a new covenant and the blood of Christ

The Bible clearly declares the new covenant that God has made with His people through Jesus. The new covenant is with God's people and we highlight as follows the significance of the blood of Jesus in the new covenant:

1. the blood of Jesus was called the blood of the new covenant.
2. the blood of Jesus was shed for the remissions of sins.
3. Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31
[ A New Covenant ] “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—
Jeremiah 31:30-32 (in Context) Jeremiah 31 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 26:28
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:27-29 (in Context) Matthew 26 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Mark 14:24
And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
Mark 14:23-25 (in Context) Mark 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Luke 22:20
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Luke 22:19-21 (in Context) Luke 22 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Corinthians 3:6
who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:5-7 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Corinthians 3:7
[ Glory of the New Covenant ] But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,
2 Corinthians 3:6-8 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hebrews 8:7
[ A New Covenant ] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
Hebrews 8:6-8 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hebrews 8:8
Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—
Hebrews 8:7-9 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hebrews 8:13
In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 8:12-13 (in Context) Hebrews 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hebrews 9:15
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:14-16 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hebrews 12:24
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Hebrews 12:23-25 (in Context) Hebrews 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Hebrews 10:19
[ Hold Fast Your Confession ] Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:18-20 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 Peter 1:2
elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:1-3 (in Context) 1 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:6-8 (in Context) 1 John 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:15-17 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:12-14 (in Context) Ephesians 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Hebrews 9:14
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:13-15 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 Peter 1:18-20 (in Context) 1 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 

 

For His mercy endures forever

Psalm 136

New King James Version (NKJV)

Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy

136 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
    For His mercy endures forever.
² Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
    For His mercy endures forever.
³ Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
    For His mercy endures forever:

⁴ To Him who alone does great wonders,
    For His mercy endures forever;
⁵ To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
    For His mercy endures forever;
⁶ To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
    For His mercy endures forever;
⁷ To Him who made great lights,
    For His mercy endures forever—
⁸ The sun to rule by day,
    For His mercy endures forever;
⁹ The moon and stars to rule by night,
    For His mercy endures forever.

¹⁰ To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
    For His mercy endures forever;
¹¹ And brought out Israel from among them,
    For His mercy endures forever;
¹² With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
    For His mercy endures forever;
¹³ To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
    For His mercy endures forever;
¹⁴ And made Israel pass through the midst of it,

For His mercy endures forever;
¹⁵ But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
    For His mercy endures forever;
¹⁶ To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
    For His mercy endures forever;
¹⁷ To Him who struck down great kings,
    For His mercy endures forever;
¹⁸ And slew famous kings,
    For His mercy endures forever—
¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites,
    For His mercy endures forever;
²⁰ And Og king of Bashan,
    For His mercy endures forever—
²¹ And gave their land as a heritage,
    For His mercy endures forever;
²² A heritage to Israel His servant,
    For His mercy endures forever.

²³ Who remembered us in our lowly state,
    For His mercy endures forever;
²⁴ And rescued us from our enemies,
    For His mercy endures forever;
²⁵ Who gives food to all flesh,
    For His mercy endures forever.

²⁶ Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
    For His mercy endures forever.

Journey on: Jesus is the only solid ground

We continue to read the New Testament for Bible verses on the word “Ground” in the dictionary of God.

1. Mark 4:26 [ The Parable of the Growing Seed ] And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
2. Matthew 13:23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
3. Mark 8:6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
4. John 8:6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
5. John 9:6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
6. John 12:23-25 ²³ But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. ²⁵ He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
7. Acts 7:33 ‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
8. Acts 26:14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
9. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 ¹⁴ These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵ but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ¹⁶ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God^[a] was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Some key Bible verses (in NLT version) from the book of Ezra (on rebuilding the Temple of God) and the book of Psalms on the word “Foundation” which also means “Ground”:

1. Ezra 3:6 Fifteen days before the Festival of Shelters began, the priests had begun to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. This was even before they had started to lay the foundation of the Lord’s Temple.
2. Ezra 3:10 When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed.
3. Ezra 3:11 With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.
4. Psalm 24:2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.
5. Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.
6. Psalm 102:25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
7. Psalm 104:5 You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.
8. Proverbs 9:9-11 ¹⁰ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.     Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. ¹¹ Wisdom will multiply your days     and add years to your life.
9. Proverbs 10:25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.
10. Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
11. Isaiah 33:6 In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.
12. Zechariah 4:9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.

Some key New Testament verses on the word “Foundation”:

1. Matthew 7:24 [ Building on a Solid Foundation ] “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
2. Luke 6:48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.
3. 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
4. Ephesians 2:20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
5. 1 Timothy 6:19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
6. 2 Timothy 2:19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”
7. Hebrews 1:10 He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
8. 1 Peter 5:10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

   

   Jesus is our only solid rock!

Journey on: The word for this year is “Ground”.

The word for this year is “Ground”. Possess the land given by God . Possess the ground. Hold fast to the ground you already possess. Follow the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Jesus Christ Himself, like Joshua did.
Key Action points: hold fast to where you already stand in Christ, possess further spiritual promises/blessings God has already given in the heavenly places in Christ: repent for lost ground, realign with the plumbline of God, realize, restore, repair, rebuild, reclaim, restitute, reconcile, relate, remain faithful and truthful, rest.
Here are 28 sets of  Old Testament Bible verses on the importance of “Ground” in the dictionary of God. Read and meditate on them. Find the message revealed to you by the Lord Holy Spirit.

1. Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
2. Exodus 3:5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
3. Deuteronomy 28:4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
4. Joshua 24:32 The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.
5. Judges 20:36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.
6. 1 Samuel 3:19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
7. 1 Samuel 5:4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it.
8. 2 Samuel 8:2 Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.
9. 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
10. 2 Samuel 14:14 For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.
11. 1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,
12. 2 Kings 13:17-19 ¹⁷ And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” ¹⁸ Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. ¹⁹ And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
13. Nehemiah 10:35 And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord;
14. Job 1:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
15. Job 2:13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
16. Psalm 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground.
17. Psalm 143:3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead.
18. Psalm 147:6 The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.
19. Proverbs 13:23 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.
20. Isaiah 14:12 [ The Fall of Lucifer ] “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
21. Isaiah 21:9 And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!” Then he answered and said, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground.”
22. Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
23. Isaiah 53:2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
24. Jeremiah 4:3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.
25. Ezekiel 12:6 In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”
26. Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.
27. Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
28. Zechariah 8:11-13 ¹¹ But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts. ¹² ‘For the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people To possess all these. ¹³ And it shall come to pass That just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.’

journey on 2014: In this you rejoice

1 Peter 1

English Standard Version (ESV)

Greeting

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Called to Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 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.
²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;


 ²⁴ for

“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

 

Footnotes:

1. 1 Peter 1:13 Greek girding up the loins of your mind

Cross references:

1. 1 Peter 1:1 : See James 1:1
2. 1 Peter 1:2 : Acts 2:23; [Rom. 8:29; 11:2]
3. 1 Peter 1:2 : See 1 Thess. 4:3
4. 1 Peter 1:2 : Heb. 10:22; 12:24
5. 1 Peter 1:2 : 2 Pet. 1:2
6. 1 Peter 1:2 : Dan. 4:1; Jude 2
7. 1 Peter 1:3 : 2 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 1:3
8. 1 Peter 1:3 : Titus 3:5
9. 1 Peter 1:3 : ver. 23
10. 1 Peter 1:3 : ch. 3:21; [1 Cor. 15:20]
11. 1 Peter 1:4 : Rom. 8:17
12. 1 Peter 1:4 : [ch. 5:4]
13. 1 Peter 1:4 : [Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 4:8]
14. 1 Peter 1:5 : Eph. 2:8
15. 1 Peter 1:5 : [ch. 5:10; Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17; Heb. 12:11]
16. 1 Peter 1:6 : James 1:2; [ch. 4:12]
17. 1 Peter 1:7 : James 1:3
18. 1 Peter 1:7 : Job 23:10; Ps. 66:10; Prov. 17:3; Isa. 48:10
19. 1 Peter 1:7 : 1 Cor. 3:13
20. 1 Peter 1:7 : Rom. 2:7, 10; 1 Cor. 4:5; [2 Thess. 1:7-12]
21. 1 Peter 1:8 : [1 John 4:20]
22. 1 Peter 1:8 : [Heb. 11:27]; See John 20:29
23. 1 Peter 1:9 : Rom. 6:22
24. 1 Peter 1:10 : 2 Pet. 1:19; [Dan. 8:15; Matt. 13:17; Luke 10:24]
25. 1 Peter 1:11 : Dan. 9:24-26
26. 1 Peter 1:11 : Rom. 8:9; [2 Pet. 1:21]; See Acts 16:7
27. 1 Peter 1:11 : See Matt. 26:24
28. 1 Peter 1:11 : Isa. 52:13–53:12; Luke 24:26; Acts 3:18
29. 1 Peter 1:12 : Dan. 12:4, 9, 13
30. 1 Peter 1:12 : [Matt. 13:17; Heb. 11:39, 40]
31. 1 Peter 1:12 : Acts 2:2-4
32. 1 Peter 1:12 : [Dan. 8:13; 12:5-7; Eph. 3:10]
33. 1 Peter 1:13 : See Luke 12:35
34. 1 Peter 1:13 : ch. 4:7; 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:6, 8; 2 Tim. 4:5
35. 1 Peter 1:14 : ch. 4:2, 3; Rom. 12:2; Titus 3:3
36. 1 Peter 1:14 : Acts 17:30
37. 1 Peter 1:15 : 1 John 3:3; [2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 4:7; Heb. 12:14]
38. 1 Peter 1:15 : James 3:13
39. 1 Peter 1:16 : Cited from Lev. 11:44
40. 1 Peter 1:17 : Jer. 3:19; Mal. 1:6; 2 Cor. 6:18; [Matt. 6:9]
41. 1 Peter 1:17 : See Ps. 62:12
42. 1 Peter 1:17 : See James 2:1
43. 1 Peter 1:17 : ch. 3:15; 2 Cor. 7:1; [Rom. 11:20]
44. 1 Peter 1:18 : [Ps. 49:8; 130:8; 1 Cor. 6:20; Titus 2:14; 2 Pet. 2:1]
45. 1 Peter 1:18 : See Eph. 4:17
46. 1 Peter 1:19 : See Acts 20:28
47. 1 Peter 1:19 : See John 1:29
48. 1 Peter 1:19 : Heb. 9:14; [Ex. 12:5]
49. 1 Peter 1:20 : See Rom. 16:26
50. 1 Peter 1:20 : Heb. 1:2
51. 1 Peter 1:21 : John 12:44
52. 1 Peter 1:21 : [Rom. 10:9]; See Acts 2:24
53. 1 Peter 1:21 : Acts 3:13; Heb. 2:9; [ch. 3:22]; See John 7:39
54. 1 Peter 1:22 : Rom. 12:9; See Heb. 13:1
55. 1 Peter 1:22 : 1 Tim. 1:5
56. 1 Peter 1:23 : ver. 3; [John 3:3; James 1:18]
57. 1 Peter 1:23 : John 1:13
58. 1 Peter 1:23 : Heb. 4:12
59. 1 Peter 1:24 : James 1:10, 11; Cited from Isa. 40:6, 8
60. 1 Peter 1:25 : [Matt. 24:35]
61. 1 Peter 1:25 : Isa. 40:9

2014: a year of giving up

Count The Cost and Journey On in 2014

Luke 14
²⁵ A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, ²⁶ “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
²⁸ “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? ²⁹ Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. ³⁰ They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
³¹ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? ³² And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.  

cost of the kingdom of God

³⁴ “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? ³⁵ Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Luke 18 
²⁶ Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”
²⁷ He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
²⁸ Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”
²⁹ “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, ³⁰ will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

journey on: see the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love

Zechariah 9:10-12

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ I will remove the battle chariots from Israel
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem.
I will destroy all the weapons used in battle,
    and your king will bring peace to the nations.
His realm will stretch from sea to sea

    and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
¹¹ Because of the covenant I made with you,
    sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
    from death in a waterless dungeon.
¹² Come back to the place of safety,
    all you prisoners who still have hope!
I promise this very day
    that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. 

Genesis 17:7

“I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Genesis 17:6-8 (in Context) Genesis 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Deuteronomy 4:26

“Today I call on heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you break my covenant, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed.

Deuteronomy 4:25-27 (in Context) Deuteronomy 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

2 Kings 8:19

But the Lord did not want to destroy Judah, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever.

2 Kings 8:18-20 (in Context) 2 Kings 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 

2 Chronicles 15:12

Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.

2 Chronicles 15:11-13 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 

Nehemiah 1:5

Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,

Nehemiah 1:4-6 (in Context) Nehemiah 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

 

Psalm 103:17-18

¹⁷ But the love of the Lord remains forever
    with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
¹⁸     of those who are faithful to his covenant,
    of those who obey his commandments!

concluding words from an apostle: our conscience is clear, our strength comes from God’s grace

Hebrews 13

New Living Translation (NLT)

Concluding Words

13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.² Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ³ Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
⁴ Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
⁵ Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.     I will never abandon you.”

⁶ So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,     so I will have no fear.     What can mere people do to me?”

⁷ Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
¹⁰ We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. ¹² So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. ¹³ So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. ¹⁴ For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
¹⁵ Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. ¹⁶ And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
¹⁷ Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
¹⁸ Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. ¹⁹ And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace—     who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep,     and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— ²¹ may he equip you with all you need     for doing his will. May he produce in you,     through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.     All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

²² I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.
²³ I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.
²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings.
²⁵ May God’s grace be with you all.

____________Verse of the Day
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!        2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
 

journey on: to undeserved favor - grace, grace, grace!

The last sermon 2013 and first sermon 2014 he heard for the over-midnight service by watching online a recorded Sunday worship (due to time zone difference he does not watch live) is all about getting rid of the trash in our lives. The watchman admitted that this was truly most appropriate for this spring cleaning day for him!
Pastor Sandra Kennedy aptly titled the subject, “God is the Redeemer not the condemner”. It is about getting rid of our daily trash. She said God has paid for the trash collector, but each man must take out his or her own trash. We cannot let the trash stay in the house and go out. Because when we come home the trash is still there and stinks! She opened her preaching by quoting from NLT Bible Isaiah 43:25, Micah 7:19, then Jeremiah 29:11, 31:33, 37, Psalm 103:8, Hebrews 1:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Pastor Kennedy warned that the devil is the condemner. If anyone condemns, he is walking with the devil. God is Redeemer!
Here is a summary of the action steps we each need to take to get rid of our personal trash:

1. be specific about our trash (sins). name them and claim them.
2. allow God teach us something from it.
3. allow God have our past: forgive, heal, pour oil and wine.
4. forgive ourselves. (God has forgiven us and there is no record of it.)

Do start our new year 2014 right by hearing God right. Here is the last message for 2013 and the first one on this first day of the new year!
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewEmbedResizeCC2.aspx?ccEnabled=false&autostart=true&indexSessionSKU=i8mIsipYweI6PFo4Pu3dkw%3D%3D
http://hosted.earthchannel.com/WholeLife/tabs/sundays.php#

Isaiah 43:25 (NLT)

²⁵ “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake     and will never think of them again.

Micah 7:19 (NLT)

¹⁹ Once again you will have compassion on us.     You will trample our sins under your feet     and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

Jeremiah 29:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 31:33

New Living Translation (NLT)

³³ “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Jeremiah 31:37

New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁷ This is what the Lord says: “Just as the heavens cannot be measured     and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away     for the evil they have done.     I, the Lord, have spoken!