https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpoJWj6Gqug
YouTube: Faith
Alone #9: By Grace Through FAITH Alone
Ephesians 2:8-9
By Onorato Diamante (1 min 37 sec)
“Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have
lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised
that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.
“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. You foolish
ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and
then all things are clean for you.
“’But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every
kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these
are the things you should have done without neglecting others. Woe to you Pharisees!
“’For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the
respectful greetings in the market places.
Woe to you! For you are like
concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.’” Luke
11:37-44
The Pharisees took great pride in keeping every little ‘jot and tittle’ of the law because they imagined that keeping the law would earn them ‘Brownie points with God’ and distinguish them as better, more righteous and holy than others around them.
This
idea has sometimes entered our places of worship today – where service, attendance,
tithing, personal sacrifice, etc., are emphasised.
Yet we must always remember:
Nothing we do causes God to love us more or love us less than He does
once we accept HIS gracious gift by faith in His sacrifice alone. If this was not true, then Jesus did not have
to suffer and die and that repentant thief on the cross would be in hell, not
in paradise with His Saviour!
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still
prays for you daily)
PSS: Find my
statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com
(where you will also find a series of
beginner Bible studies to share). Find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a
Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.
(Also, there is an android ‘Google
Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone. Not sure about Apple.). For the books, go to Amazon
books. For prayer requests and
updates email me: darlenerichard@gmail.com
Please update your PRAYER
REQUESTS
·
URGENT ISRAEL– 108 days have
passed of this horrible and unwanted war.
Pray Israeli forces locate
and save the remaining hostages. Pray for the wisdom and safety of the Israeli
soldiers, for those who have lost loved ones and for those moving through enemy
territory as they risk their lives to restore peace and purify the land of all terrorists. Pray also for the Palestinian people – many are
helpless captives of war.
·
Barbara –
the beloved wife of my brother, Tim (who passed away the end of January
2023). As one of God’s faithful widows,
pray God always protects her, especially at night. Pray He guards the structure and integrity of
the house. Pray He places willing people
in her path to help her as she faces a life without Tim.
·
Michael C
– please pray for him and his family as they hold vigil as his father passes
away.
·
Yoshimi – has
started to attend church and read her Bible.
Pray she grows into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that
she finds work she can enjoy and benefit from.
·
Lindsey - the youngest daughter
of my dearest friends, Annette and Lyle, needs your prayers for healing and
strengthening. Pray for her patience and
the wisdom of her health care providers.
·
Jeff and
Rachael’s family: - Peyton, granddaughter, graduated from college Dec
2023. Carter, grandson, is doing great
in his first year in college. Both are
exceptional students and love the Lord. Pray
they are not distracted by worldly things, that the Lord watches over and
protects them, that they continue to do well as their lives develop under God’s
loving hand and that their love of God’s Word increases daily.
·
Patti and John –
pray God continues to inspire them with His love and compassion and that He will
guard their health. Pray also for
travelling mercies as Patti is now the only one who drives. (Joshuah 1:6-9).
·
Sarah and Andrew – he left his job two years ago and she went to
work in a new role. Pray for this
precious Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the
Lord.
·
Bettina –
is preparing to retire after a lifetime of service to her company. Pray each of her five married daughters, spouses
and 18 grandchildren support her as she enters this new phase of her life and
they all continue to grow in their love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
Ian –
continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness
with personal evangelism is fulfilled.
·
Elina –
needs God’s wisdom and the courage of her convictions and resolve to live a
life that is Christ-honouring for herself and her young son, Jimmy.
·
Megan (for
emotional healing) and Scott, her
husband (for patience and wisdom) and wisdom for his sister, Clare, as she seeks to support them through
troubled times.
·
Christine –
give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives
his life to the Lord.
·
Robin –
continue to pray for her strength and healing as she continues her journey
after the loss her beloved mother (was 93 years old) and pray for the strength
of her daughter who is comforting her.
· Pray for true, Christ-centered revival in America.
Pray for those in
full-time service
Pray the Lord upholds our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil. Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.
Pray Especially for
Salvation for:
·
Louisville family
of Jeff and Rachael – that a desire grows in their heart for a
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
R & B
– exploring the Truth for themselves. Please place true believers in their
paths to disciple them.
·
Becky
– still in rehab for spinal surgery.
Pray for her patience and for her health care providers to be wise and
compassionate, that her family rallies around her to care for her and, most of
all, that she finds the Lord in all this.
·
Fred and Barb –
brother of Patti -- for salvation.
·
Bryan and Julie
(Patti’s daughter) Pray for the salvation of at least one of the family and
that the others will follow shortly thereafter.
They are parents of Callilah, Adrian, Micah, Kevin and Nate --
lost, damaged and troubled children – all of whom we have prayed for over the
years.
·
Sophie–
six-year-old daughter of a friend is chronically ill and frail. Please pray for her, her parents and health
carers to find ways to manage her symptoms and heal her and that this will lead
them all to God’s saving grace.
·
Paul –
please pray for him. He still has not
found a job or work after more than ten years.
Please pray the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and
strengthen.
·
Peggy – a
dear friend and colleague of my sister-in-law who has been battling cancer in
her neck for years. Her new oncologist
has started a combination of chemo and radiation that seems to be working, but
she is miserable. Please pray for her as
she waits for her body to heal and strengthen and that she finds salvation.
·
Sue and Rob – opened their home to support Luke who is angry and lost. He has been there a long time now and refuses
to move out. Please pray the Lord saves
all three and that Luke realises he must take responsibility for his own
life. Pray for continued patience and
compassion of Sue and Rob.
·
Demi and John – one evening John went out their backdoor to run
an errand and was attacked by someone with a knife who stabbed him several
times (one pierced his heart). He has
recovered physically but pray for him and his wife as they pull their lives
together – that they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind.
·
Jen N –
a Jewish woman I’ve met at work, please pray for her that she will find a new
role and that she stays safe and healthy.
Please pray for her and her two boys (ages 16 and 17).
· Don Yockey- lost his fight with cancer. Please pray the Lord uses this time to open the family’s hearts to His love and salvation.
Pray for those with
ongoing health concerns
Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health. Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them.
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