Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(6/2/23)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 6/2/23 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Luke 11

Jesus and Beelzebul

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

_______________________________________________________

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.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father in Heaven,
How Hallowed,
Magnificent,
and Sanctified
is Your Most Holy Name!
How Blessed and How True is Your Word,
and How Mighty!
How Glorious,
to Span the Millennia,
To be Unfettered by Time and Space,
To Know The End from the Beginning
and the beginning from The End!
For it is You, Oh LORD,
Who designed the Galaxies with Your Compass,
And Mapped Out the Vast Reaches of Space
With Your Word and Your Omniscient Imagination!
Scientists tell us even the heavens are finite.
But YOU are Infinite!
LORD, remind us ALWAYS to Worship You,
and not Your Creation.
Your creation is there but to proclaim YOUR GLORY.
Hallelujah and Amen.

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

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Luke 11

Jesus and Beelzebul

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

_______________________________________________________

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.

Last Evening, Nathan, one of my students, was in a Talent Show at his Middle School. I worked diligently with him, coaching him for the big performance. He was allowed two songs, so he decided to merge "Arabesque" by Bergemueller, with a tune from the Video Game "Legend of Zelda" (Song of Storms). These pieces were in two different keys and required a transitional passage to get from one to the other. Nathan and I composed a whole middle section to unite the songs and change the key smoothly. It went beautifully, and a person in the audience came up later to comment upon it. We all went out for Ice Cream afterward, and got into a conversation about wind instruments. This, of course, prompted a story from me, which was originally shared with me by my own Mom, so I know it's true.

Johnny, an accordion player who was a good friend of Mom's, was asked by his agent to put together a Dixieland Trio for a Wake. While such a thing may be common in New Orleans, it was quite weird in Boston, but with was the deceased's request that Dixieland Jazz be played at his Funeral. It was not allowed in his church, so the Wake would have to suffice. Johnny pulled together a Drummer and a Trombone Player to round out his trio, and the three set up right next to the open casket in the Funeral Home. When all the people were seated, with the Widow in the first row, Johnny and the guys started playing "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Suddenly, on the cheek of the Deceased, there glistened a Teardrop! How could this be? The Widow screamed, jumped up out of her seat, ran up to the casket, and pulled the body (which was only clothed from the waist up) out of the casket and onto the floor. Pandemonium reigned! Finally, after physically restraining the Widow, the attendants replaced the body back into the casket, tucked him in, and resumed the Service. Johnny and the guys started playing again. Then, a Teardrop glistened on the OTHER cheek of the dead man.

The scene became uncontrollable. The Widow had to be taken out of the room and sedated. When everything was calmed down again, the Service resumed, but this time the Trombone Player sat still and didn't play.

When Johnny later asked him why he didn't play, the Trombone player whispered to him that the "Teardrops" were actually saliva coming out of the bell of his Trombone. (You Can't Make This Stuff Up.)

Now, why on earth would I share this crazy story on this very serious Thread? It actually goes perfectly with the situation depicted in Today's Reading.

Jesus has just delivered an unfortunate man who was mute because of a demon. If the man had been mute because of a physical problem, Jesus would have Healed him. Dr. Luke is always careful to make that differentiation. This was a Supernatural problem, and required Spiritual intervention.

And so, Jesus casts out the demon and the man speaks. This is truly miraculous, and served as a Sign that Jesus was Who He said He was. The Pharisees, however, are jealous of Jesus's power and attribute this miracle to Beelzebub, a pagan deity known as "The Lord of the Flies". We know who THAT is. What an insult! Jesus handles their insults deftly, with the Famous Quote: "A Kingdom Divided Against Itself Will Not Stand". Satan is not going to cast out Satan!

Then the Pharisees demand a Supernatural "Sign" that Jesus is the Messiah. Well, DUH, He just cast a demon out of a man who had been mute all his life, and now could speak. If that wasn't a sign, what is?

The exact opposite of the Pharisees are those who interpret EVERYTHING as demonic or supernatural...like mistaking saliva for teardrops on the face of a corpse.

The moral of this story is that most things have a perfectly logical scientific explanation. We live in a Wonderful, miraculous world.

But, once in a while, the line between the Natural and the Supernatural is crossed, and you better make sure you NEVER ascribe the Work of the Holy Spirit to the other one (you know who I mean). In Matthew, this is described as the one Unpardonable Sin, so you do NOT want to go there.

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]

You are a very gifted story teller, you made the scene at the funeral parlor alive! Thank you for the laughs..

Joining in prayer. God bless.

[left that other site]

Thank you, Dear Friend! (((HUGS)))

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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 127

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.*

3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has
his quiver full of them.
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers and Wonderful Psalm 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

[redryder_90]

Amen

[TianaHighrider]

Thank you. Blessings and Prayers up.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, redryder_90, 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

[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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

So much Wisdom in the words of Jesus.

I recall Abraham Lincoln used the phrase: a house divided against itself will fall, when saving the Union during the Civil War.

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.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Jeanbl]

That story had me almost at the edge of my seat haha!! That must have been crazy. Thank you for always sharing and bringing to point the things related to the LORD and His Kingdom that we may learn from it. Blessing! as always praying for the Peace of Jerusalem, the Salvation of all Israel, and the Salvation of all our families. In JESUS MIGHTY and PRECIOUS NAME.

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Many years ago, I used to subscribe to a musicians magazine that had a special feature at the back called “Gigs From Hell”. Readers would send in their stories, and some of them were pretty wild. But Johnny’s story was the best I had ever heard. And I know that every word is TRUE. LOL. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :-)

[left that other site]

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