Thursday Morning Scripture (Wk36/2021) – Hebrews 11:32-40

The Triumphs of Faith

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 who by faith [that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises] subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,

34 extinguished the power of [raging] fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty and unbeatable in battle, putting enemy forces to flight.

35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured [to death], refusing to accept release [offered on the condition of denying their faith], so that they would be resurrected to a better life;

36 and others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging [amid torture], and even chains and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned [to death], they were sawn in two, they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith], they were put to death by the sword; they went about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated

38 (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all of these, though they gained [divine] approval through their faith, did not receive [the fulfillment of] what was promised,

40 because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us.

Hebrews 11:32-40 AMP)

Wednesday Morning Prayer (Wk36/2021)

Almighty God, I awake giving You all glory, honour, thanks and praise. I place this day in Your Hands and ask You to use it for Your glory.

Today, I thank You for Your Word, which uplifts me to higher heights and lowers me to deeper depths in understanding and knowing You. In the Book of Matthew, You say that I am called to be perfect, as You are. Therefore, it is possible. My only hope is in Yeshua HaMashiach, who died for me; by Whom I receive salvation because of His death and resurrection. Help me as I explain this to others and attempt to draw them nearer to You. Increase my faith as I enter this day and bring to memory all the many things You have done for me, and those of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Rahab. Rahab, who is someone that so many can relate to but would never think that salvation was something that could be reached or that they could be used. May all I make contact with, be open and ready to hear Your message and understand. Equip me with the knowledge and the wisdom to speak the Words sent by You. Prepare the way. Your Word says that Yeshua is The Way, The Truth and The Life; anoint me to share it and anoint others to receive it. My Father and my God, I trust in You.

Protect my life (soul), for I am godly and faithful; O You my God, save Your servant, who trusts in You [believing in You and relying on You, confidently committing everything to You].

Psalm 86:2 (AMP)

There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future], But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.

Proverbs 21:20 (AMP)

Surely there is a future [and a reward], And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:18 (AMP)

Know that [skillful and godly] wisdom is [so very good] for your life and soul; If you find wisdom, then there will be a future and a reward, And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.

Proverbs 24:14 (AMP)

You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 (AMP)

20 Now may the Elohim of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Yeshua, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),

21 Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages).

Amen (So be it)

Hebrews 13:20:21 (AMPC)

Wednesday Morning Scripture (Wk36/2021) – Hebrews 11:17-31

The Triumphs of Faith

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested [that is, as the testing of his faith was still in progress], offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises [of God] was ready to sacrifice his only son [of promise];

18 to whom it was said, “Through Isaac your descendants shall be called.”

19 For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau [believing what God revealed to him], even regarding things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, referred to [the promise of God for] the exodus of the sons of Israel [from Egypt], and gave instructions concerning [the burial of] his bones [in the land of the promise].

23 By faith Moses, after his birth, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful and divinely favored child; and they were not afraid of the king’s (Pharaoh’s) decree.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25 because he preferred to endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

26 He considered the reproach of the Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God].

27 By faith he left Egypt, being unafraid of the wrath of the king; for he endured [steadfastly], as seeing Him who is unseen.

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts], so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them (the firstborn of Israel).

29 By faith the people [of Israel] crossed the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; but when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days [by Joshua and the sons of Israel].

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies [sent by the sons of Israel] in peace.

Hebrews 11: 17-31 (AMP)

Tuesday Morning Prayer (Wk36/2021)

Abba! Father! I come to You this morning, giving You all glory, honour and praise. I not only thank You for another chance to do things I was unable to do yesterday…….I am thankful for another day. For it was not anything I did, but it was all about You!

Today, I ask for Your glory to be made manifest within me. Your Word tells me I can do ALL things through You who empowers me. Therefore, there is no thing that I cannot do. You have made me so, You know how fickle the mind of man can be and realise we pray for things over and over and over again; at times not being sure what we want to do, when we want to do it, how it is possible or even if it will happen. But, today, in You I put my trust. It is all possible within You. One thing I can be sure of is that I will always do Your will. Help me to be patient as I wait. Time after time it is possible for me to visually see the work of Your hands; when it can’t be seen, it can be felt. As each day goes by we hear more about wars, destruction, man’s non-compliance with law, having no value for their fellow-man’s lives and it becomes hard to think of a future here on earth. So, I put my focus on the promises You hold for me. I focus on Your Word, which advises me of Your plans to prosper me, not harm me but to give me a future and a hope. I focus on You who are the Elohim of peace. I am the apple of Your eye. No matter what is happening on the interior or the exterior of my country, or my own personal space, I have an expected end. My Father and my God, I trust in You.

For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you—for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

Deuteronomy 32:10 (AMP)

For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you—for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

Zechariah 2:8 (AMP)

Keep me [in Your affectionate care, protect me] as the apple of Your eye; Hide me in the [protective] shadow of Your wings

Psalm 17:8 (AMP)

Keep my commandments and live, And keep my teaching and law as the apple of your eye.

Proverbs 7:8 (AMP)

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)

20 Now may the Elohim of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Yeshua, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),

21 Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages).

Amen (So be it)

Hebrews 13:20-21 (AMPC)

Tuesday Morning Scripture (Wk36/2021) – Hebrews 11:7-16

The Triumphs of Faith

7 By faith [with confidence in God and His word] Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this [act of obedience] he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.

10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word].

12 So from one man, though he was [physically] as good as dead, were born as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.

15 And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return.

16 But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:7-16 (AMP)