Day 23 of My 6th Bible Study Journey

Day 23, 23 January 2025

1) Genesis 32, Genesis 33, Genesis 34

GENESIS 32

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 
2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp." So he called the name 
 of that place Mahanaim.
3 Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir,
 the country of Edom. 
 4 He commanded them, saying, "This is what you must
 say to my lord Esau: This is what your servant Jacob says, 'I have sojourned 
with Laban and stayed there until now. 
5 I have oxen and donkeys, flocks, 
and male servants and female servants, and I am sending this message 
to tell my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.' "
6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We went to your brother Esau.
 He is coming to meet you, and what is more, four hundred men are with him."
7 Then Jacob was very afraid and distressed, and he divided the people 
that were with him, along with the flocks and herds and the camels, 
nto two groups. 
8 He said, "If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, 
then the other camp which is left may escape."
9 And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God 
of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, 'Return to your country 
and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,'  
10 I am not worthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness
 which You have shown to Your servant. For with my staff I crossed over this
 Jordan, and now I have become two encampments. 
11 Deliver me, I pray, 
from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau. For I fear him, 
that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 
12 You said, 'I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand 
of the sea, which is too many to be counted.' "
13 So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him 
a gift for his brother Esau: 
14 two hundred female goats and twenty male
 goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 
 15 thirty female camels 
with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys 
and ten male donkeys. 
16 He gave them to his servants, every drove by itself, 
and said to his servants, "Pass over before me, 
and keep a distance between each drove."
17 He commanded the one leading, saying, "When my brother Esau meets you
 and asks you, saying, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going, 
and to whom do these animals belong?'  
18 then you are to say, 
'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, 
and he is also behind us.' "
19 Likewise he commanded the second and the third and all that
 followed the droves, saying, "This is what you are to say to Esau 
when you find him. 
20 Moreover, say, 'Your servant Jacob is behind us.' " 
 For he said, "I will appease him with the gift that goes before me, 
and then I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me." 
21 So the gift went before him, but he lodged that night in the encampment.

[1] And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
[2] And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the
name of that place Mahanaim.
[3] And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land
of Seir, the country of Edom.
[4] And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau;
Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there
until now:
[5] And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants:
and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
[6] And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother
Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
[7] Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people
that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two
bands;
[8] And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other
company which is left shall escape.
[9] And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac,
the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred,
and I will deal well with thee:
[10] I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth,
which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over
this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
[11] Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of
Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with
the children.
[12] And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the
sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
[13] And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his
hand a present for Esau his brother;
[14] Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and
twenty rams,
[15] Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty
she asses, and ten foals.
[16] And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by
themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space
betwixt drove and drove.
[17] And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth
thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and
whose are these before thee?
[18] Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent
unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
[19] And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed
the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find
him.
[20] And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he
said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and
afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
[21] So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in
the company.

Jacob Wrestles With God

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, 
and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok. 
23 He took them  and sent them across the stream along with all that he had. 
24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him there until daybreak.
25 When the man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, 
He touched the socket of his thigh, so the socket of Jacob's thigh 
was dislocated, as he wrestled with Him. 
26 Then He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks."
But Jacob said, "I will not let You go, unless You bless me."
27 So He said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no more be called Jacob, but Israel. 
For you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed."
29 Then Jacob asked Him, "Tell me, I pray You, Your name."
But He said, "Why do you ask Me My name?" Then He blessed him there.
30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, 
"I have seen God face to face, and my life has been preserved."
31 As he crossed over Peniel, the sun rose over him, 
and he was limping on his thigh. 
32 Therefore to this day the children 
of Israel do not eat the sinew which is attached to the socket of the thigh, 
because He touched the socket of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.

[22] And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two
womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
[23] And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he
had.
[24] And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the
breaking of the day.
[25] And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the
hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he
wrestled with him.
[26] And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not
let thee go, except thou bless me.
[27] And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
[28] And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as
a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
[29] And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he
said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him
there.
[30] And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face
to face, and my life is preserved.
[31] And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon
his thigh.
[32] Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank,
which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the
hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

GENESIS 33

Jacob Meets Esau

1 Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming and four hundred men with him. 
So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. 
2 He put the female servants and their children in front, then Leah 
and her children next, and then Rachel and Joseph last. 
3 He went on before them,
 bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck 
and kissed him, and they wept. 5 When Esau looked up and saw 
the women and the children, he said, "Who are those with you?"
Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."
6 Then the female servants came near, they and their children, 
and they bowed down. 
7 Leah also with her children came near 
and bowed themselves. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, 
and they bowed themselves.
8 Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company that I met?"
Jacob answered, "These are to find favour in the sight of my lord."
9 Esau said, "I have enough, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself."
10 Jacob said, "No, I pray you, if I have now found favuor in your sight, 
then receive my gift from my hand. For I have seen your face, 
and it is as though I have seen the face of God, with you having received me 
favorably. 
11 Please take my blessing that has been brought to you, 
because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty." 
So he urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you."
13 But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are weak, 
and the flocks and herds with young are with me. If they are driven 
too hard one day, all the flock will die. 
14 Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on slowly,
 according to the pace of the livestock that goes before me and the pace
 the children will be able to endure, until I come to my lord at Seir."
15 So Esau said, "Let me leave some of the people that are with me with you."
But Jacob said, "What need is there?
Let me find favour in the sight of my lord."
16 So Esau returned that day making his way back to Seir. 
17 But Jacob journeyed to Sukkoth and built himself a house a
nd made booths for his livestock. 
Therefore the name of the place is called Sukkoth.
18 Jacob came peacefully to the city of Shechem, 
which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan Aram, 
and camped before the city. 
19 He bought a parcel of a field, 
where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father,
 for a hundred pieces of silver. 
20 He erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.

Genesis 33
[1] And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and
with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto
Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
[2] And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her
children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
[3] And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven
times, until he came near to his brother.
[4] And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and
kissed him: and they wept.
[5] And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said,
Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously
given thy servant.
[6] Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed
themselves.
[7] And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and
after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
[8] And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he
said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
[9] And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto
thyself.
[10] And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy
sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy
face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
[11] Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God
hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him,
and he took it.
[12] And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go
before thee.
[13] And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and
the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive
them one day, all the flock will die.
[14] Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead
on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be
able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
[15] And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are
with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my
lord.
[16] So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
[17] And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths
for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
[18] And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of
Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
[19] And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the
hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of
money.
[20] And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

GENESIS 34 

Dinah Is Defiled

1 Now Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see
 the daughters of the land. 
2 When Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, 
prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her and defiled her. 
3 He was very smitten by Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl 
and spoke kindly to her. 
4 Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this girl for my wife."
5 Now Jacob heard that Shechem had violated his daughter Dinah, 
but his sons were with his livestock in the field, 
so Jacob held his peace until they came.
6 Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to commune with him. 
7 The sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it, 
and the men were grieved and were very disturbed, 
because Shechem had disgraced Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, 
a thing that should not be done.
8 Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for
your daughter. I pray that you will give her to him to marry. 
9 Make marriages with us, and give your daughters to us, 
and take our daughters for yourselves. 
10 You may dwell with us, and the land will be before you. 
Dwell and trade in it and get possessions in it."
11 Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, 
"Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 
12 You can make the dowry and gift I must bring high, and I will give 
according to what you say to me. Just give me the girl to marry."
13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, 
because he had defiled Dinah their sister. 
14 They said to them, "We cannot do this.
 To give our sister to one who is uncircumcised would be a disgrace to us. 
15 But we will consent to you in this: If you will become as we are,
 that is, every one of your males be circumcised, 
16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your 
daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 
17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then 
we will take our daughter, and we will leave."
18 Their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son. 
19 The young man did not delay to do the thing, 
because he wanted Jacob's daughter. Now he was more respected 
than all the household of his father. 
20 So Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, 
and they spoke with the men of their city, saying, 
21 "These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land
 and trade in it. For the land is large enough for them. Let us take their 
daughters as our wives, and let us give them our daughters. 
22 Only on this 
condition will the men consent to dwell with us and be one people: if every 
male among us will be circumcised as they are circumcised. 
23 Will not their
 livestock and their possessions and every animal of theirs be ours? Only,
 let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us."
24 All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and Shechem
 his son, and every male was circumcised, 
all who went out of the gate of his city.
25 On the third day, when they were in pain, two of Jacob's sons,
 Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords 
and went to the unsuspecting city and killed all the males. 
26 They killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge 
of the sword and took Dinah out of the house of Shechem and departed. 
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and looted the city, 
because they had defiled their sister. 
28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys 
and whatever was in the city and in the fields. 
29 They took captive and looted all their wealth, all their little ones,
 and their wives, even all that was in each house.
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me 
by making me revolting among the inhabitants of the land, 
among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. Our being few in number,
 they will gather themselves together against me and slay me, 
and I will be destroyed, both I and my household."
31 But they said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"

Genesis 34
[1] And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to
see the daughters of the land.
[2] And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw
her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
[3] And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the
damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
[4] And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to
wife.
[5] And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons
were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were
come.
[6] And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
[7] And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the
men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in
Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
[8] And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth
for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
[9] And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take
our daughters unto you.
[10] And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and
trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.
[11] And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find
grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.
[12] Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye
shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
[13] And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father
deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
[14] And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to
one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
[15] But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that
every male of you be circumcised;
[16] Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your
daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
[17] But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we
take our daughter, and we will be gone.
[18] And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.
[19] And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight
in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his
father.
[20] And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and
communed with the men of their city, saying,
[21] These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land,
and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us
take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.
[22] Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be
one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.
[23] Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be
ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.
[24] And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of
the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of
the gate of his city.
[25] And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of
the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his
sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
[26] And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and
took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.
[27] The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because
they had defiled their sister.
[28] They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which
was in the city, and that which was in the field,
[29] And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took
they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
[30] And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to
stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the
Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together
against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
[31] And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

(Honour killings for us)

2) Our Daily Bread for 23 January 2026 titled  
<a href="https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category
/survivors-by-gods-mercy"> Survivors by God's Mercy </a> by Kenneth Petersen

Isaiah 1:9

9 (Ge 19:24; Ro 9:29) Unless the Lord of Hosts
had left to us a very small remnant,
we would have been as Sodom;
we would have been like Gomorrah.

[9] Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we
should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Romans 9:22-29

22 (Pr 16:4; 1Pe 2:8) What if God, willing to show His wrath
and to make His power known, endured with much patience
the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 (Ro 2:4; Eph 3:16) in order to make known the riches of His glory
on the vessels of mercy, which He previously prepared for glory,
24 even us, whom He has called, not from the Jews only,
but also from the Gentiles?
25 (Hos 2:23; 1Pe 2:10) As indeed He says in Hosea:
"I will call those who were not My people, 'My people,'
and her who was not beloved, 'Beloved,' "(Hos 2:23.)
26 and,
"In the place where it was said to them,
'You are not My people,'
there they shall be called 'sons of the living God.'"(Hos 1:10.)
27 (Isa 10:20-23; Hos 1:10) Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the children of Israel be like the sand of the sea,
a remnant shall be saved.(Isa 10:22.)
28 For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness,
because the Lord will make a quick work upon the earth."(Isa 10:23.)
29 (Isa 1:9; 13:19) And as Isaiah previously said:
"Unless the Lord of Hosts
had left us a seed,
we would have become like Sodom,
and been made like Gomorrah."(Isa 1:9.)

[22] What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
[23] And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of
mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
[24] Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles?
[25] As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my
people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
[26] And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto
them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the
living God.
[27] Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children
of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
[28] For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because
a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
[29] And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a
seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

Charles Joughin was a sailor from the young age of eleven. He served as a 
baker on a number of ships and, in 1912, got hired on to a cruise ship sailing
out of Southampton, England. That ship, the Titanic, hit an iceberg in the 
Northern Atlantic. As the ship went down, Joughin helped people into 
lifeboats. He himself stood atop the end of the Titanic as it sunk 
vertically into the water. Miraculously, he survived.

Thirty years later, during World War II, Charles was on another ship, the RMS 
Oregon. It was rammed by another vessel, and it also sank. Remarkably, 
Joughin survived again.

Scriptures tell us we're all on a sinking ship. Paul writes, "All have sinned 
and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). He refers to the rebellious
nation of Israel, quoting Isaiah: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some 
survivors, we would have become like Sodom" (Isaiah 1:9). Paul speaks of 
a "remnant" of Israel, a shipload of survivors: "only the remnant will be 
saved" (Romans 9:27). How are they saved? By receiving the good news (10:16). 
You see, we're all like Israel, drowning in our sin. None of us can be rescued
unless we receive the good news. The lifeboat that God throws out to us all 
is Jesus.

We who believe in Jesus might need to be reminded of the remarkable truth 
that we are, by God's mercy, survivors. Those who haven't yet found Jesus 
in the troubled waters of life might do well to climb in the lifeboat.

Reflect & Pray

When have you felt like you're drowning in life? 
How do you understand God's offer of a lifeboat?

Dear God, thank You for Your mercy and rescue.
<a href="https://www.odbm.org/en/spiritual-living
/evangelism-missions-the-church/whats-wrong-with-the-sinners-prayer">
For further study, read What’s Wrong with the Sinner’s Prayer?</a>
 
3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association

Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools

Week 3 - Saved Now and forever Day 6 - Eternal Life, Beginning now

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life. They shall never perish,
nor shall anyone snatch them from My hand.

28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

In C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, one of the Spirits in heaven, identifying
himself as George MacDonald, makes some startling statements on the nature of
eternal life. Depending upon the individual's choice for or against Christ,
MacDonald says, everything in life takes on the character of haven or hell.
"At the end of ALL THINGS, when the sun rises here (in heaven) and the twilight
turns to blackness down there, the Blessed will say, 'We have never lived
anywhere except in Heaven,' and the Lost, 'We were always in Hell.'
And both will speak truly" - From the Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.
Lewis was not trying to make a theological case, but to demonstrate
a principle: eternal life begins now.
The choices that we make for or against obedience to God, the life we live,
the patterns we establish, all move us in one direction of the other.
And when we have decided to choose obedience to God (the forsakeness of sin),
when we give ourselves fully into his hands, he is able to take the worst of
circumstances and redeem them for our good, use them to mature us in his image.
Again Jesus says in John 10:28
"I give them eternal life. They shall never perish,
nor shall anyone snatch them from My hand. "
In Christ is a very secure place to be. No experience is lost, no pain is
wasted. Everything in our lives is redeemed by God for our benefit.

Application

a) How have I experienced the truth that "eternal life begins now"?

4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

Exodus 3:7-8

7 (Ps 106:44; Ex 2:23-25)The Lord said,
"I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt
and have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters,
for I know their sorrows.
8 (Ge 50:24; 15:18-21; Ex 13:5) Therefore, I have come down
to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land,
to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of
the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites,
the Hivites, and the Jebusites."

7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people
which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters;
for I know their sorrows;
8 and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand
of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and
a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites,
and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

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

When you are lonely

PSALMS 23

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He restores my soul;
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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 2026 edition?)

2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493

British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver 
and surrounding areas.  There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000  and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.

Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant 
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc. 
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice.  Let us agree in that

- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective 
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.

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 "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.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants 
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. 
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below: 
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.  20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]

Footnotes
	Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- 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, ...) .

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

http://www.ehc.ca

Day 23 of the Month

a) Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.

b) Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.

(

John 13:34-35

34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another."

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; 
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, 
if ye have love one to another.

Rom 12:10

10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love; prefer one another in honour

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; 
in honour preferring one another; 

Heb 10:24

24 And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works.

24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

1 Peter 3:8

8 Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward one another, be gracious,
and be kind.

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, 
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 John 3:23

23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name
of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He commanded us.

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name 
of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 

)

Conclusion:

Pray to the Lord and Pray to seek Him in all decisions.

Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, thank You for Your mercy and rescue."

Pray to the Lord and pray to know Eternity starts now. 

Pray to the Lord and pray to know He hears the cry of the suppressed.

Pray to the Lord and pray to He will Guide you through the valley of death.

Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective 
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.

Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.

Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.

Pray for the protection of believers in Burkina Faso 
who have been driven from their homes by Islamic militants.

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 ;
Birthdate 29 Jan 1969 Redhill surrey England