Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(3/8/22)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 3/8/22 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Philemon

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes

a Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
b Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.

_______________________________________________________

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Oh LORD Our God
How Excellent is Your Name Over All The Earth!
You Alone Are Worthy To Be Praised,
For You Alone Are The One True God Of Abraham!
Holy, Holy , Holy, Are You,
LORD God of Power And Might,
Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent,
And Yet, You Are "The God Who Sees"
even the smallest personal thing in our lives.

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.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

When I was a teenager, I went through a period of searching. I tried a lot of "religions", and finally decided that the one with the best art and music would be the one I would choose. (that is NOT the best way to choose a religion, but I was a musician and an artist, and it looked like as good a method as any to me.) Since I spoke a little Russian, and loved the music from that part of the world, I decided to try out the Eastern Orthodox Churches in my neighborhood. There were four of them: The Greek Orthodox Church, The Syrian Orthodox Church, The Russian Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. All were accessable by bus, so I tried them all. I didn't understand the Greek or Arabic, and the Russian Church was just getting off the ground so it didn't have much of a choir. The Ukrainian Church, however, was well established and had the most beautiful choir I had ever heard. And so, I went to a few services, stood for two hours amid the billowing incense, and was transported into heaven by the magnificent singing. Some people noticed me and spoke to me, and I, being an ignorant teenager, responded back in Russian. I had no idea how offensive I was being. I did not realize that Ukraine and Russian had centuries of bitterness between them, knew nothing of the Holdomor, and had no idea that the people who looked so much alike, sounded alike, and had the same religion could be such bitter enemies. I felt very uncomfortable and ashamed of my own stupidity, and stopped going.

The Book of Philemon is about a very touchy subject. Onesimus is an escaped slave who had come to Faith in Christ through Paul's preaching. He became very helpful to Paul, who was in prison at the time, and also became a good friend. Paul depended on him for a lot, and it would be a great loss to him if Onesimus went away.

Meanwhile, Onesimus's master Philemon also was a Believer and friend to Paul. This put Paul in a very awkward position. As much as we despise slavey, it was legal at the time, and Philemon suffered economically by Onesimus's escape. Paul was in a quandary. How could he preach obedience to the authorities and harbor an escaped slave? How could he defraud a fellow believer, or return a fellow believer to the condition of slavery? This was a situation that required intense prayer. This letter to Philemon is the result.

Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter. He askes that Philemon welcome Onesimus as a BROTHER, not a slave. He then takes resposibility for any financial hardship this may have caused. (I imagine the financial loss would have been considerable), and says "Charge it to my account.".

While my personal story may not seem relevant to today's reading, it shows how people who profess the same Faith can be extremely hostile to one another. The past wrongs are not imagined. They are real. Slavery, Starvation, Oppression, Torture, and Invasion are unforgivable offenses. And yet, Jesus says "Charge it to My Account."

As we pray together today, please remember the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia, who don't seem to be supportive of this war either. May their common faith unite them in Peace, in Jesus Name, Amen.

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

[etabeta]

My prayers always for the World, especially today for the people of Russia and Ukraine. God bless.

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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

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 86

A Prayer of David.

1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of supplication.
7 In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and bow down before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name for ever.
13 For great is your steadfast love towards me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, the insolent rise up against me;
a band of ruffians seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the child of your serving-maid.
17 Show me a sign of your favour,
so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

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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

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thank you, Mary-Lou, for this excellent exposition extrapolating from the transcendant letter to Philemon. I add my prayers for the frightened people in that region: AMEN!

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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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Jeanbl]

Oh AMEN. Joining in Prayer.

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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

[Hiskid]

Amen