From Newsgroup: alt.bible

Day 178, 27 June 2025

1) 1 Kings 20, 1 Kings 21

1 Kings 20
Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria

1 (1Ki 15:18; 15:20) Now Ben-Hadad the king of Aram gathered his army
together. 32 kings were with him, with horses and chariots, and he went up
and besieged Samaria and fought against it.
2 He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, "Thus says Ben-Hadad:
3 Your silver and gold is mine, as are your
most attractive wives and children."
4 The king of Israel answered, "My lord, O king, just as you have said,
I and all that I own are yours."
5 The messengers came again and said, "Thus says Ben-Hadad:
Although I have said that you must give me your silver and gold,
your wives and your children,
6 instead I will send my servants tomorrow about this time,
and they will search your house and the houses of your servants,
and whatever is precious to you, they will put it in their hands
and take it away."
7 (2Ki 5:7) Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land
and said, "Please notice how this man is looking for trouble,
for he has demanded I give him my wives and children
and my silver and gold, and I have not denied his request."
8 All the elders and all the people said to him,
"Do not listen to him or consent to his demands."
9 Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad,
"Tell my lord the king: I will comply with the first request of your servant, but this thing I will not do." And the messengers departed
and brought him word again.
10 (1Ki 19:2; Ex 11:8) Then Ben-Hadad sent messengers to him and said,
"The gods do to me and then some if the dust of Samaria shall suffice
for handfuls for all the people who follow me."
11 (Pr 27:1) The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: Let not he who puts
on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off."
12 (1Ki 16:9; 20:16) When Ben-Hadad heard this message as he was drinking
with the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, "Station yourselves!" And they stationed themselves against the city.

Syria Attacks Israel
1 And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,
3 Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children,
even the goodliest, are mine.
4 And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.
5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver,
and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
6 yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be,
that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand,
and take it away.
7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark,
I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for
my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold;
and I denied him not.
8 And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
9 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
10 And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people
that follow me.
11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that
girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad

13 (1Ki 20:28) Then a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel, saying,
"Thus says the Lord: Have you seen this great multitude?
See, I will deliver it into your hand this day,
and you shall know that I am the Lord."
14 Ahab asked, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus says the Lord:
By the young leaders of the provinces." Then he said,
"Who shall order the battle?" And he answered, "You."
15 Then he counted the young leaders of the provinces,
and they were 232, and after them he counted all the people,
all the children of Israel, and had 7000.
16 They went out at noon. But Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings
who helped him were getting drunk in the pavilions.
17 The young leaders of the provinces went out first.
Ben-Hadad sent out scouts, and they told him,
"Men from Samaria have come out."
18 (2Ki 14:8-12) He said, "If they have come out peacefully, take them alive, and if they have come out for battle, take them alive."
19 So these young leaders of the provinces came out of the city,
followed by the army.
20 Each one killed his man, and the Arameans fled with Israel pursuing them, but Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, escaped on a horse with the horsemen.
21 The king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots
and killed a great number of Arameans.
22 (2Sa 11:1; 1Ki 20:13) The prophet came to the king of Israel and said,
"Go, strengthen yourself and prepare, and see what you do,
for next year the king of Aram will come up against you."

13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will
deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16 And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in
the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out
of Samaria.
18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or
whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city,
and the army which followed them.
20 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots,
and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest:
for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.

23 (1Ki 14:23) The servants of the king of Aram said to him,
"Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were stronger than us,
but if we fight against them in the plain,
we will surely be stronger than they.
24 Do this: Dismiss the kings, each from his position,
and put commanders in their places,
25 and assemble an army like the army that you lost,
horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and we will fight them in the plain and will surely be stronger than they." And he listened to their advice
and followed it.
26 (2Ki 13:17; 1Ki 20:22) The next year Ben-Hadad assembled the Arameans
and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 (Jdg 6:5; 1Sa 13:5-8) The children of Israel were assembled and were all present, and they went against them, and the children of Israel camped
in front of them like two little flocks of kids, while the Arameans filled
the country.
28 (1Ki 20:13; 17:18) A man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel
and said, "Thus says the Lord: Because the Arameans have said,
'The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,'
I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand,
and you will know that I am the Lord."
29 They camped opposite each other for seven days, and on the seventh day,
the battle was joined. The children of Israel killed a hundred thousand
Aramean footmen in one day.
30 (1Ki 22:25; 2Ch 18:24) But the rest fled into the city of Aphek,
where a wall fell on 27000 of the men who were left.
And Ben-Hadad fled and came into the city into an inner chamber.
31 (Ge 37:34; 2Sa 3:31) His servants said to him, "We have heard that
the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings.
Please let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads
and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life."
32 (1Ki 20:3-6) So they girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes
on their heads and came to the king of Israel and said,
"Your servant Ben-Hadad says, 'Please let me live.' "
And he said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother!"
33 Now the men were diligently looking for a positive sign
and quickly took hold of it, and they said, "Your brother Ben-Hadad!"
Then he said, "Go. You bring him." Then Ben-Hadad came to him
and got into the chariot.
34 (1Ki 15:20) Ben-Hadad said to him, "I will restore the cities
which my father took from your father, and you shall make streets
for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria."
Then Ahab said, "I will send you away with this covenant."
So he made a covenant with him and sent him away.

[23] And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are
gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
[24] And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place,
and put captains in their rooms:
[25] And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their
voice, and did so.
[26] And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered
the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
[27] And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and
went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
[28] And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and
said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all
this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. [29] And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel
slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.
[30] But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
[31] And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the
kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
[32] So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads,
and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I
pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.
[33] Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from
him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him
to come up into the chariot.
[34] And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as
my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

A Prophet Condemns Ahab

35 (1Ki 13:17-18; 2Ki 2:15) Speaking in the word of the Lord,
a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor,
"Strike me, please." But the man refused to strike him.
36 Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord,
as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you."
And as soon as he left him, a lion found and killed him.
37 Then he found another man and said, "Strike me, please."
And the man struck him so that he was wounded.
38 (1Ki 14:2) So the prophet departed and waited by the road for the king
and disguised himself with ashes on his face.
39 (2Ki 10:24) As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said,
"Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and a man turned
aside and brought a man to me and said, 'Keep this man,
and if by any means he goes missing, then your life shall be given
for his life, or else you shall pay a talent
[About 75 pounds, or 34 kilograms.] of silver.'
40 As your servant was busy here and there, he disappeared."
And the king of Israel said to him,
"So shall your judgment be; you have decided it yourself."
41 He quickly took the ashes away from his face, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
42 (1Ki 22:31-37; 20:39) He said to him, "Thus says the Lord,
'Because you have let go out of your hand a man whom I had appointed
to utter destruction, you shall pay for his life with your life and his people with your people.' "
43 (1Ki 21:4) The king of Israel went to his house in Samaria angry
and depressed.

[35] And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour
in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee.
And the man refused to smite him.
[36] Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the
LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee.
And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
[37] Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the
man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
[38] So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and
disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
[39] And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned
aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means
he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt
pay a talent of silver.
[40] And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king
of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. [41] And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
[42] And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out
of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
[43] And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and
came to Samaria.

1 Kings 21

Naboth's Vineyard

1 (Jdg 6:33; 1Ki 18:45-46) Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard
in Jezreel right by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
2 (1Sa 8:14) And after this Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me
your vineyard, so that I can have it for a garden of herbs,
because it is near to my house, and I will give you a better vineyard
for it, or if you prefer, I will give you its worth in money."
3 (Lev 25:23; Nu 36:7) Naboth said to Ahab, "The Lord forbid that I should
give you the inheritance of my fathers."
4 (1Ki 20:43) Ahab returned home angry and depressed because of the answer Naboth the Jezreelite had given him, for he had said, "I will not give you
the inheritance of my fathers." He lay down on his bed and sulked
and would not eat any bread.
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said,
"Why is your spirit so sad that you refuse to eat bread?"
6 And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite
and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer,
I will give you another vineyard for it.'
And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.' "
7 Jezebel his wife said to him, "Are you not the governor of the kingdom
of Israel? Get up and eat bread, and let your heart be happy,
for I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you."
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal
and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles that were in the city where Naboth lived.
9 In the letters she wrote,
"Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people,
10 (Ex 22:28; Ac 6:11) and set two men, sons of Belial,Or, evil men.
before him, to bear witness against him, saying, 'You blasphemed God
and the king.' And then carry him out and stone him, so that he will die."
11 The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city,
did as Jezebel had sent word to them, as it was written in the letters
that she had sent to them.
12 (Isa 58:4) They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 (2Ki 9:26) Two men, children of Belial, came in and sat in front of him,
and the men of Belial witnessed against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth blasphemed God and the king."
Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death.
14 Then they sent word to Jezebel,
saying, "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."
15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead,
she said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth
the Jezreelite, which he refused to sell to you for money,
for Naboth is not alive, but dead."
16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

[1] And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
[2] And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may
have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I
will give thee the worth of it in money.
[3] And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
[4] And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word
which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not
give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed,
and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
[5] But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit
so sad, that thou eatest no bread?
[6] And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and
said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give
thee my vineyard.
[7] And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
[8] So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
[9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
[10] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against
him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out,
and stone him, that he may die.
[11] And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
[12] They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
[13] And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and
the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the
presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
[14] Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
[15] And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth
is not alive, but dead.
[16] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab
rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take
possession of it.

The Lord Condemns Ahab

17 (Ps 9:12) The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying:
18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, who is in Samaria.
He is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to possess it.
19 (1Ki 22:38; 2Sa 12:9) You shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says the Lord: Have you killed and also taken possession?" And you shall speak to him,
saying, "Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked
the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your own blood!"
20 (1Ki 18:17; 21:25) Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?"
And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself
to work evil in the sight of the Lord.
21 (1Ki 14:10) 'See, I will bring disaster upon you and will take away
your posterity and will cut off all your males, both free and slave,
who are left in Israel,
22 (1Ki 16:3; 14:16) and will make your house like the house of Jeroboam
the son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah,
for the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger
and made Israel to sin.'
23 (2Ki 9:10; 9:30-37) "The Lord also spoke of Jezebel, saying,
'The dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.'
24 (1Ki 14:11; 16:4) "Those from Ahab's family who die in the city
will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten
by birds of the air."
25 (1Ki 21:20; 16:30-33) But there were none compared to Ahab,
who sold himself to evil deeds in the sight of the Lord,
which Jezebel his wife stirred up.
26 (Ge 15:16; 2Ki 21:11) He performed the most abominable act in following idols like the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. 27 (2Ki 6:30; Ge 37:34) When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes
and put on sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth
and walked meekly.
28 The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
29 (2Ki 9:25-26) "See how Ahab humbles himself before Me?
Because he humbles himself before Me,
I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime,
but during his son's lifetime I will bring the disaster on his household."

[17] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
[18] Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria:
behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess
it.
[19] And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying,
Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth
shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
[20] And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in
the sight of the LORD.
[21] Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity,
and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that
is shut up and left in Israel,
[22] And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation
wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.
[23] And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel
by the wall of Jezreel.
[24] Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that
dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
[25] But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
[26] And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things
as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
[27] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
[28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
[29] Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's
days will I bring the evil upon his house.

2) Our Daily Bread for 27 June 2026 titled
<a href="https://odb.org/2026/06/27/one-sure-things">
One Sure Thing </a> By Mike Wittmer

Colossians 1:15-23

The Person and Work of Christ

15 (2Co 4:4; Jn 1:18) He is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn
of every creature.
16 (Jn 1:3; Ro 11:36) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him
and for Him.
17 (Jn 8:58; Heb 1:3) He is before all things,
and in Him all things hold together.
18 (Ac 26:23; Eph 1:22-23) He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things
He may have the preeminence.
19 (Jn 1:16; Col 2:9) For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness
should dwell,
20 (Eph 1:10; Ro 5:1) and to reconcile all things to Himself by Him,
having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him, I say-whether
they are things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 (Eph 2:12) And you, who were formerly alienated and enemies
in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 (Ro 7:4; Eph 5:27) in the body of His flesh through death,
to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight,
23 (Eph 3:17; Mk 16:15) if you continue in the faith, grounded and settled,
and are not removed from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard,
and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven,
and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

[15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
[17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
[18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
[20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
[21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
[22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
[23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Trees in cold climates prepare for winter through a process called "hardening." Water drains from cells so they won't freeze, expand, and burst the tree. The water that remains between the cells is too pure for ice crystals to attach. Its temperature may now drop to forty degrees below zero without cracking the tree. Trees harden at the same time each year because they take their cues from the fixed calendar of shortening days. They don't stake their lives on the weather, which may be unseasonably mild.
They trust the sun, their one sure thing.

The Son who made the sun is surer yet. He is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created," and "in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17). Who tells trees when to harden each year? The same Son who makes the sun rise each morning and puts it to bed each night, pulls tides with the moon, whirls electrons in every cell, pumps your heart and inflates your lungs, and holds you when your heart
is broken.

What holds the world together isn't a force within nature but a person outside it. A person who entered the world He'd made so he could "reconcile to himself all things," including you (v. 20). In this unpredictable world, you've got one sure thing. Jesus will "present you holy in his sight, without blemish
and free from accusation" (v. 22).


Reflect & Pray

What frightens you?
How does Jesus' power over the world encourage you to pray and rest in Him?

Dear Jesus, I trust You today with whatever comes my way.

3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation

Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools

Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 7 - The Cost of Wisdom

Proverbs 4:4,7

Proverbs 4

4 (Pr 7:2; Eph 6:4) He also taught me and said to me,
"Let your heart retain my words; keep my commandments, and live.
7 (Mt 13:44-46) Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom.
And with all your getting, get understanding. "

4 He taught me also, and said unto me,
Let thine heart retain my words:
Keep my commandments, and live.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
And with all thy getting get understanding.

Establishing priorities is a popular topic of conversation in our
generation. We carry appointment calendars and attend goal-setting
strategy seminars. We let machines answer our telephones so that
we won't miss any important messages, or so that we can screen calls
before we answer them. We order our lives so that we can "get ahead".
"Getting ahead" in God's kingdom, however, involves other priorities
than the ones we may set for ourselves. "Wisdom is supreme," the
principal thing, says Proverbs 4:7, "Get wisdom. Though it cost
all you have, get understanding."
Wisdom is defined as "an understanding of what is true, right, or lasting." Biblical wisdom is not merely the accumulation of facts about God and his teaching, but the application of those truths of life, taking on
the character of God as we mature in the image of Christ.
Such wisdom may, indeed, come at great cost. Jesus calls us to "lay
down our lives" to follow him - perhaps not literally to die, but to die
to self-centered priorities, to allow the Holy Spirit to establish
his value system in us.
"Keep my commandments and you will live," Proverbs 4:4 says. Real life -
rich, fulfilling, significant, abundant life - comes only through union
with God. The success offered by the world, the acclaim of others, material prosperity and convenience cannot satisfy us once we have tasted
the joy of life with God in Christ.

Application

a) What does "getting wisdom" means to me?

b) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on the priorities and values of the Lord?


4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

Mark 4:23-29

23 (Mk 4:9; Mt 11:15) "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 (Mt 7:2) He said to them, "Take heed what you hear.
The measure you give will be measured for you,
and to you who hear will more be given.
25 (Mt 13:12; Lk 8:18) For to him who has will more be given.
And from him who has not will be taken, even what he has."

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 (Mt 13:24) He said, "The kingdom of God is like a man
who scatters seed on the ground.
27 (Ecc 11:5) He sleeps and rises night and day,
and the seed sprouts and grows; he does not know how.
28 For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade,
then the head, then the full seed in the head.
29 (Joel 3:13) But when the grain is ripe,
immediately he applies the sickle because the harvest has come."

23 "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. "
24 And he said unto them, "Take heed what ye hear:
with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you:
and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not,
from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should
cast seed into the ground;
27 and should sleep, and rise night and day,
and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade,
then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth,
immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."

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

God's Gift of Salvation

Ps 51:1-13

PSALMS 51

For the Music Director. A Psalm of David,
when Nathan the Prophet came to him,
after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your lovingkindness;
according to the abundance of Your compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2 ) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) For I acknowledge my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Against You, You only, have I sinned,
and done this evil in Your sight,
so that You are justified when You speak,
and You are blameless when You judge.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin my mother conceived me.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) You desire truth in the inward parts,
and in the hidden part You make me to know wisdom.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3 ) Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Make me to hear joy and gladness,
that the bones that You have broken may rejoice.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) Hide Your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Do not cast me away from Your presence,
and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and uphold me with Your willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.

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.
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?)

Quebec

Quick facts on Muslims in Quebec

Quebec 2015 population 8214 000

est Muslim Population 418946

CNMM Networks: Montreal

There is a growing Muslim population in Quebec City and a smattering
of Muslims scattered around the rest of the province, yet the vast majority
of Muslims live in the greater Montreal area. n fact, 23% of Canada's Muslim population live in Quebec. Why is that? It is largely because Francophone African Muslims are attracted to La Belle Provence.
And here's an interesting, perhaps even shocking fact: There are more
Muslims in Montreal than there are evangelical Christians.
This is one demographic factor creates a challenging environment for churches and believers here: The size of the available 'workforce' is small
by comparison to begin with. Believers are already is a host culture that
is often either indifferent to religion or resistant to it. And now
this 'new' religious community of Muslims - many of whom do not visibly
or socially conform to Quebec society - are a growing population. It might br easy for Christians to feel overwhelm by this cultural double-whammy,
yet God has always worked miracles through the small, the few.
Agree in prayer for :

- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.

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!

And

Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.

"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.

Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.

As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.

Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.

I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs. God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."

13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.

[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

ROMANS 15:13

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 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;)
5casting 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.

Conclusion:

Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him earnestly.

Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, I trust You today with whatever comes my way."

Pray to the Lord and pray to keep His Commandments and Seek His Wisdom.

Pray to the Lord and pray to harvest in His Name.

Pray to the Lord and pray for Him to create a clean heart in you.

Agree in prayer for Quebec:

- The people of Quebec, Muslim or otherwise, to be open to the Gospel
- for Muslims who are encountering believers and responding
-for a new group of Muslim background believers who are meeting
together for worship!
- For pastors and believers to be full of passion, faith and vision for
reaching Muslims in Quebec.

- 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.

Using Psalm 23,

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
[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.

pray that Congolese Christians in
<a href="https://www.vomcanada.com/Table/Resources-News-Articles/DR-Congo/">
DR CONGO</a> will receive care and comfort from the "Good Shepherd."

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 doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; 31 years in the ISP business!
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