Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem(1/28/21)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 1/28/21 | left that other site

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Lambs, Sheep, and Shepherds

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Acts 8:26-40

Philip and the Ethiopian

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

New International Version (NIV)(End of Scripture Passage)

The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading Isaiah Chapter 53.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Oh LORD, Our God!
You Have Made The Heavens,
And The Earth By Your Great Power,
By Your Word and By Your Outstretched Arm,
And Your Have Given Us Your Breath of Life By Your Sovereign Will.
Nothing is Impossible For You,
Indeed, Nothing Surprises You,
For You Are The Beginning and The End,
The Aleph~Tav,
The Alpha and the Omega.

LORD, We Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem,
According To Your Will and Promise.
We Beseech You on Behalf of Our Captive Brethren,
Christians and Jews,
In Bondage in Hostile lands.

We Pray For Our Beloved USA
We Ask That Your People Receive Wisdom from You
To do the Right Thing.
We Pray For The Swift and Sure Coming of Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Establish His Kingdom,
and Make All Things Right.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

A year ago, a certain pastor fasted for a week and prayed that God would send musicians to his church so that they would have a Worship Team. There was a beautiful piano on the stage, but nobody could play it. The pastor believed God would answer his prayer, so he placed a drum kit, a bass amplifier, some microphones, and an electronic keyboard up on the platform, and plugged them in. Then COVID hit, and the church was shut down. Little by little, the church was prepared to reopen, Pews were removed and replaced with chairs set six feet apart, everything was sanitized thoroughly, and a member of the church used the "downtime" to install a new sound system. The instruments stood empty and unused as the congregation trickled back and sang along with projected videos.

On the First Sunday of Advent 2020, Free Republic was down due to a change in servers. Frustrated that I could not post the Morning Thread, I decided to check out the little church down the road that said they were having indoor services again. Some other folks (I assumed thay were members of the church) showed up at the same time I did. We all donned our masks and went inside. I saw the instruments on the stage and thought, "OK. They already have a worship team. They won't be needing me, I guess." Then we all sang along with videos. It was a nice service, and the preaching was Biblical, but who was going to play those instruments?

Then I discovered that six other brand-new people had shown up that morning, who didn't know me, or each other, but had felt a need to attend THAT church on THAT particular morning. One of them was a drummer, whose wife plays keyboard. One of them was a preacher, whose wife is an awesome singer and song-leader. Another one plays guitar, and his friend knows how to assist the sound man. The seventh person in this group of Newbies was me. Unbeknownst to each other, and for different reasons, we all converged upon that church on the same morning. How's that for answered prayer? I am going to have to re-evaluate my thoughts on FASTING!

Today's story from the Book of Acts is about the Ethiopian Eunuch, and Philip's "Divine Appointment".

I have always loved this story. There are so many things we can learn from it. The "otherness" of the Ethiopian Eunuch and his eagerness to hear the Gospel speak to us from across the centuries. Here are a few things we should remember when reading this story:

1. The man was a eunuch. These unfortunate people had been sexually mutilated to make them docile slaves of their masters. Often, they were used to guard the women of the harem. Some eunuchs rose in positions of trust and authority within the hierarchy because they seemed to pose no "threat". They were very numerous in the ancient courts of Asia and Africa. In both the Biblical Books of Daniel and Esther, we read how powerful eunuchs in the royal court could become. In Israel, however, this practice was frowned upon. In fact, a man who had been sexually mutilated could not enter the Temple. He also, of course, could not have children, which was a disaster for the people of that culture. And, so, this Ethiopian, even though he had achieved the position of "Finance Minister" to the Queen of Ethiopia, was still a slave. A rich and powerful slave, perhaps, but but still a slave.

2. He was a Gentile. Although there are Ethiopian People who identify as Jews, this man was ethnically an African, rather than a Middle Eastern Jewish person. While this may not bother you or me, it would have been a big distinction back in those times

3. He was obviously a Seeker. He was reading the Book of Isaiah, and fascinated by it, even though he didn't understand the Scriptures.

4. Philip "just happened" to be there. We folks who speak "Christianese" call this a "Divine Appointment". What were the odds of the Finance Minister of The Queen of Ethiopia riding a chariot, reading Isaiah 53 out loud on the way back home from Jerusalem, passing within the hearing of one of Jesus's Apostles, in the middle of the desert? And there just happened to be some water nearby for a baptism? In the middle of NOWHERE?

God uses these appointments to show us His Amazing Grace and Sovereignty. He sees the beginning from the End, because He IS The Beginning and The End. He is The One Who holds all things together.

And...there are NO "coincidences".

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 10

1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

3 For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,
those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.
4 In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, ‘God will not seek it out’;
all their thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’

5 Their ways prosper at all times;
your judgements are on high, out of their sight;
as for their foes, they scoff at them.
6 They think in their heart, ‘We shall not be moved;
throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.’

7 Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.
8 They sit in ambush in the villages;
in hiding-places they murder the innocent.

Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
9 they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;
they lurk that they may seize the poor;
they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.

10 They stoop, they crouch,
and the helpless fall by their might.
11 They think in their heart, ‘God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it.’

12 Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God,
and say in their hearts, ‘You will not call us to account’?

14 But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,
that you may take it into your hands;
the helpless commit themselves to you;
you have been the helper of the orphan.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;
seek out their wickedness until you find none.
16 The Lord is king for ever and ever;
the nations shall perish from his land.

17 O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
18 to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
so that those from earth may strike terror no more.

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Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[etabeta]

My prayers always. God bless.

[left that other site]

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Etabeta, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

Amen. What a great story! (both the Biblical one and yours!)

[Hebrews 11:6]

And...there are NO "coincidences".

God controls everything, including attendance at church services. Which is why I never "gamble" on games of chance; if God wants to send me more money, He knows where to find me.

However, I do pray, because it is an explicit acknowledgement of His super-sovereignty. So, I join with your wise prayer and add my "Amen!"

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And just think...If I hadn't "offended" that other site by calling Ob*ma "The Lyin' King", I wouldn't have "left that other site".

And, if I hadn't "left that other site", I wouldn't have joined FR.

If I never joined FR, this Thread would not exist.

If this thread didn't exist, then I wouldn't have known or cared if the site was down ten years later.

If I didn't know or care that the site was down, I wouldn't have gone to church on the First Sunday of Advent, 2020.

And, If I hadn't gone to that particular church on that particular Sunday, the congregation may have gotten a different piano/bass player, or may even still be singing with videos.

At least Ob*ma was useful for SOMETHING!

God works in mysterious ways.

[left that other site]

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hebrews 11:6, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[TianaHighrider]

“...there are NO “coincidences”
God indeed answers prayers and sees all.

Blessed be and Amen 🙏

[left that other site]

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, TianaHighrider, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

Phillip opens up the Gospel to the sons of Ham.

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem and for our beloved America.

[left that other site]

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, NEWwoman, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

LOVE IT!...AND YOU.

[left that other site]

(((HUGS)))

[Pajamajan]

Amen.

[Jeanbl]

AMEN! Joining in Prayer

[left that other site]

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Pajamajan, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.



This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS