The 5th Sunday of Lent – 07 Apr 2019 – Luke 20:9-19 ~ The stone that the builders rejected.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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“Shir Ha Ma’alot” – Song of Ascents (Ps 126) – Sheli Myers

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Gospel Reading: Luke 20:9-19 (NLT)

Parable of the Evil Farmers

Now Jesus turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed. A third man was sent, and they wounded him and chased him away.

“‘What will I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.’

“But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ So they dragged him out of the vineyard and murdered him.

“What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.”

“How terrible that such a thing should ever happen,” his listeners protested.

Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean?

‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’

Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
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Prayer:

Almighty God: Hear the prayers of your people made right with you through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray especially –

+ For the unrepentant: Merciful God, you desire not the death of sinners, but rather that they should turn to you and live. Have mercy on the unrepentant and those who do not believe. Awaken in them, by your Word and Holy Spirit, a deep sense of their sinfulness and peril. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of your Word. Grant them to know and feel that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which they must be saved, but only the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so bring them home and number them among your children, that they may be yours for ever….

+ For missionaries: Gracious God, you desire that all people be saved and come to knowledge of the truth: Prosper all those who live, preach, and teach the Gospel at home and in distant lands; protect them in all perils, support them in their loneliness, sustain them in the hour of trial; give them your abundant grace to bear faithful witness; and endue them with burning zeal and love, that they may turn many to righteousness….

+ For local congregations: Father God, strengthen and confirm the faithful; protect and guide the children; visit and relieve the sick; turn and soften the wicked; arouse the careless; recover the fallen; restore the penitent; remove all hindrances to the advancement of your truth; and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church….

+ For those suffering or weak: Compassionate God, we hold up our weaknesses to your strength, our failures to your faithfulness, our sinfulness to your perfection, our loneliness to your compassion, our pains to your agony on the cross. We pray that you will cleanse us, strengthen us, guide us, so that in all ways our lives may be lived as you would have us live without cowardice and for you alone. Show us how to live in true humility, true contrition, and true love….

Almighty God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you: Help us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Press On” – Selah

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Blessing – Philippians 3:13-14

Focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Saturday Morning: 06 Apr 2019 – Romans 13 ~ The Lord of Politics

Saturday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Romans 13 (NLT)

Respect for Authority

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Love Fulfills God’s Requirements

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
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Morning Reflection:

“For all authority comes from God,
and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.”
– Romans 13:1

This is a tough one for believers in light of today’s bitter and contentious political climate. It’s true not only here in America, but also around the world. To the question: “Can’t we all just get along?” The answer from all sides is a resounding: “No!”

So what’s a believer to do? Our starting point is:

Jesus Christ must be Lord of our politics.

Paul offers us some guidelines.

+ Civil governments are ordained of God –

to promote justice for all
to promote peace and order in society

+ Civil governments are accountable to God –

God’s people have a responsibility to participate in the political process
God’s people must be known for promoting justice and peace

+ What then is required of believers?

to be subject to the government, unless asked to disobey God
to be respectful to those in governing authority
to do right and cooperate with governing authorities
to pay taxes
to pray for governing authorities
to be informed citizens who vote for candidates and issues which will, to the best degree possible, uphold God’s purposes for government

Evangelism, not political power, is God’s primary means
of dealing with the world’s problems.

Questions for consideration:

How do you view the governing authorities in your part of the world? Please explain.
Do you believe that they are fulfilling God’s role for governing authorities? Please explain.
Do you show respect to governing authorities who are opposed to your political views? Please explain.
Do you believe that all governing authorities have been placed there by God? What about those who are doing evil in your sight? Please explain.
What do you need to do in order to respectfully advance God’s purposes in the world? Does it involve politics, evangelism, or both? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ: You are Lord of all – including all our governing authorities. Fill me with your Spirit – a willingness to submit to those in authority as unto the Father. Show me how to live as a decent, honest, child of the light – in a world filled with animus, disrespect and political power plays. Clothe me with your presence, and may love override all my rebellious, disrespectful impulses. I ask this for your name’s sake and the Father’s glory. Amen.
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“If My People” – Promise Keepers

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Friday Morning: 05 Apr 2019 – Romans 12 ~ the transformed life

Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 12 (NLT)

A Living Sacrifice to God

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
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Morning Reflection:

The Transformed Life

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

The transformed life is a response to God’s grace – a ” living and holy sacrifice” offered to God as an act of worship. It is a life that has been redeemed by Jesus Christ, and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It is a life that is continually changing, being renewed, as increasingly it is governed by the mind of Christ.

So what does the transformed life look like? What distinguishes it as being different from the behavior and customs of society?

+ The transformed life ministers God’s grace to the body of believers.

The question must be asked of every believer: “What are your gifts? What is your calling?” God has entrusted you with manifestations of His grace that allows Him to work through your life to bless others.

+ The transformed life reflects God’s grace in relationships.

Truly Loving – Holds onto what is good and rejects evil; seeks the good of others at its own expense.
Enduring and Diligent – Endures hardships and presses on – with hope, perseverance and prayer.
Compassionate – Sensitive to the needs of others, hospitable, generous, humble, and kind – blesses even its enemies.
Peaceful – Exercises self-restraint; repaying evil with good, and trusting in God’s mercy to bring enemies to repentance and restoration.

Questions for consideration:

Has God’s grace ever motivated you to dedicate all that you are and have to God? Do you consider yourself a “living sacrifice?” Please explain.
Has God called you to a particular ministry within your community of faith that is empowered by the spiritual gifts he has given you? Please explain.
How has God changed your mind in a way that is counter-cultural? What has been the result? Please explain.
When you think of doing good to someone who is your enemy, who comes to mind? What would doing good to them look like? Please explain.
How does the Bible and the Holy Spirit fit into the transformation of your mind? Do you have a disciplined approach to either, or both? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Thank you for graciously adopting me into your family through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. You have shown me your goodness, delivered me from bondage to sin, provided opportunities for useful service, and given me a place of rest and quietude. Thank you for the trustworthiness of your promises, and the hope for my future that they offer. Transform my thinking, and open my heart to any new possibilities you place before me. And empower me by your Spirit to complete the work you have given me. I ask this in Jesus’ name, that I may glorify you. Amen.
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“Living Sacrifice” – Chris Christian

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Thursday Morning: 04 Apr 2019 – Romans 11:25-36 ~ the mystery of God’s mercy

Thursday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 11:25-36 (NLT)

God’s Mercy Is for Everyone

I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,

“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”

Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
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Morning Reflection:

“I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters,
so that you will not feel proud about yourselves.
Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts,
but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.
And so all Israel will be saved.” – Romans 11:25-26

What’s the mystery?

+ It’s a mystery why Israel rebelled against God after He chose them, blessed them, and entered into an everlasting covenant with them.

+ It’s a mystery why Israel rejected God’s Son and chose instead to remain in bondage to the Law under the old covenant.

+ It’s a mystery why God used Israel’s unbelief to show mercy to Gentiles who were previously excluded under the old covenant.

+ It’s a mystery why God shows mercy to anyone at all, since everyone is imprisoned to disobedience.

+ It’s a mystery why God shows mercy to everyone who acknowledges Christ regardless of their ignorance or previous rebellion.

+ It’s a mystery as to when and how Israel will acknowledge Christ and share in the promise of the new covenant.

Nevertheless – The people of Israel “are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.” – Romans 11:28b-29

Questions for consideration:

Have you ever wondered why God, in Christ Jesus, chose to show His mercy to you? Please explain.
How are God’s dealings with Israel a reason for humility instead of pride? And how does that affect your view of Jewish people? Please explain.
Do you believe that it’s impossible to understand God’s decisions and ways? What role does God’s Word and Spirit play in this? Please explain.
Do you believe that “everything comes from [God] and exists by his power and is intended for his glory?” How does that apply to your present circumstances? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Sovereign God: Your decisions and ways are beyond my understanding – I am humbled by the mercy that you have shown me. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to you – in you I live, and move, and have my being. Use me for your glory. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Amen.
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“His Mercy Is More” – The Acappella Company

What love could remember no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Praise the Lord
His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father, so tender, is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

What riches of kindness he lavished on us
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost
We stood ‘neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 03 Apr 2019 – Romans 11:1-24 ~ Israel: root and branch

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 11:1-24 (NLT)

God’s Mercy on Israel

I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say,

“God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.”

Likewise, David said,

“Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”

Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.
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Morning Reflection:

“I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous
of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.
For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world,
their acceptance will be even more wonderful.
It will be life for those who were dead!” – Romans 11:14-15

How do you view the modern State of Israel?

Israel is mostly a secular state, but there is a recognized religious Jewish remnant and a growing Messianic Jewish community. And Jerusalem is the center of the religious universe for both Christians and Jews. For Muslims, it’s an after thought regardless of their protests.

So what can we learn from today’s reading?

1. The fall of Israel opened up a way for the salvation of the Gentiles. A suffering nation led to the blessing of other nations; when the suffering shall cease, still more abundant blessing shall be the result.

2. Gentiles can hope for still more abundant blessing when the Jews are gathered into Christ. A great revival of spiritual life is to be expected, consequently the Gentiles, as a matter of spiritual profit, should seek the salvation of Israel.

3. The holiness of the Jewish root, remains present in the stump and its engrafted branches. The conversion of Christ’s race to God will be its preeminent service to all the other nations of the earth.

4. Gentile engraftment into the Christian branch of the Jewish stump carries serious responsibilities. God’s severity to the broken-off Jewish branches should make the Gentiles very humble and very earnest, lest it come round upon themselves.

5. Israel’s partial blindness is permitted until the fullness of Gentiles come to Christ. The ingathering of Gentiles into Christ’s kingdom is God’s great present purpose and is to be pursued until all have heard the Good News of Christ.

6. Israel will be saved as the crowning act of God’s mercy. Israel in its national capacity shall yet be gathered home to God, through the mercy extended to the Jews by the saved Gentiles.

The Messianic Jewish communities in Israel are the firstfruits of that enterprise.

Questions for consideration:

How do you view the modern State of Israel? What part do you think it plays in God’s overall plan for the world? Please explain.
How does your Christian community view the modern State of Israel? As a pariah among nations, worthy of boycott, disinvestment, and sanctions? Or as a unfolding fulfillment of Messianic prophecy worthy of prayer and support? Please explain.
How do Israel’s failures and rejection affect your understanding of your own status with God? How do humility and grace fit it? Please explain.
Do you believe that God accepts you unconditionally? How does today’s reading inform your understanding? What role does Christ play in your acceptance by God? Please explain. If you are not sure, click here.

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Morning Prayer:

Faithful God: Thank you for your eternal covenant with Israel, and with me through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Purge me of all pride and arrogance, that I might live humbly and faithfully – in awe of your mercy and grace. Bring to my attention my failures, that I might repent and receive your forgiveness according to your loving-kindness. And help me to be faithful in prayer, for the peace of Jerusalem and the well-being of your chosen nation Israel. Pour out your blessing on every Jewish person who believes in Yeshua Hamashiach. And may they bear much good fruit in the advance of your Kingdom, and the glory due your name. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“ET SHEM YESHUA..Holy Name of Yeshua” – Hebrew Christian Song