2 Peter 3:13

2 Peter 3:13 "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was LET HIM DWELL IN US AND US DWELL IN HIM. Isaiah 33:5 is a cross reference "The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness."

2 Peter 2:19

2 Peter 2:19 "promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved." My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was LET US BE CONSUMED (OVERCOME) WITH CHRIST. Romans 6:16 is a cross-reference "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"

2 Peter 1:9

2 Peter 1:9 "For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins." My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was DON'T LET US FORGET CHRIST'S PURIFICATION FOR OUR SINS. Titus 2:14 is a cross-reference, "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

Jude 1:3

Jude 1:3 "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us contend earnestly for the faith.

2 Peter 3:18

2 Peter 3:18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us grow in grace and knowledge.  Luke 2:40 is a cross-reference, "The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him."

2 Peter 2:2

2 Peter 2:2 "Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was don't let us malign the way of truth.  Ezekiel 36:20-21 serve as a cross-reference, "When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD; yet they have come out of His land.  But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went."  The word profaned is used in vv. 22-23 as well.

2 Peter 1:6

2 Peter 1:6 "and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us persevere in godliness.  1 Timothy 4:8 is a cross-reference, "for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Jude 1:2

Jude 1:2 "May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was may mercy and peace be multiplied to us.  Galatians 6:16 is a cross-reference, "And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God."

2 Peter 3:12

2 Peter 3:12 "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us look for and hasten the coming of the day of God.  Romans 8:18-19 is a cross-reference, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God."

2 Peter 2:9

2 Peter 2:9 "then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us be godly and trust the Lord's rescue.  Revelation 3:10 is a cross-reference, "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."

2 Peter 1:12

2 Peter 1:12 "Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us be established in the truth.  2 John 1:2 is a cross-reference, "for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever."

Jude 1:21

Jude 1:21 "keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us wait anxiously for the mercy of Jesus.  Titus 2:13 is a cross-reference, "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:17

2 Peter 3:17 "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was don't let us fall.  Revelation 2:5 is a cross-reference, "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp-stand out of its place--unless you repent."

2 Peter 2:21

2 Peter 2:21 "For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was, don't let us turn away from you.  Galatians 6:8 is a cross-reference, "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

2 Peter 1:4

2 Peter 1:4 "For by these He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this chapter was let us be partakers of the divine nature.  A cross-reference from that is Hebrews 12:10, "For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness."

Psalm 119:65

Psalm 119:65, "Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us love your word and avoid stumbling.  A cross-reference was to Isaiah 63:13, "Who led them through the depths?  Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble."  Just before that verse in Isaiah there seemed to be a distinction between grieving the Holy Spirit and honoring the Holy Spirit in their midst.  We should protect the glory of God and not stumble.

Psalm 119:54

Psalm 119:54, "Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was redeem us and revive us.  A cross-reference was to Ruth 4:14, Then the woman said to Naomi, 'Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel."

Psalm 119:97

Psalm 119:97, "O how I love Your law!  It is my meditation all the day."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us love the Word and meditate on it.  A cross-reference is Joshua 1:8 a, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night..."

Psalm 119:77

Psalm 119:77, "May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight."  May KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us live aware of Your compassion.  A cross-reference is Deuteronomy 30:3, "then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you."

Psalm 119:38

Psalm 119:38, "Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this verse is let us be in Your Word and revere You.  A cross-reference is to 2 Samuel 7:25, "Now therefore, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken."

Psalm 119:11

Psalm 119:11, "Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You."  My KEY PRAYER POINT is let us treasure Your Word.  A cross-reference is Psalm 40:8, "I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart."

1 Peter 5:11

"To Him be dominion forever and ever.  Amen."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us understand Christ as King (dominion).

1 Peter 4:13

"But to the degree that share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us keep on rejoicing.

1 Peter 3:12

"FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was don't let us do evil.

1 Peter 2:6

"For this is contained in Scripture: 'BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WIL BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us really believe.

1 Peter 1:21

"Who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from that passage was let our faith and hope be in God.

1 Peter 5:7

"Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us cast our anxiety on Jesus.

1 Peter 4:2

"So as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was don't let us live for the lust of men.

1 Peter 3:15

"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us sanctify (set apart) Christ as Lord in our hearts.

1 Peter 2:5

"You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."  My KEY PRAYER POINT for this passage was let us offer up spiritual sacrifices to God.

1 Peter 1:6

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us greatly rejoice.

1 Peter 5:5

"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us clothe ourselves with humility.

1 Peter 4:19

"Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."  My KEY PRAYER POINT  from this passage was let us entrust our souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

1 Peter 3:17

"For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was give us a willingness to suffer for doing what is right.

1 Peter 2:23

"And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us keep entrusting ourselves to Him who judges righteously.

1 Peter 1:23

"For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us know the Word as living and enduring.

1 Peter 5:9

"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."  My KEY PRAYER POINT  from this passage was let us be firm in the faith.

1 Peter 4:6

"For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us live in the spirit according to the will of God.

1 Peter 3:8

"To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us grow in respect to salvation.

1 Peter 2:2

"...like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us grow in respect to salvation.

1 Peter 1:22

"Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us love one another from the heart.

Ruth 4:9-10

"Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, 'You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.  Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us consider people more, over stuff and things.

Ruth 3:11

"Now, my daughter, do not fear.  I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us be people of excellence.

Ruth 2:19

"Her mother-in-law then said to her, 'Where did you glean today and where did you work?  May he who took notice of you be blessed.'  So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, 'The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us take notice of people in need.

Ruth 1:20

"She said to them, 'Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was don't let us be bitter.

Ruth 4:14

"Then the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us point people to the Redeemer.

Ruth 3:10

"Then he (Boaz) said, 'May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter.  You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether rich or poor."  My KEY PRAYER POINT from this passage was let us bless others.

Ruth 2:10

"Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, 'Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"  My key prayer point from that passage was let us find favor in Your sight.

Ruth 1:16

"But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."  My key prayer point from this passage was let us stick close to people who trust the true God.

John 17:23

"I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."  My key prayer point from that passage was perfect us in unity.

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."  My key prayer point for that passage was give us peace and courage.

John 15:9

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love."  My key prayer point from that passage was let us abide in Your love.

John 14:17

"...that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you."  My key prayer point from that passage was abide with us and be in us.

John 13:20

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."  My key prayer point from this passage was let us receive God.

John 17:13

"But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves."  My key prayer point from that passage was make Your joy full in us.

John 16:13

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."  My key prayer point from this passage was guide us into all truth.

John 15:8

"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."  My key prayer point from this passage was let us bear much fruit.

John 14:23

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."  My key prayer point from this passage was let us love You and keep Your Word.

John 13:14

"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."  My key prayer point from that passage was let us wash one another's feet and serve the world.

Judges 21:25

"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."  My key prayer point from that passage was let us do what is right in God's eyes.

Judges 20:11

"Thus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man."  My key prayer point from this passage was let us be united as one man.

Judges 19:23

"Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, 'No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this act of follly."  My key prayer point from this passage was don't let us act wickedly.

Joshua 18:31

"So they set up for themselves Micah's graven image which he had made, all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh."  My key prayer point from this chapter and verse is don't let us set up graven images (knowing we shouldn't put anything above God).

Judges 17:6

"In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes."  My key prayer point from this chapter and verse is let us do what is right in God's eyes.

Joshua 16:28

"Then Samson called to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."  My key prayer point from this chapter and verse is let us call to the LORD.

Judges 15:19

"But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi so that water came out of it.  When he drank, his strength returned and he revived.  Therefore he named it En-hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day."  My key prayer point from this chapter and verse is revive us and restore our strength.

Joshua 14:15

"Then it came about on the fourth day that they said to Samson's wife, 'Entice your husband, so that he will tell us the riddle, or we will burn you and your father's house with fire.  Have you invited us to impoverish us?  Is this not so?"  The key prayer point from this passage was don't let us be enticed.

Joshua 13:23

"But his wife said to him, 'If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, not would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time."  My key prayer point from this verse is let us hear from the LORD in His perfect timing.

Judges 12:3

"When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the LORD gave them into my hand.  Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?"  My key prayer point from this verse is let us depend on the LORD for deliverance.

Judges 11:27

"I therefore have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me; may the LORD, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon."  My key prayer point from this verse is let us live before the LORD, the Judge.

Judges 10:16

"So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer."  My key prayer point from that passage was let us serve the LORD.

Judges 9:56

"Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers."  My key prayer point from that verse was don't let us be wicked.

Judges 8:34

"Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accord with all the good that he had done to Israel."  My key prayer point from that verse is let us remember You and Your deliverance.

Judges 7:7

"The LORD said to Gideon, 'I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home."  My key prayer point from this verse was deliver us.

Judges 6:34

"So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him."  My key prayer point from that verse was let the Spirit of the LORD come upon us.

Judges 5:9

"My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless the LORD!"  My key prayer point from that verse was give us volunteers among the people.

Judges 4:14

"Deborah said to Barak, 'Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you.' So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him."  My key prayer point from this verse was let us follow the LORD who has gone before us.

Judges 3:10

"The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel.  When he went out to war, the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, so that he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim."  My key prayer point from this verse is let the Spirit of the LORD come on us.

Judges 2:17

"Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them.  They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers."  My key prayer point from that verse is let us listen and obey.

Judges 1:1

"Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Who shall go up first  for us against Canaanites, to fight against them?"  My key prayer point from that verse was let us inquire of the LORD.

Joshua 24:15

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:  whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  My key prayer point from that verse was let us serve the LORD.

Joshua 23:8

"But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day."  My key prayer point from that verse was let us cling to the LORD.

Joshua 22:2

"...and said to them, 'You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you."  My key prayer point from that verse was let us listen to your voice.

Joshua 21:45

"Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."  My key prayer point from that verse was let us trust the LORD'S promises.

Joshua 20:3

"...that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood."  My key prayer point from that verse is that we seek refuge in the LORD.

Joshua 19:51

"These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the households of the tribes of the sons of Israel distributed by lot in Shiloh before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting.  So they finished dividing the land."  My key prayer point from the verse is that we will make decisions 'before the LORD.'

Joshua 18:4

"Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe that I may send them, and that they may arise and walk through the land and write a description of it according to their inheritance; then they shall return to me."  (The following is my key prayer point from the verse).  Send us out and let us return.

Joshua 17:17

"Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, 'You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only."  (The following is my key prayer point from that verse).  Let us trust your promises and your great power.

Joshua 16:4

"The sons of Josheph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance."  (The following is my key prayer point from the verse).  Let us receive what the LORD gives us.

Joshua 15:13

"Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the command of the LORD Joshua, namely Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron).  (The following is my key prayer point from the verse).  Let us enjoy giving to one another.

Joshua 14:8

"Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the LORD my God fully."  (The following is my key prayer point from that verse).  Let us follow the LORD our God fully.

Joshua 13:33

"But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He had promised to them."  (The following is my key prayer point from this verse).  Let us let the LORD be our inheritance.

Joshua 12:6

"Moses the servant of the LORD and the sons of Israel defeated them and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a possession."  (This is my key prayer point from this verse.)  Let us be known as servants.

Joshua 11:6

"Then the LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire."  (The following is my key prayer point from this verse.)  Don't let us be afraid to do what you command us.

Joshua 10:14

"There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel."  (The following is my key prayer point from this verse.)  Let us let you fight for us.

Joshua 9:14

"So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD."  (The following is my key prayer point from this verse.)  Let us ask God for counsel.

Joshua 8:35

"There was not a word of that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them."  (The following is my key prayer point from this passage.)  Let us keep the Word of God before the people.

Joshua 7:13

"Rise up!  Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the LORD, the God of Israel, has said, 'There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel.  You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst."  (The following is my prayer from this verse.)  Let us consecrate ourselves (be holy, set apart).

Joshua 6:20

"So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city."  (Here is my prayer from this verse).  Let us be faithful to follow through on God's instructions.

Joshua 5:15

The captain of the LORD's host said to Joshua, 'Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.'  And Joshua did so."  (This is my prayer from this verse.)  Keep reminding us of your holiness.

Joshua 4:24

"That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."  (This is how I prayed this verse.)  Let us know that you are mighty and be your witness to all peoples.

Joshua 3:10

"Joshua said, 'By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite."  It would be easy to see all those names of people groups and let that overwhelm what you hear from God.  Remember to worry more about what you do understand than what you don't understand.  (What I understood from this verse turned into the following prayer.)  Let us know you as the living God and know that you are among us.

Joshua 2:21

"She (Rehab) said, 'According to your words, so be it.' She sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.". (This is my prayer from Joshua 2:21.) Let us keep the cord of Christ's blood tied to our hearts.

Joshua 1:8

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." Let us do according to all that is written (in the Word).

John 17:17

"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."  (Here is my prayer from John 17:17.)  Sanctify us in the truth.

John 16:13

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."  (Here is what was on my heart to pray after thinking on John 16:13.)  Guide us into all the truth.

John 15:4

"Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me."  (Here is the key prayer point I drew out of John 15:4.)  Let us abide in the vine so that we bear fruit.

John 14:23

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."  (Here is how I prayed from John 14:23.) Let us love Christ by keeping His Word.

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." This is one of Christ's direct teaching on how disciples one another one another.  (Here is how I prayed for the church from John 13:34-35.)  Let us love one another.

Luke 24:6

"He is not here, but He has risen.  Remember how He spoke to you, while He was still in Galilee."  (This is how I prayed from Luke 24:6.)  Let us remember He is risen.

Luke 23:37

"And saying, 'If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"  (Here is how I prayed from Luke 23:37.) Let us honor Christ as King.

Luke 22:40

"When He arrived at the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  (This is how I prayed from the text.)  Don't let us enter into temptation

Luke 21:4

"For they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on."  Let us put in our all.

Luke 20:46-47

(Jesus words jumped out at me which are written in red.)  "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows' houses, and for appearance sake offer long prayers.  These will receive greater condemnation."  (Here is how we can pray over this passage.)  Let us please the Lord and not just try to look good.

Luke 19:6

(Zaccheus' response to Jesus jumped out at me.)  "And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly."  (Here's a way we can pray this Scripture.)  Let us receive Jesus gladly.

Luke 18:14

(The following verse jumped out at me.)  (The words of Jesus are in red.)  "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."  Let us have humble hearts.

Luke 17:3

(The verse that jumped out at me today.)  (Jesus words in red.) "Be on your guard!  If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."  (The summarized key prayer point.)  Let us forgive.

Luke 16:25

"But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony."  Let us receive comfort from the Lord forever as opposed to agony.

Luke 15:21

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son."  Let us see our unworthiness and hold fast to your grace and mercy.

Luke 14:13

"But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind..."  Let us invite the poor.

Luke 13:9

"...and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down."  Let us beware that we should bear fruit.

Luke 12:31

"But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you."  Let us seek His kingdom above all else.

Luke 11:39

"But the Lord said to him, 'Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness."  Let us be very concerned about our heart condition and not just our outward appearance.

Luke 10:37

"And he said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him.'  Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same."  Let us show mercy.

Luke 9:60

"But he said to him, 'Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God."  Let  us proclaim your kingdom.

Luke 8:39

"Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you."  Let us share the great things you have done for us, particularly how you give us life physically and spiritually.

Luke 7:28

"I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  Jesus seems to say that while we place a lot of emphasis on being great there is greater value in being humble.

Luke 6:48

"...he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built."  Verse 47 is essential to the context of this verse.  This story clearly communicates that if we neglect and intimate attachment to the Word of God, then we place our lives on shaky grounds when storms come.

Luke 5:14

"And He ordered him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  For many years, I have made the connection that I am to offer myself for the Lord's use as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).  My Bible shows me where find instructions in the law for lepers who have been cleansed (Leviticus 13:49 and Leviticus 14:2).

Luke 4:43

"But He said to them, 'I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose."  I wish I had been using red-letters throughout this blog when quoting Scripture to show the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I use a red-letter NASB that has cross references.  It referenced Mark 1:38.  I wrote in the margin a verse that I have been meditating on, John 18:37.  When we use cross-references, we stop reading the Word of God and start studying the Word of God.

Luke 3:2

"...in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness."  I am grateful that God's Word is coming to us, even it is maybe a bit different than the way it came to John.  I recognize that I am responsible for opening it, hearing from the Lord and acting on what His Word says.

Luke 2:32

"A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."  God wants to draw all peoples (all people groups) to Himself.  God wants to use the people of god to bless those who need to know Christ as King.

Luke 1:50

"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM."  This is a quote from Psalm 103:17 which is distinguished in the Bible I use with the all caps. A Bible with cross-references is a great tool, and I am using the cross-references more and more.  There word "mercy" is used in verse 54 and 58 of Luke 1 as well.  Praise the Lord we don't get what we deserve.

Luke 24:47

"And that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."  This is the Luke version of the Great Commission.  Forgiveness of sins is good news to proclaim to all peoples.

Luke 23:34

"But Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."  Let us follow Jesus' model to forgive.  Let us point people to a God who wants them to follow Him and understand His mercy.

Luke 22:27

"For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves". Jesus served, and His kingdom needs more who want to serve instead of recline.

Luke 21:19

"By your endurance you will gain your lives". This follows Jesus' words about how the disciples will be betrayed and hated because of Jesus name. Endurance is a much bigger part of a Christian's journey than we emphasize.

Luke 20:38

"Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him."  God is the source of life and eternal life.  He created life and is the purpose of life.  We would do well to live for Him.

Luke 19:48 b

"...all the people were hanging on to every word He said."  The teaching of Christ is incredible.  Too bad too many people never spend too much time trying to hear from Christ with a soft, pliable heart.  May we hang on every word He says.

Luke 18:25

"For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  Recently, I heard someone say that in the church we keep trying to cram rich people through the eye of a needle.  The warning is that we tend to love our money more than Jesus.  We also need to be aware that the more someone knows they are in need them more likely they are to turn to Christ and turn their live over to Christ.

Luke 17:21 b

"...For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst."  God is working all around us.  God wants us to see His work and worship Him with our lives.  Why don't we get 'it?'

Luke 16:13

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth."  It is a no-brainer that if we have to pick between God and anything that we should pick God.  Satan is deceptive so we often fall down a slippery slope.  If Satan is able to do a frontal attack on us, it is because we have fallen a long way down the slippery slope.

Luke 15:6

"And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost."  I recorded verse 32 last month from chapter 15.  It to uses the word "rejoice" in regard to the lost son being back and being alive.  The word "rejoice" in 15:6 is over a lost sheep that was found.  Part of studying the Bible is paying attention to words that are repeated.

Luke 14:33

"So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."  This isn't saying that we have to be possession-less people.  It is saying that life is more about Jesus and less about possessions.  When we give our life to Christ, we give Him all we are and all we have.

Luke 13:34 b

"BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD."  Just as Jesus lived for the glory of God.  We do live for the glory of God.  Let's glorify His name.

Luke 12:34

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  We want God to take ownership of all our heart.  We must surrender it all.  Pray that God will be the King of our hearts.

Luke 11:4

(from the model prayer) "And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And lead us not into to temptation."  A huge part of sin and the havoc it reaps on our lives is bitterness toward someone else.  Bitterness puts you in bondage.  We would do well to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Luke 10:16

"The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."  Pray that people will listen to the message that Jesus is King as opposed to rejecting God.

Luke 9:56

"For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."  We have a tendency to miss that we live in destruction if we reject Christ, His Word and His way of life.  Receiving Christ, His Word and His way of life leads to salvation.

Luke 8:21

"But He answered and said to them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."  I am praying that we will "hear God's voice" and "act on God's direction."  To me, this is following Christ.

Luke 7:47

"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."  There are many blessings in seeing how holy God is.  One of the blessings is that it forces us to see our need to be forgiven.  Even the cleanest hearts separated from Christ are filthy compared to the holiness of God.  Receive His forgiveness and love.  Extend His forgiveness and love.

Luke 6:41

"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?"  It is wild to me how easy it is to see other's mess-ups and miss my own sins.  Individuals in the church would do well to inspect their own lives when they notice sin in others' lives.

Luke 5:25

"Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God."  The next verse even endorses that those who have been astonished by God begin to glorify God.  I have not been physically healed, but I want to be more aware of the spiritual healing that Christ has provided for me.  I want to be more astonished and glorify God more.

Luke 4:18

"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.  HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN."  This verse is in all caps noting that it is an Old Testament quotation.  The cross referencing system in the NAS Bible I use shows that it comes from Isaiah 61:1.  We all need to be reminded that a big part of ministry is preaching to the poor and pointing the downtrodden to Christ.

Luke 3:22

"And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."  This verse is obviously shows the trinitarian God. I am motivated by the life of Christ who lived on earth to please the Father.

Luke 2:25

"And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him."  This story (Luke 2:25-35) was brought to my attention in a song by a Michael Card way back in the 1990's and continue's to speak to me.  Simeon got to hold the Savior of the Jews and Gentiles in his arms and testified to that.

Luke Study Plan

Leading up to Sunday March 25 study Luke 19-24
(It is not a mistake to continue studying in Luke)
Leading up to Sunday April 1 study Luke 1-6
Leading up to Sunday April 8 study Luke 7-12
Leading up to Sunday April 15 study Luke 13-18
Leading up to Sunday April 22 study Luke 19-24

Some Practical Reminders for Bible Study...

• Attach yourself to a Bible
• Find a consistent "time" and "place" for Bible study
• Develop a study plan or use the one above
• Begin by asking the Lord to "hear His voice" and commit to "acting on His direction"
• Allow at least 1/3 of your time for meditation.  Picture it--Think about it--Summarize it so you can share it with others (think about who needs to hear how you heard from the Lord)

Luke 1:4

"So that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.". I am grateful Luke writes so we can know exact truth. I pray we point others to the Scriptures for exact truth.

Luke 24:25

"And He said to them, 'O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!"  Remember the Road to Emmaus.  It is difficult to constantly remember the words of God and trust Him.  I am reminded that we can have no heart, a half heart or a whole heart in trusting the Lord.  May we have whole hearts.

Luke 23:3

"So Pilate asked Him, saying, 'Are You the King of the Jews?'  And He answered him and said, 'It is as you say."  I believe Jesus is who He said He was!  I am paying more attention to Jesus as the King of the Jews.

Luke 22:20

"And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."  I am convinced that I need to know Christ more and understand His new covenant better.  I also want to learn more how the new covenant fulfills the old covenant.

Luke 21:27

"Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory."  It is good to be reminded that Christ is coming again!

Luke 20:17

"Then Jesus looked at them and said, 'What then is this that is written, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER STONE."  If we call ourselves Christians, then it would seem silly to reject Christ.  If we don't fully embrace Him, then we are rejecting Him to some extent.

Luke 19:10

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  Christ moved toward sinners.  Are we?

Luke 18:13

"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner."  We don't really see Christ as Savior unless we really see ourselves as sinners.

Luke 17:33

"Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses will preserve it."  Dear God, teach me how to lose my life for the name of Jesus.

Luke 16:15

"And he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God."  I'm praying we whole heartedly follow God.  He knows our hearts.

Luke 15:32

"But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead but began to live, and was lost and has been found."  It is a time of celebration when someone chooses life instead of death or Christ instead of self.

Luke 14:11

"For everyone who exalts himself with be humbled, and he who humbles himself with be exalted."  The Word is always pointing us to humble ourselves before the Lord and among one another.

Luke 13:24

"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and not be able."  The Bible seems to say clearly that there will be less as opposed to more.  It is imperative that we examine ourselves and abide in the Word of God.

Luke 12:20

"But God said to him, 'you fool!  This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?"  Our riches are in our relationship with God, not in our earthly treasures.

Luke 11:28

"But he said, on the contrary, 'blessed are those that hear the Word of God and observe it."  It is my prayer that the people of God will "hear God's voice" and "act on God's direction."  That is part of the heartbeat of this blog.  I am playing catch-up on my postings for the study plan, but it is important to me to share what jumped out at me in each chapter.

Luke 10:2

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest."  I am reminded that God wants to send His people as witnesses to all the people groups of the world.  There are still Unreached People Groups. PRAY.

Luke 9:24

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it."  God obviously wants to take over our lives.  We should want that too if we understand salvation.

Luke 8:15

"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."  We would do well to hold to the Word of God and bear fruit.  The two things seem to go together.

Luke 7:16

"Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, 'A great prophet has arisen among us!' and 'God has visited His people!"  God's Word is still among us revealing Christ as Savior and Lord.

Luke 6:27

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you."  I am reminded of Christ on the cross when I read this verse.  I am called to follow His example.

Luke 5:32

"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."  Jesus wants us to see our sin, walk away from it, and love Him.

Luke 4:20

"And he closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him."  We should all pay attention to the teaching of Christ.  Isn't that a big part of being a disciple?

Luke 3:8

"Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance..."  If we have turned to God, then our lives should be set apart and look different.

Luke 2:19

"But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart."  We would do well to treasure the good news and ponder it in our heart.

Luke 1:68

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people."  I love the sound of "accomplished redemption."  Jesus paid it all...all to Him I owe.

Deuteronomy 34:9

"Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses."  The way Joshua was "filled with the spirit" and the way that Moses "laid his hands on him" jumped out at me.

Hear God's Word and Act On It

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  ‘But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  These are the words of Christ recorded in Luke 6:46-49.

            We are much better off if we hear God’s Word and act on it.  If we don’t act on the Word of God, it is a disaster!  WARNING, IF YOU READ THROUGH JESUS’ WORDS HURRIEDLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE READ THAT BEFORE, THEN YOU MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JESUS TO SPEAK TO YOU IN A FRESH WAY.  I am mentally convinced and spiritually convicted that I am guilty of rushing through Scripture much of the time.  We all may be guilty of rushing through life without meditating on Scripture as we should according to Jesus.  God’s Word is the seed of life as evidenced in creation and salvation.

            Our “default settings” are not as wise as “God’s Standard” that we find in His Word.  I praise the Lord that we have seen people grow in their desire to study and obey the Word of God.  May that trend continue exponentially?

Deuteronomy 33:29

"Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty!  So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places."  This sounds reassuring to me.  It is great to be the church (the people of God).

Deuteronomy 32:39

"See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life.  I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand."  Don't let me confuse gods with God or idols with God.  He alone is God.

Deuteronomy 31:6

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."  With God's presence, we are strong and can be courageous.

Deuteronomy 30:19

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants."  Life and death are before us.  I pray we choose life in Christ.

Deuteronomy 29:29

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."  Praise the Lord for have the revelation of the Word of God.  O that we may observe His Word.

Deuteronomy 28:58

"If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God..."  I want to observe God's Word.  He is awesome and worthy of my worship.

Deuteronomy 27:18

"Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.  And all the people shall say, Amen."  It is easy to see the meanness when someone misleads a blind person.  Are we mean in ways that we overlook?

Deuteronomy 26:10

"Now behold, I have brought you the first of the produce of the ground which you, O LORD have given me.  And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God." I am reminded that we should give our first and our best to the Lord.  Often times, the Lord doesn't get much of our time, money or energy because we tend to give Him our leftovers.

Deuteronomy 25:15

"You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you." I'm reminded of what we hear growing up that 'honesty is the best policy.'

Deuteronomy 24:17

"You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow's garment in pledge."  The Lord obviously wants His people to do justice and look out for the down and out.

Deuteronomy 23:14

"Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you."  The Lord's presence is powerful, and we must protect the glory of the Lord among us.

Deuteronomy 22:21, 22, 24

...purge the evil... (three times)  The repetition of these words is a reminder that the Lord does not like sin and evil.  Oh that we might not let sin reign in our lives.

Deuteronomy 21:8

"Forgive your people Israel whom You have redeemed, O LORD, and do not place the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel.  And the blood-guiltiness shall be forgiven them."  Our God is the Redeemer who shed His blood so we can be forgiven.

Deuteronomy 20:4

"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."  Our greatest enemy is our own sin.  We can see His fight for us on the cross.  I'm grateful for the Savior's love.

Deuteronomy 19:9

"If you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in His ways always..."  Only when we love the LORD do we delight in walking in His ways and observing His commands.  When we love Him, we see that our obedience is in our best interest, not to earn anything but to protect ourselves from ourselves.

Deuteronomy 18:2

"They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them."  Can their be anything better to inherit than the LORD?  Let my greatest joy be in my relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 17:19

"It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes."  Affirmation that modeling consistent Bible intake is a primary call on my life.  Oh that I may hear God's voice and act on God's direction.

Deuteronomy 16:20

"Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you."  Social justice is more than a buzzword.  It is a key teaching throughout Scripture.

Deuteronomy 15:14

"You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you."  Serving the Lord is a blessing.  I am grateful for how the people of Marion Baptist Church take care of me and my family.

Deuteronomy 14:2

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."  My life is not my life.  God has taken me as His own possession.  Wow.

Deuteronomy 13:4

"You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, and cling to Him."   This reminds me to 'cling to the old rugged cross.'

Deuteronomy 12:32

"Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it."  Something I've heard and  try to say often around MBC is 'in the essentials-unity, in the non-essentials-liberty, and in all things-charity.'

Deuteronomy 11:16

"Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them."  This is a warning for me and us all.

Deuteronomy 10:19

"So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt."  I pray that those outside our church will feel the love of Christ from our church.

Checklist of Basic Commands of Jesus

(The following is from a long time church planter:  George Patterson)

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            New Testament disciple making fosters loving submission to the Lord before all else.  Just before ascending to glory our Supreme Commander said that He had all authority in Heaven and earth, and he ordered His followers to make disciples by teaching them to obey all His commands (Matthew 28:18-20).  The first 3,000 believers in Jerusalem began at once to obey those commands (Acts 2:36-47).  Their obedience suggests these seven foundational commands of Jesus:

CHECKLIST OF BASIC COMMANDS OF JESUS

o   Repent and believe (Mark 1:15; John 3:16; 20:22)

o   Baptize new believers, enabling them to lead the new, holy life that baptism initiates (Matthew 28:18-20)

o   Break bread together often (the Lord’s Supper, Luke 22:14-20)

o   Love God and others (Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34; Matthew 6:44)

o   Pray using Jesus’ name (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:38)

o   Give to meet needs (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:38)

o   Make disciples (Matthew 7:24-29; 28:18-20)

            These basic orders for Jesus’ followers undergird all Christian life and ministry.  Jesus said that to obey His words is to build on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27).

Deuteronomy 9:6

"Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this land to possess, for you are a stubborn people."  This verse reminds me that I don't earn God's blessing.  God is simply a gracious God who wants to bless His people.

Deuteronomy 8:2

"You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that he might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."  This verse jumps out at me because it VERY important what is in our heart.  The LORD knows what is in our heart.

Deuteronomy 7:21

"You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God."  This verse jumped out at me because God's presence in our midst should be comforting and give us courage.

Deuteronomy 6:5

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Since Jesus quoted it, then we would do well to meditate on it extra.

Deuteronomy 5:33

"You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess."  To me, living for the Christian is walking with God.  That is the life.  That is what life is for.

Deuteronomy 4:9

"Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons."  The words "keep your soul diligently" leaped off the page to me.  What strong words.  The NIV does not word it this way so that is one blessing of studying a different translation.

Deuteronomy 3:22

"Do not fear them for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you."  This verse jumps out at me because we neglect the power of God so often in our daily lives.

Deuteronomy 2:7

"For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness.  These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing."  This verse jumps out at me because we don't always consider times of wandering through the wilderness to be times of blessing or times of sensing God's provision.  I can enjoy the Lord's blessing and provision no matter my circumstances.

Deuteronomy 1:38

"Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there; encourage him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it."  This jumped out at me because Moses was missing out on the blessing but still expected to encourage Joshua who would lead the people into the promise land.  As God's people and leaders, reproducing and training leaders is a big part of our task.

Pastor as Leader

"Leaders must model what they believe their followers should do," quoted from Bill Hull in Choose the Life.  God's Word is changing me, and I want to point people to HEAR GOD'S VOICE and ACT ON GOD'S DIRECTION through consistent personal Bible study.  The major motivation behind this blog is exactly that.

The People of God

The People of God

“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 7:6, NIV) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10, NIV)

Please don’t miss the Lord’s emphasis on us being the “People of God” as Marion Baptist Church. I try to emphasize it each week in the greeting of this very article. Moses reminds us in Deuteronomy that there was a higher calling for the Israelites. Peter reminds us in the book by his name that there is a higher calling for us at the church.

Satan wants us to minimize the role of the church (the role of the people of God) in each others’ lives, in our community and in our world. Jim Cymbala points out, “(Satan wants Christians) to think that ‘church’ is only a place you visit on Sundays…if you can spare the time.” While most of us would say that we want God to bless Marion Baptist Church, the reality is that many do not really see how God could use them daily to be a blessing to the church (people of God). Please join me in praying that God will show us, the people of God called Marion Baptist Church, how we belong to God to use our time, money and energy for His glory.