PRAYER EMAIL - AUGUST 7

 Greetings,
"What is this that God hath done unto us?" - Genesis 42:28

There are 11 times in the book of Genesis, that this question is presented.  Ten are in the form of a question, one in a statement - What have you done.   But it is only here, that the brothers of Joseph's asks, 'what has the Lord done unto us'.   It is one of the great questions in the Bible.  And it is a question that we are always to being asking and considering in our introspection of our walk with Christ, and our daily living choices, patterns and routines.  For at the end of our lives, this question will be asked of all of us, 'what have you done?"  

And as important as that question is, for us to ask and answer, as a means to stay right with God; how much greater is this question to be asked and answered - 'What has the Lord done unto us?'  

For the redeemed they start with Divine grace, that has led them to salvation in Christ Jesus.  Oh, where we would be without God doing grace unto us!  Lost and damned, we would be.  What has God done? He has caused us to be born for such a time as this; He has caused us to be born here, largely most of us are in the US, a place of freedoms, education and blessings beyond worth.   God has done unto us great things of great Sunday School teachers, great preachers and prayer warriors that prayed over us and pray for us.   God has done unto us great things in Divine moments that God set us in the right place at the right time and an act of God's mercy was done.   God has sent the Holy Ghost upon us, that has taught us great things out of the Scripture, great things from other saints, and brought to remembrance God's will and ways.   

And oh, dear church, stop and consider that answer to this question when at last, we are dead and gone.  For in a moment, closing our eyes here, we open them there in God's throne room.  And upon hearing the words, 'enter in', how shall we be able to answer the question: "What has God done unto us?"   For the blessings and sights and sounds of heaven will be more than we can phantom, describe or take in.  I often wondered upon seeing these things, if we shall not weep for 1000 years first, for knowing we deserved nothing, and yet have received all things, because God did this unto us.  And yes, I know, there be many that misquote this by saying, 'there are not tears in heaven'; but that is not what it says, it says, 'HE shall wipe away all tears'; and perhaps this is why He will wipe them away. (Just a thought)

Now in light of this text, the brothers of Joseph were being played with by Joseph.  For he recognized them, but they did not know him.  And just a few verses earlier, they had confessed before Joseph, that they were getting what they deserved because of what they had done to Joseph, without compassion at his anguish.   And they knew that God had found out their sin, and they were now reaping what they had sown.  And as much as we may count the blessings of the Lord as in the previous discussion of 'what God has done unto us'; there is also the other side that must be addressed and answered, that God judges and sets Himself against the wicked and they cry, 'What has God done unto us?'  

How many times in history, after a people refused to obey, to repent, to return to the Lord, and He destroyed and set Himself against them; they looked around in the death and ashes and said, 'what has God done unto us?'  And they knew, as the brothers did, that sin was the cause, and they had not repent before the Lord.   We are not at this point, of looking all around at the EPIDEMICS and saying, 'Look what God has done unto us'.  Death and dying from drugs - homicides - suicides - alcohol - abortion - covid - cancer.   God is systematically removing us from the earth as a nation.   And He could easily do it in one fell swoop.  But in His mercy, He sends remedial judgements to cause His people to see what He has done unto them.  But they know it is less than they deserve for their wickedness and abominations.  Why must we always get this far?  Why can we not consider 'what God is doing unto us now' and stop and turn and renew our vows to Him?   

Because as Jeremiah the weeping prophet, wrote Lamentations, after decades of warning.  Looking at a burnt out city, pestilence in its fullness upon the people, famine all around and now taken captive by the army, he says, as we will, 'look what God has done unto us'.  All because we did not know the hour of our visitation.  We did not take into consideration the hour that was upon us.  WE chose self over Him, we chose sin over Him and now we must reap what we have sown.  Time is an issue, for it is not on our side.  We must work now, for the night is coming, when no one can work.  We must work now, for far too many are perishing daily before we can reach them with the Gospel.  

We seek a revival, we seek a spiritual awakening of lost souls; and upon that happening, we will say, 'what has God done unto us?'  God has come down and visited His people with favor, one more time.  But upon failing to respond rightly before Him and to Him, and His judgements increase, as they are right now, we shall say with Jeremiah, 'Look what the Lord has done unto us'.  WE have choice and we have a moment of reprieve.  Choose the Lord and seek Him now like never before.  For 'who knows if He will turn, and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him'.   This is what we need now!  And it is done through prevailing prayer.   
What has God done unto us?

BROKEN BEFORE THE THRONE:  at this time, only ministry outlet is Thursday Hour of Prayer; still waiting and listening for leading to conference, writings and other venues;  Upon the Lord's leading and allowance, the first of November would be next opportunity to set one up and do for 2 - 3 days.  

Seeking still for more prayer partners to be a part to undergird ministry and me.  If you are already signed up for monthly prayer partner updates for ministry; how about letting me hear from you, how things are going and that you are still praying.  If you are not, contact me and I will add you and share with you.

VISION 2025 - met with Dr.  Paul Chitwood In Richmond at the IMB this past Tuesday.  An hour meeting with him and VP Julie;  I discussed my support for Ronnie Floyd's 5 points, especially in regards to 500 missionaries and the $125 million needed to do this.   I present to churches all 5 points regularly and pray daily for these to be fulfilled.  Paul shared that IMB also has 5 points that are before them to pray over and through:  praying for 80 new urban cities to be engaged with Gospel; they need 1200 applicants to secure 25% that will make it through the process in their pipeline for missionaries.  OF course, funding has to increase as well to meet the needs and make it happen - Jehovah - Jireh  

PRAYER TARGETS:
Epidemics:
1.  Drugs/Alcohol - death, dying and destruction;

2.  Children -   a few of the NIgerian 140 children taken captive was released last week;  no other news on the remaining;  continued abuses, neglect and reports of sex trafficking;

3.  Natural Disasters -   out west, continued extreme drought; wildfires in multiple places; 107 wild fires and over 2 million acres burnt;  Atlantic Ocean beginning to show signs of hurricane and tropical storm activity;  More news on ice shelves melting, this will cause localized flooding and erosion on coastal lines; speculation on Atlantic Ocean currents that is slowing down, this will cause continued and worsened storms and weather pattern;  This is the culmination in the next 50 years of the great tribulation and the 7 seals, trumpets and leading the last 7 vials;  and although earthquakes have remained moderate, averaging 120, we did have the 8.0 in Alaska last week;

4.  LGBT -    Charleston, WV became another city to pass that Christians could not treat children for therapy to remedy their LGBT children's confusion;  this could not hold up in court, but city ordinances continue to advance this abomination in our nation;

5.  Pestilence -   covid, push for vaccines shots, masks, mandates, threats, etc. continued to rise in stats in cases, deaths have not surged with delta variant; continue to watch and listen for other variants and diseases spreading;

6.  Great Evil -  2 police officers this month already; 7 last month; mass shootings and mass murders have stayed quiet thus far, rejoice in this; murder-suicides are down, to only 1 per day; but overall deaths are at 12, 198 and rapidly rising to set another record for this year; 

7.  Economy - watch, this will have to collapse to usher in next judgements on our nation; not if, but when;

UPDATES:
--bible readings, began again August 2; up through Genesis 46;
--The Activity of God - Luke 18:22;  I had to break Luke up into 3 parts, so on my blog where I am doing this study, you will see "Part";  the longer books over 8- 10 chapters in the New Testament, I will have to break up into parts;  still looking at about 2 more years to finish this;
--A Word - Jeremiah 7:30;  I have well over 1/2 of chapter 7 verses started and finished; only 34 verses in this chapter, and I will work to finish all verses as I approach chapter 8;  I have done well with chapter 5 - 7, but need more time to go back and finish earlier chapters, 1 - 4;
--Thursday Hour of Prayer - live stream only;  this has become my pure delight and joy to share these prayer points, Scriptures and targets; 
--after two weeks off from Sunday services, looking forward to getting back to Sunday services at both churches, Keyser church - 10 AM; and Fox's Hollow - SS/prayer at 2 PM, worship and live stream at 3 pM:
--Bible study up through John 8; looks like we will stay on Monday nights through August;
--Keyser area pastors prayer on 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings;

Until,
Dan

Started:  August 7, 2021

Continued:

Finished: