Prayer A to Z

This is our thirty-third study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.

John 7:45-49

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law — there is a curse on them.”

Observations

The temple guards were sent out by the Pharisees to arrest Jesus. But they did not arrest Him because His words struck at their heart. The temple guards were religiously trained Levites and so they were impressed with Jesus words, and they probably struck them as full of truth. But in contrast, the Pharisees were not…

I love a mystery

Everyday is a new day

a mysterious day

a day of wonder and

a day of love and grace.

He gives us all we need and more

He gives us a delight to see

a wonder in the sky

a mystic sky

Nancy Pelosi is the great instigator against Donald Trump; but she is the one who failed to order the National Guard. We really should demand a full investigation of her. It would be just like her to plan much of the chaos on January 6^th and lay the blame on Trump. As soon as Republicans get more power in both houses and the Senate, a full investigation of Pelosi should be done—for justice’s sake.

But until that time we the people can do things. We can demand an explanation. We can demand to know why. She needs to be put on the hot seat. And we the people need to know why she did not call the National Guard, and why she is leading the charge against Trump. So far, almost nothing is said about it. So far, people think she is in the clear, that she in innocent…

As I see it, there are three great purposes for the Tribulation: 1) to prepare Israel for her Messiah; 2) to bring judgment on all unbelievers and unbelieving nations; and 3) to bring salvation to the repentant lost.

1. To prepare Israel for her Messiah.This is probably the most primary purpose—that God would use His wrath to prepare Israel by tribulation, and thus to cause them to repent of their rebellion against Him. And I suppose the most well-known passage that declares by decree how Israel will come to repentance is Daniel 9:24.

According to this six-point decree and prophecy through the angel Gabriel, “Seven weeks [or 490 years] have been decreed for your people and your holy city…” The first two promises by decree are…”to finish the transgression [and]; to make an end of sin…” we will stop there because, out of the six, these two have most…

This is our thirty-second study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.

Luke 19:38-40

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Observations

When Jesus’ followers were praising Him as they came to Jerusalem, the Pharisees were offended. They didn’t think He deserved praise because they didn’t think He was the Messiah. But Jesus rightly did not stop their praise. He instead referred to the Psalms, saying that even the stones will praise Him (see Ps 96:11 and 98:7-9).

Application

Those that don’t believe will naturally be offended when believers praise Him. But all those who truly believe will be joyful and join the praises.

This is an adaption of a blog I did three years ago, however the ideas are timeless. Happy New year.

Eight Ways To Develop Earnest Prayer for 2022

Ask God for it.If you prayed that your prayers would be more earnest, do you think God would grant your request? Think about it… Of course, He would! Because that kind of prayer will always be according to His will. It’s a prayer that won’t be refused.

Have a regular prayer time.Be faithful to God in your prayer times. And most importantly, have one regular prayer time and stick with it. The loyalty you show the Lord in your showing up at appointed times for prayer will surely pay off. He will reward you for your loyalty by stirring up in your mind desires that burn for righteousness and for the conversion of lost souls. He will give you His…

I usually have a few New Year’s resolutions. Not this year. I guess I’ll just let the Lord lead me. Here are some things happening with me.

Getting over covid. I never got very sick. I had a very low-grade fever, some weakness, some chills, a general lack of desire to do much, and a cough that at first made the muscles in my chest really hurt. I think that’s about it. I still have a cough. I’m sure it will linger for a while.

Reading Pilgrim’s Progress. I have had a couple copies of the book and have read maybe half of it. For some reason I never really got into it. This time I’m more into it—I have more patience now to read it. It’s actually quite fun. It’s one of those very old books written in the 1600’s that was very popular in its time, but not…

The source of Tribulation during the seven year Tribulation period is primarily the execution of God’s wrath on the earth. This wrath, as we will see from the following verses, is different from what we have now. It is much more intense and with a purpose. Here, without any comment, is a few references on the One who will bring wrath to the earth during the Tribulation period. Notice, for emphasis the bold type.

Isaiah 24:1-6

Behold, the Lord lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants. 2 And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor. 3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and…

This is our thirty-first study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.

Luke 17:20-21

20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Observations

John MacArthur has stated that the Pharisees “may have asked the question mockingly, having already concluded that He was not the Messiah.” Jesus’ response no doubt surprised the Pharisees; they believed that the Messiah’s triumph would be immediate. They were looking for Him to overthrow Rome. They most certainly were not thinking that they needed to look within them for the kingdom.

Application

The kingdom of God is within us. And we need to make Him our Lord.