Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Acts 10

Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

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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.

Yesterday, we had a "Troll Attack" on this thread, and it took a while for our faithful but very busy moderator to remove it. The responses were interesting. Some folks posted a rebuke, some private mailed me to offer support, and some prayed for the attacker. The offending comment has since been removed. This happens quite frequently, and we are all used to it. "Trolls" think that they are being original and provocative, but they really aren't. After all, we've been gathering together for prayer and fellowship on this Thread for 13.5 YEARS, and have seen it all. LOL.

On my way to work yesterday, I stopped into a consignment store to see if I could find some crates to hold all my records. The crate has to be 13" square in order to accommodate LP's, and only antique milk crates fit the bill. The newer ones, made of plastic, are only 12" square. The consignment shop might have what I need. The first floor of the shop is very "trendy" and seems to specialize in the occult and Eastern Religions. The furniture consignments are upstairs. I waltzed past the Buddha statues, dream-catchers, and incense burners and went up the long stairway, and found...NOTHING. So I limped back down the stairs and was confronted with this sign:

So, among the Idols, the Dream-catchers, the Crystals, and the Tarot Cards was this sign. It made me think about the Troll Attack on the Thread earlier. Just like Peter, surrounded by Gentiles and Pagans, and lodging with a TANNER (someone who processed the hides of dead animals) the sign that was allegedly found as a handwritten note on the walls of Mother Theresa's Orphanage in Calcutta shone in the midst of that Pagan Environment.

Cornelius the Centurion was a Roman through and through. he was a high-ranking officer in the Roman Army and was in charge of 100 men. From the Text, we can infer that he was stationed in a troublesome province, but still had his own home and his family with him.

Yet, some may infer that this fine officer may have "gone native" during his posting. Here he was, being kind to the people he was supposed to be oppressing as a member of an occupying force, and PRAYING TO THEIR GOD! (Now, remember, the Ancient Romans had a whole Pantheon of gods and goddesses, so this was weird!)

How could this happen? Would Cornelius find himself in trouble with his commanding officer for this outreach? Was he powerful enough that he could get away with it? While Cornelius wasn't the FIRST Gentile to Believe, he was the first Gentile to receive the Gospel from Peter. Peter didn't like Gentiles very much, and who could blame him, after what he had been through.

But God needed to deal with Peter on this matter, and it was to be Cornelius who would be the person upon whom this grace would rest.

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

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.*

For the mockers, haters, pagans, deniers, unbelievers and the lost. Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do.

Prayer Of Forgiveness For Enemies

Heavenly Father, how I bless and thank You for the goodness, grace and forgiveness that You have extended to me. I pray that You would develop in me a genuine spirit of true forgiveness towards others, knowing what grace and mercy You have showered upon me through Christ. Lord I want to follow in the example of Jesus and be tender hearted and full of forgiveness towards others, knowing how much God in Christ has forgiven me.

Help me to speak the truth in love and to never to repay evil for evil but rather to show love, grace and mercy towards my enemies and to pray for those that are unkind and spiteful. Endow me with a spirit of love for my enemies.. for I know that this is not something that I can do on my own – it is not something that I can do without Your sufficient grace and strength.

Thank You that in Christ I have all that I need for life and godliness and that in Him I have all that I need to forgive others as Christ forgave me - and so Father forgive my enemies I pray, and bring them all to saving faith in Christ – in Whose name I pray

Amen

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-of-forgiveness-for-enemies-4206