Justification in the Beatitudes

[Jesus teaching] "'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world would be saved through Him.'" John 3:16-17

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.  For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?'" Matthew 16:24-26

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10

Jesus sat down and gathered His disciples around Him for a hard talk about getting their lives right with His Father, God, before they could BE disciples.  This is justification (the Lord cleanse our lives so it is as if we have no sin - past, present and future)

The Beatitudes teach us we must first realise how truly poor in spirit we are -- how we must mourn over our sin.  We learn He is the good Shepherd who comforts and feeds us until we are satisfied. 

When our lives are in His hands we begin to demonstrate outwardly the inward changes to others through our mercies and hopefulness.  We acknowledge peace has no chance in our hearts or the world without Him as Lord of our lives.  That even though we will be persecuted in this life, we can rejoice at our decision to be one of His followers, because He has overcome the world.

Next, we will look at sanctification in the images of the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-26.

Take care with love, especially His!  Your servant and friend in Christ, who prays for you each morning, Darlene

• ·        Continue to pray for the special person you identified a few weeks ago in your assignment until they fall into His arms.  Then you can pick another to pray for!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

• ·        UPDATE - Adrian - the Wednesday cancer treatments at the hospital take so much out of him, he just sleeps days away.  No news from the Leukaemia Foundation.  He grows increasingly dependent on the prayers of the Body of Christ!  Pray for Adrian's companion dog, Toby, to remain healthy.  He is very important to Adrian's mental well-being and a clear gift from the Lord during this time of pain and loneliness.
• ·        UPDATE - Paul - has important job interviews this week.  I grow concerned for him, though, as he tries not to feel discouraged.  Most of all pray his heart melts enough for the Truth to touch him where it hurts.  He has not had work since 2011!!
• ·        UPDATE - BG - has had a series of tests and examinations and a few more to go, indicating a series of strokes over a period of time.  Also, his pituitary gland is affected.  He needs our prayers at this time to strengthen him and keep him calm.  More as I get updates. 
• ·        UPDATE - JR - is home.  Celebrated Labor Day with Tim and Barb.  Filling his days with pleasant memories.  More tests to go.  Attitude is good, considering he has rapidly advancing small cell carcinoma in his brain.  Please pray for him and the quality of life and time he has, for his wife Jenny, his family, friends and the health carers as they deal with this serious situation.  Pray most of all that his heart opens to the love and grace of Jesus' gift of grace.
• ·        UPDATE - My brother, Tim - Pray for strength, wisdom, courage, health and patience as he ministers to his dear and precious friend, JR (and Dale), during this difficult time.  Tim has shared his testimony with JR and cares about him very much.  The weather is a bit better for Tim with his COPD.    

FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

• ·        Doug McIntosh - an invaluable contributor to my love of Bible study has multiple myelomas.  Please pray for him, his family and the church he has worked so faithfully in, Cornerstone, in Lilburn Georgia.
• ·        Jo and Steve - Please pray their individual ministries in NZ and reconciliation with one of Jo's sisters. 
• ·        Audley and Beverly (stroke survivor) for help with their situation and his return to ministry.
• ·        Stu and Jo and their grown children, Laura and Jason - a family serving in full-time ministry in New Zealand.  Keep them strong, healthy and resolute. 
• ·        Isaias and Judith - in the Philippines.  Pray our Father continues to keep them strong and safe and that they find balance.  They give so much to so many for so little.  Take a moment to learn more about their tireless ministry:  Go to:  http://www.afciworld.org  Look for "Nations" then click "Philippines".
• ·        Please pray for my good friend, JB, that our loving Father provides him with ample opportunity to continue his ministry.
• ·        Buddy and Susan Smith and Kevin and Sandy Currell need your prayers for their ministries in Australia.
• ·        The Catholic Church and the Pope, who need our prayers that he will always put Jesus first in all his decisions.

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

• ·        UPDATE - Steve/ Fion - thanks you for your prayers for his Mother.  She is doing well.  He is still pacing himself through his heavy workload at his university post.  Pray for his strength, more funding and wisdom for the organisation
• ·        UPDATE - Hans began his new therapy yesterday.  It will last from 3-6 months.  Pray the Lord gives him peace in his new situation and guards his family while he is away.  Pray for those sharing this time with him that they truly care for him.  Most of all, pray he finds Christian companions and leaders wherever he is.  Rachael asks us to please pray that Scott seeks the Lord for his sake and his Children.
• ·        Update - Aunt Dot - please pray they will deliver her special wheelchair before her birthday in October.  Without it she is unable to move.   
• ·        Steven Parsons - a man recovering from cancer, living on the street in Sydney trying to get enough money for some additional surgery.
• ·        Trent and his 9-year-old daughter Sharika.  He is finishing his trade school classes and living on the streets as he saves for accommodation.  Pray for him and his daughter.

PRAYERS SPECIFICALLY FOR SALVATION

• ·        UPDATE - The Bible study in Jo's home continues.  This week they look at Romans 4 and you can feel Jo's excitement as these women grow a step closer to understanding how loving the Lord Jesus is! Keep praying for  Angie and Liz.
• ·        Lennie - PS ex-son-in-law.  Please pray for his salvation.  He is father to PS' 11 yr. old granddaughter's whom she spends half her time with because of shared custody.
• ·        Sarah - still urgently needs psychiatric help  Still not communicating with her mother, father or brother.  Pray her family is resolute in demonstrating "tough love" with her.  Pray the Lord captures her heart through this situation.
• ·        DB's father - (84 years) please keep praying his heart opens to Christ.  He is an avowed – and boastfully proud – atheist. 
• ·        Chester (Adrian's friend) with pancreatic cancer that someone will come share Christ with him soon.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

• ·        UPDATE - Sergio - has found some consulting projects and it will help him weather financial difficulties for, hopefully, the next six months.  He is in Mexico City where work for graphic designers is rare. 
• ·        UPDATE - Jo - seems to be finding support for her ideas and initiatives within her firm.  Please also pray for her wisdom as she considers setting up a charitable trust. 
• ·        Toron - (18-year-old) Pray for him to find direction and encouragement and most of all to come to the Lord. 
• ·        Raven - The new cancer meds have given her life back.  She loves the Lord and is grateful for His compassions.
• ·        Doris - (my "second Mom", age 97.5)  Pray she stays strong and keeps sharing the Lord with everyone who will stop long enough to listen to her.  Would love to see her this side of heaven! 
• ·        Praise the Lord and pray for the many individuals in Russia, US, Australia, UK, Poland, Germany, France, Portugal, American Samoa, Romania, Ukraine, Estonia, Singapore, China, India and Alaska who are regularly reading the WeakDay Devotion on-line.  The blog seems to be gathering an audience in unexpected and mysterious geographic locations.

PRAY FOR THE WORLD

• ·        That the Lord's hand is dramatically apparent in the lives of all who receive and read these devotions.  That His mighty works will be worked out in each life for His purposes and glory in surprising and wonderful ways!
• ·        For Christ-centred, Bible-based revival in the USA and religious freedom for Christians wherever they may be.

PRAY FOR THOSE WITH ONGOING HEALTH CONCERNS

• ·        UPDATE -Fin - they are working to better manage his back and leg pain.  Pray they will take a practical and conservative approach and that his doctors and therapists are wise and compassionate and that Fin will have friends with him during this time.
• ·        Aunt Donna - (Doris' sister, age 84) has dementia. Please pray for her daughters for guidance in her care.
• ·        David R - Feeling good.  Still no news about his right eye (cataract and perhaps early signs of macular degeneration).  Also, his little companion dog, Chandler, now quite old, is growing weaker and having trouble walking.  It will be difficult for David to lose him after 16 years.    
• ·        UPDATE - Joanne - sister to David, who is being overwhelmed by dementia and macular degeneration.  She is one of the most gracious Christian women I have ever known. 
• ·        UPDATE - John - having a sun melanoma removed from his arm soon.  Still having difficulty reading (after stroke 2 yrs. ago).  Please pray for complete healing and/or more patience and grace. 
• ·        Sandy - Tests are inconclusive, yet her symptoms persist.  Pray for wise doctors.  They suspect Crohn's Disease.
• ·        CK - (suffered a stroke in April) is back at home, having speech therapy for his inability to read, also. He is still not driving and his wife is taking him to the various appointments involved in his recovery.

SOMETHING NEW FOR PRAYER WARRIORS

• ·        Elaine and Jim -in Hong Kong have begun an online church with a special prayer room that is open 24/7.  A small army of dedicated prayer warriors is waiting to pray with you.  Please pray for them and go here to learn more:  Https://www.thelittlechurchworld.org/prayer-room

ONGOING PRAYER

• ·        Deepak - has worked tirelessly for years to develop his business and needs people to pay what they owe him.   
• ·        Shan needs clarity of purpose and direction for his ministry.  He and Gemma are now married and starting a new life.  Pray it will be steadfastly focused on the Lord.
• ·        Bettina for additional strength and wisdom.
• ·        Linda and Ian, Rob and his daughter, DB, PS, Reg, JD, Annette and Lyle, Carla and Paul, Jeff and Rachael and their wonderful families.  Grateful thanks for their practical support and encouragement over many years.