Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(12/26/21)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 12/26/21 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Luke 23

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

_______________________________________________________

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father in Heaven,
How Blessed and Wonderful is Your Most Holy Name!
How Magnificent,
How Holy,
How Sanctified and Glorious!
When I Awake in the Morning,
You Are There.
All through the day,
You Are With Me.
And When I go to Sleep at Night,
You Are Still Watching Over Us All.
For You Neither Slumber Nor Sleep.

Let all that has been Concealed
Be Revealed.

Father, We Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem,
According To Your Will and Promise.
We Pray That You Will Forgive The Sins
of Our Own Nation,
and Lead us all to Godly Repentance.
Create in Us Clean Hearts, Oh LORD,
and Renew a Right Spirit Within Us.

This we Pray Together,
As We Await Your Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Set Up His Kingdom,
And Make All Things Right.

Let all that has Been Concealed,
Be Revealed.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Today's Passage may seem like an odd one for the Topic of Prayer. But, if we look carefully at it, we wil see that there are many prayers that occur in this brief account.

1. The Challenge:

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

God is not to be mocked, but there is such a thing as a prayer that starts out "God, if You are really out there..." This is NOT a good way to start a prayer, but there are a few examples of it in Scripture. Gideon became unfortunately famous for this kind of prayer, and even set conditions (by putting a fleece on the ground) to determine if God was for real. Luckily for Gideon, God did not smite him on the spot. Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist, wasn't so lucky. When he tested God, he was struck dumb for nine months.

The Crowd and the Soldiers were not exactly praying, but their mockery and sarcasm revealed an inner longing for a miracle. Why were they even there? One wonders if it had only been a routine execution of a few theives, would there have even been a crowd? Speculation, I know. But I believe that there is an inner need in all of us to be reconciled to Our Creator. There is also, however, a thick layer of sarcasm, disbelief, and sin that insulates that need. Only God's Grace is able to crack it open.

2. Two ways of Facing Death:

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

When a certain serial killer went to the execution chamber, he declaimed a poem called "Invictus". He refused the ministrations of the prison chaplain and defied God to the end. There have been others who have repented of their sins, even though they knew it would not prevent their execution. They knew they were about to die, but at least went to their deaths believing in God.

When I was a little kid with my own self-righteous take on everything, I didn't understand the story of the "Workers in the Vineyard". Like the ones who had worked all day, I resented the ones who came in at the last minute and got the same wages as I did! I felt that the owner of the vineyard was some kind of communist for paying everybody the same. IT WASN'T FAIR!!! It wasn't until I experienced the joy of salvation by the incomprehensible, amazing, Grace of God that I understood the Parable. Jesus wasn't talking about vineyards, or farm labor, or hours, or wages. He was talking about Salvation. The Good Thief was saved by his Faith and received the same Grace and Salvation as any of the Apostles who had been with Jesus the whole time.

3. The Prayer of Submission to God's Will:

"Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit."

The Last Words f Jesus, reported a few verses later, are the Ultimate Prayer of Submission the the Will of God. Death is the universal constant for all of us, whether by Illness, Accident, or even a Crime. The important thing is how we face it. Will we challenge God, defy Him, or even mock Him? Or will we repent, and submit ourselves to His Will and be with Him in Paradise?

By the way, it's much more pleasant to not wait until one is facing death to make this decision. I know. I made it 40 years ago! :-)

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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 17

A Prayer of David.

1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2 From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.

3 If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
4 As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O saviour of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who despoil me,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They track me down;* now they surround me;
they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14 from mortals—by your hand, O Lord—
from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
may their children have more than enough;
may they leave something over to their little ones.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

[etabeta]

My prayers always. God bless.

[TianaHighrider]

Amen and Praise God. Prayers up. And prayers for our non-beliving loved ones too. May God fill them with His Love.

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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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

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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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

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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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

The Cross divides men and women—like two thieves.

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

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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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

Amen

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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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Jeanbl]

AMEN, thank you. Joining in prayer together.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Jeanbl, 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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS