) But if I practice what I do not will to do,
I agree with the law that it is good.
17 (Ro 7:20) So now it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 (Ro 7:25; Ge 6:5; 8:21) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh)
dwells no good thing, for the will to do what is right is present with me,
but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 (Ro 7:15) For the good I desire to do, I do not do, but the evil
I do not want is what I do.
20 (Ro 7:17) Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who does it,
but sin that lives in me.
21 (Ro 7:23; 8:2) I find then a law that when I desire to do good,
evil is present with me.
22 (Eph 3:16; Ps 1:2) For I delight in the law of God according to the inner
man,
23 (Gal 5:17; Jas 4:1) but I see another law in my members, warring against
the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which
is in my members.
24 (Ro 6:6; Col 2:11) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me
from the body of this death?
25 (1Co 15:57) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So then, with my mind, I serve the law of God, but with my flesh,
the law of sin.

[7] What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known
sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou
shalt not covet.
[8] But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of
concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
[9] For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin
revived, and I died.
[10] And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto
death.
[11] For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it
slew me.
[12] Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and
good.
[13] Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin,
that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that
sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
[14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but
what I hate, that do I.
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is
good.
[17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:
for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not.
[19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not,
that I do.
[20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that
dwelleth in me.
[21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my
mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my
members.
[24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this
death?
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I
myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

2) Our Daily Bread for 27 November 2024 Titled 
<a href="https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category
/a-humble-thanksgiving"> A Humble Thanksgiving </a> by Katara Patton

Proverbs 22:1-6

1 (Ecc 7:1) A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 (Job 31:15; Pr 14:31) The rich and poor have this in common,
the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 (Pr 14:16; 27:12) A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself,
but the simple pass on and are punished.
4 (Pr 21:21) By humility and the fear of the Lord
are riches, and honor, and life.
5 (Pr 15:19; 1Jn 5:18) Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
he who guards his soul will be far from them.
6 (Eph 6:4; 2Ti 3:15) Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
And loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together:
The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:
But the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward:
He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go:
And when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

One Thanksgiving I called home to greet my parents. As we talked, I asked my 
mom what she was most grateful for. She exclaimed that she was most grateful 
that "all three of my children know how to call on the name of the Lord." For 
my mother, who'd always emphasised the importance of education, there was 
something more valuable than her children doing well in school 
and taking care of themselves.

Her sentiments remind me of Proverbs 22:6: 
"Train up a child in the way he should go: 
And when he is old, he will not depart from it. "
 While this isn't a promise but more a wise principle, and many children do 
 wander from God for at least a season of life, she and my father had strived 
 to raise us to humbly, reverently love God (v. 4) - primarily through example. 
 Now, by His grace, they were able to see us grow older and benefit from 
 a personal relationship with Him. As verse 2 says,"The LORD is the maker 
 of them all." And although some children will respond to loving instruction 
 in Christ, others might take longer perhaps to hear His voice. 
 For those precious children, we continue to pray and rest in God's timing.

Mom’s humble thanksgiving points to what's most important in life. Reverently 
loving God yields spiritual riches for this life and beyond (v. 4). And while 
we can't control what children will choose to do, we can rest in the hope 
that God will lovingly continue to work in their hearts.

Reflect & Pray

How have you been shown the love of God? How do you reverently love Him?

Dear God, please help me to love and disciple others well.
<A href="https://www.odbm.org/en/spiritual-beliefs/god-trinity/god-is-love">
For further study, read God Is Love.<a/>

3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association

Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools

Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 5 - God Loved, So He Gave

John 3:16-17

16 (Ro 5:8; 1Jn 4:9-10; Jn 1:18) "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 (1Jn 4:14; Lk 19:10) For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved."

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.

Often called "the gospel in a nutshell", John 3:16 is so familiar,
even the unchurched, that it has all but lost its impact for us.
WE cite it by rote, as if it had no more meaning than a SSN (SIN),
and think that we understand the truth because we know the words.
Why did God send Jesus, his only Son, into the world to die?
Because he loved the people he created. God had no reason,
humanly speaking, to love mankind. Throughout history, from
the Garden of Eden forward, people had deliberately turned
against God and tried his patience. Even the nation God chose
for himself, Israel rebelled against the Lord and turned to other gods.
And we, as individuals, have rebelled against him too. WE have tried
to control our own lives; we have denied his reality; or
acknowledged his existence and then systematically ignored him.
We have become our own gods.
Yet Christ, in love, took upon himself the rejection, the humiliation,
the pain we were responsible for. We deserved to be condemned to die,
but he died for us instead. "God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world," John 3:17 says, "but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often, even after we have committed our lives to Christ, we mistakenly
suppose that God's primary purpose is to condemn us - to catch us in sin
and punish us. But God says that his purpose is to love us and to save us
from sin and ourselves. He loved, and so he gave; he still loves us,
and he still continues to give.

Application

a) What sin in my life put Jesus on the cross?

b) How do I know that my sins has been forgiven?

c) How can these verses help me when I face condemnation and guilt? 

4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

2 Chr 31:21

21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house
of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,
he did this with all his heart, and he found success.

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house
of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,
he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:

God's Protection in Times of Trouble

Ps 27:1-6

PSALMS 27

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me
to eat my flesh -
my enemies and my foes -
they stumbled and fell.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
though war should rise against me,
in this will I be confident.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,
that will I seek after -
for me to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to see the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble
He will hide me in His pavilion;
in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;
He will set me up on a rock.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up
above my enemies encircling me;
therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,
Above mine enemies round about me:
Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Remember God's promises when You pray

The Lord's prayer 

Matthew 6:9-13

9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)

Newfoundland & Labrador

Total population 527000
Muslim population (est.) 2065

As of Autumn 2014, St. John's does not have a local CNMM network. Pray with us
for God's people to come together in prayer
and cooperative efforts to reach Muslims with the Good News.

St. John's has one mosque and 2 more musallas , or prayer locations, which
may grow into mosques of their own. The mosque is called Masjid an Noor,
The Mosque of the Light, and mosque historical documents record a trip in 1986
to Saudi Arabia to raise funds for the land purchase and construction costs.
A small number of Muslim families had come prior to 1964, but moved on to
other places after a short time. After this date, a small community began
to remain and grow , reaching about 25 families in the 1980s. A number
of international students also join the community annually
ranging from 25 to 60.

In 2014 the mosque website reports the community is made up of some 200
families and many university students attending Memorial University. A
small number of native Newfoundlanders have also converted to the Islamic
faith, one saying of this religion in Newfoundland, "Islam is a growing face".
With the growth of the community, the current challenge is lack of space
in the mosque, which they are now looking at expanding.

Pray for

- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses. 

Adding further

30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020

Under the Keep Praying page

When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.

Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."

Peter's Speech at Pentecost

14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'

- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.

Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."

Ideas for prayer

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!

My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) 

7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada

http://www.ehc.ca

Day 27 of the Month

a) Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.

(

2 Cor 10:4-5

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
5 casting down imaginations and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

)

b) Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth. 

Advent Day 5

From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck

24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the ground and dies, it remains alone.
But if it dies, it bears much fruit
John 12:24

"In this descent and reascent everyone will recognize
a familiar pattern: a thing written all over the world.
It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle
itself into some­ thing hard, small and deathlike,
it must fall into the ground: thence the new life reascends.
It is the pattern of all animal generation too." - C. S. Lewis

(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 148.)

Dying and Rising

The Gospel writers remind us that the arc of Jesus'
life on earth began at the Incarnation and ended with his death.
The first hum­bling was his birth in a manger,
but the final humbling was death on a cross.

The pattern that God set into the universe is one of death
and resurrection. The same is true, John writes in today's
Scripture, in the world of plants. It is no surprise that
we see the death of plants every fall and their resurrection
in the spring. Again, we see the "death" of a seed
when it is planted and the "resurrection" of that seed
when it springs forth and produces many other seeds. Why?
Because this is a divine pattern, say Jesus and Lewis,
set into the fabric of the universe, reflecting the nature of God.

Sometimes a person dies, and an organ transplant saves a life.
Lewis calls it "a familiar pattern." The point is that dying and rising,
including Jesus' descent in the Incarnation and his reascent
in the Ascension, are common, so common that we shouldn't
wonder that God redeemed us with dying and rising.

Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.

From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn

THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

John's Character

Read Luke 1:8-20

8 Now while he served as priest before God, when his division was on duty,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn
incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer
has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?
For I am an old man and my wife well advanced in years."
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.
And I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day
that these things happen, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their season."

Luke 1:15b ...and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.

I purposely had us read the same verses from Luke 1:8-17
for three days in a row (including part of today's reading), so that
the angel's message to Zechariah could impact us more deeply with
the good news of God's answer to prayer, the strength of John's
character, and the magnitude of his calling. John was not
a minor person (nor are we!) in God's plan for the salvation
of the world. Indeed, he would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Zechariah doubted God's miracle because of his and his wife's ages,
but Gabriel assured him that it was the Lord's determination.
He would experience muteness, not so much as punishment,
but as a sign until the prophecy had been fulfilled.
Has God ever allowed us to endure such a symptom
to be reminded constantly of our call to participate in God's designs?

Perhaps we suffer an aggravating handicap to cue us that
we are commissioned to encourage others to become prepared for,
and know, the Lord.

Prayer

Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.

From The AH-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimler

FIRST THURSDAY

AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AMOUR!

Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore.
love is the fulfilling of the law.

Read Romans 13:8-10.

8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.

ROMANS 13:10 And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Love. or amour (the French word for love). is what Advent
and Christ himself, are all about Love is one four-letter
word that needs to be used and shared over and over again
for all the world to see. to sense and to savour.
One problem with the word love is that it is misused by society
to mean anything we like or are attracted to-from beer
to baseball to brats. As a result it has lost much
of the amorous quality about it.

But not so in the Scriptures! Love is always seen
as a gift from God himself. in Jesus Christ. In today's reading, St. Paul
boldly states. "Owe no one anything. except to love one another"
Wow, now that's amour!

Seek ways today to share health, hope and amour with those around you .
All three go together as God's gifts to you and to others.
As you work at loving your neighbour as yourself, do not forget that
God in Christ is first loving and forgiving you in order that
you have the energies and Easter-power, to he able to love others.

Advent's message's a big AH-HA of amour! Don't you think someone
should write a hymn entitled Amour Makes the World Go Round?

Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are 1n order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen ,.. and AH-HA! 
 
Conclusion:

Pray to the Lord and pray to give all your temptations to He
who can free you from temptation. 

Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, please help me to love and disciple others well."

Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him that went to the cross for your sins.

Pray to the Lord and pray to do your work in the Name of the Lord.

Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord as your salvation and protection.

Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador

- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses. 

Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people - 
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims 
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days! 

Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to
hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.

Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who
are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth. 

Pray: Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.

Pray: Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.

Pray: Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are in order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen 

Pray for Christian workers ministering in some 
of Nepal's most remote and spiritually dark regions.

Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
-- 
Member - Liberal International This is [email protected] Ici [email protected]
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
All I want to hear from JEsus Christ is WEll done Good and Faithful servant