July 16-31 DAILY DEVOTIONALS - EVENING

How Then Shall We Live?

July 16 – The Holy Angels Are in Awe Before Him

July 17 – It is Finished!

July 18 – When He Comes, He Will Convict the World

July 19 – These Are What Defile a Person

July 20 – Yet Man is Born to Trouble, As the Sparks Fly Upward

July 21 – So That They Are Without Excuse

July 22 – Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

LEO (The Lion). The Lion of the Tribe of Judah aroused for the rending of the Enemy.

July 23–Aug. 22

1. HYDRA (The Serpent). That old Serpent— Devil, destroyed.

2. CRATER (The Cup). The cup of Divine wrath poured out upon him.

3. CORVUS (The Crow, or Raven). Birds of prey devouring him.

July 23 – For They Shall Be Satisfied

July 24 – The Bride of Christ

July 25 – God Gave Them Over to a Reprobate Mind

July 26 – July 25 – The Earth Would be Filled With Violence

July 27 – Accept My Words, That Your Years Will Be Many

July 28 – Why a Blood Sacrifice?

July 29 – Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

July 30 – The Seas Raging

July 31 – The Future War of Ezekiel

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Words to Think About...

ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

JULY 16

The Holy Angels Are in Awe Before Him

"The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels." - Revelation 3:5

FOR HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU

"Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

- Psalm 91:9-11

MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE ANGELS

"Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs."

- Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva

THERE IS REJOICING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

- Luke 15:10

THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN REJOICE OVER SINNERS THAT REPENT

"I think beloved, it will not be hard for you to learn. The angels of heaven rejoice over Sinners that repent: saints of God, will not you and I do the same? I do not think the church rejoices enough. We all grumble enough and groan enough: but very few of us rejoice enough. When we take a large number into the church it is spoken of as a great mercy; but is the greatness of that mercy appreciated?"

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

THE ANGEL ANSWERED AND SAID TO HIM

"The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news."

- Luke 1:19

THE ANGELS WILL COME FORTH

"So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous."

- Matthew 13:49

THE ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE SAVED THEM

"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."

- Isaiah 63:9

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPS AROUND THOSE WHO FEAR HIM

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"

- Psalm 34:7-8

SENDING HIS ANGELS TO HIS SERVANT JOHN

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John."

- Revelation 1:1

THE FIRST ANGEL BLEW HIS TRUMBET

"The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up."

- Revelation 8:7

AND THE DRAGON FOUGHT WITH HIS ANGELS

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels."

- Revelation 12:7

IN THE PRESENCE OF HOLY ANGELS

“They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb”

- Revelation 14:10

ANOTHER ANGEL CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE

"And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”

- Revelation 14:15

SO THE ANGEL SWUNG HIS SICKLE ACROSS THE EARTH

"So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God."

- Revelation 14:19

THEN THE THIRD ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL

"Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood."

- Revelation 16:4

THEN THE ANGEL SHOWED ME THE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb."

- Revelation 22:1

THE ANGELS ARE HOLY CREATURES

"Without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Heaven is a holy place. The Lord of heaven is a holy Being. The angels are holy creatures. Holiness is written on everything in heaven... How shall we ever be at home and happy in heaven if we die unholy?"

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop

THE SON OF MAN WILL SEND OUT HIS ANGELS

Jesus said: “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

- Matthew 13:41-42

BAND OF DESTROYING ANGELS
"He sent upon them His burning anger, fury and indignation and trouble, a band of destroying angels."

- Psalm 78:49

WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me;"

- Matthew 25:31-46

Photo Credit: bibleartists.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/the-nativity-2/

Words to Think About...

ARE THEY NOT MINISTERING SPIRITS?

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

- Hebrews 1:4

ENTHRONED ABOVE THE CHERUBIM

“O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth."

- Isaiah 37:16

ENTRERTAIN ANGLES UNAWARE

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

- Hebrews 13:2

NOT EVEN THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN

"But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

- Mark 13:32

THE REAPERS ARE ANGELS

"And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels."

- Matthew 13:39

THE WORD SPOKEN THROUGH ANGELS

"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard."

- Hebrews 2:1-3

WHEN THE HEART OF ANGELS SUNG

"The earth has grown old with its burden of care, But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, And its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung."

- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) American Episcopal Clergyman

SERAPHIM STOOD ABOVE HIM

"In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

- Isaiah 6:1-4

CHERUB SPREAD OUT THEIR WINGS

"The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim."

- Exodus 37:9

THE JOY OF ANGELS

"If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth's grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God's will."

- E. M. Bounds (1835–1913) American Clergyman, Author

WITH THE VOICE OF AN ARCHANGEL

"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

ABOVE IT WERE THE CHERUBIM

"Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail."

- Hebrews 9:5

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Hark the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the new-born king.' Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!

- Charles Wesley (1707–1788) English Minister. and Hymnwriter

ARE LIKE ANGELS IN HEAVEN

"For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."

- Matthew 22:30

JULY 17

Being a Christian in the Last Days

"When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." - John 19:30

THE CHRISTIAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH THIS WORLD

"Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God's ordering and permission. There is no such thing as "chance," "luck" or "accident" in the Christian's journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God. And all things are "working together" for the believer's good."

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop

THE CHRISTIAN IS CALLED OUT FROM THIS WORLD

"The Christian is called out from the world. His life is not to be as the lives of those about him."

- Harry Ironside (1876-1951) American Bible Teacher, Theologian

THE HIGHER CHRISTIAN LIFE

"Perils as well as privileges attend the higher Christian life. The nearer we come to God, the thicker the hosts of darkness in heavenly places."

- A. B. Simpson (1843-1919) Canadian Preacher, Theologian

DEATH TO THE CHRISTIAN

"Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils, and the resurrection, of all his joys."

- James H. Aughey (1828-1911) Imprisoned American Minister

IF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS ARE UNFAITHFUL

If professing Christians are unfaithful to the authority of their Lord in their capacity as citizens of the state, they cannot expect to be blessed by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in their capacity as members of the Church.

- Archibald Alexander Hodge (1823–1886) American Presbyterian Leader

THE CHRISTIAN ON HIS KNEES

"The Christian on his knees sees more than the philosopher on tiptoe."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES

"Christians, who have given themselves into the care and keeping of the Lord Jesus, still continue to bend beneath the weight of their burden, and often go weary and heavy-laden throughout the whole length of their journey"

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer

AIR WHICH TRUE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE BREATHES

"Love is kindled in a flame, and ardency is its life. Flame is the air which true Christian experience breathes. It feeds on fire; it can withstand anything rather than a feeble flame; but when the surrounding atmosphere is frigid or lukewarm, it dies, chilled and starved to its vitals. True prayer must be aflame."

- E. M. Bounds (1835–1913) American Clergyman, Author

CHRISTIANITY REMOVES THE ATTRACTION OF THE EARTH

"Christianity removes the attraction of the earth; and this is one way in which it diminishes men's burden. It makes them citizens of another world."

- Henry Drummond (1851-1987) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist, Writer

CHRISTIANS, LET US LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD

"Christians, let us leave the government of the world till the King comes; let us leave the civilizing of the world to be the incidental effect of the presence there of the Gospel of Christ, and let us give our time, our strength, our money, our days to the mission distinctively committed to the Church, namely, to make the Lord Jesus Christ known "to every creature"!

- C. I. Scofield (1843-1921) American Theologian, Minister

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS VERY MUCH LIKE

"The Christian life is very much like climbing a hill of ice. You cannot slide up. You have to cut every step with an ice axe. Only with incessant labor in cutting and chipping can you make any progress. If you want to know how to backslide, leave off going forward. Cease going upward and you will go downward of necessity. You can never stand still."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

BE ASSURED THAT CHRISTIANITY

"Be assured that Christianity is something more than forms and creeds and ceremonies: there is life, and power, and reality, in our holy faith."

- George Mueller 1805-1898) English Evangelist and Helper of Orphans

THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

- John 3:16

THE MAN WHO MOBILIZES THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

"The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history."

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary, Writer

FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. "

- Romans 10:13

Photo Credit: churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/18-march/features/features/learning-to-read

Words to Think About...

HAPPIEST OF ALL CHRISTIANS

"I believe that the happiest of all Christians and the truest of Christians are those who never dare to doubt God, but take His Word simply as it stands, and believe it, and ask no questions, just feeling assured that if God has said it, it will be so."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

ALL THE STAGES OF THEIR LIVES

"It is the duty of the saints, especially in times of straights, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all the states and through all the stages of their lives."

- John Flavel (c1627-1691) English Puritan Minister

THE TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

"The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!"

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

MOST CHRISTIANS

"Most Christians are being crucified on a cross between two thieves: Yesterday's regret and tomorrow's worries."

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

THE HAPPIEST CHRISTIANS

"They are the happiest Christians, who have the lowest thoughts of themselves, and in whose eyes Jesus is most glorious and precious."

- John Newton (1724-1807) Slave Trader Turned Preacher

THE WORLD HAS YET TO SEE

"The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

THE CHILD OF GOD

"A child of God should be a visible beatitude for joy and happiness, and a living doxology for gratitude and adoration."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

AS FOR ME, I WOULD SEEK GOD

"As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause."

- Job 5:8

THEREFORE THE CHRISTIAN HEART

"Therefore the Christian heart, since it has been thoroughly persuaded that all things happen by God's plan, and that nothing takes place by chance, will ever look to him as the principal causes of things, yet will give attention to the secondary causes in their proper place."

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian

THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN LIFE

"The whole life of a Christian should be nothing but praises and thanks to God; we should neither eat nor sleep, but eat to God and sleep to God and work to God and talk to God, do all to His glory and praise."

- Richard Sibbes (1577–1635) Anglican Theologian and Minister

A CHRISTIAN WILL FIND

"A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits."

- Hannah More (1745-1833) English Religious Writer

GOD DENIES A CHRISTIAN NOTHING

"God denies a Christian nothing but with a design to give him something better."

- Richard Cecil (1748–1810) Evangelical Anglican Clergyman

JULY 18

When He Comes, He Will Convict the World

"And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." - John 16:8

The word "Convict" in the Greek is translated as "Elencho" in this verse means, “to convince someone of the truth; to reprove, accuse.” Conviction brings out the truth; it accuses us of our wrong doings and rebukes us of our sins. The Bible teaches heavily on conviction. All throughout the Scriptures, we read about examples of conviction, of people who, because of conviction had their lives radically transformed. Conviction of sin is brought about by the Holy Spirit and we all have felt convicted at some points in our lives.

HE WILL CONVICT THE WORLD CONCERNING SIN

"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me."

- John 16:7-11

BEING CONVICTED IN THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE

“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

- John 8:8

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

- 1 John 1:8-10

YOU CANNOT PREACH CONVICTION OF SIN

"You cannot preach conviction of sin unless you have suffered it. You cannot preach repentance unless you have practiced it. You cannot preach faith unless you have exercised it. True preaching is artesian; it wells up from the great depths of the soul. If Christ has not made a well within us, there will be no outflow from us."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE, GO AND SIN NO MORE

“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

- John 8:10-12

HE REMINDS US OF OUR SIN

"Whenever God reproves us, not only in words, but in reality, and reminds us of our sins, we do not so suffer for one fault as to be free for the future, but that until we from the heart repent, He ever sounds in our ears these words, Still God will contend with you: and a real contention is meant."

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian

WHEN I KEPT SILENT ABOUT MY SIN

"When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long."

- Psalm 32:3

UNLESS WE ARE THOROUGHLY CONVINCED

"Unless we are thoroughly convinced that without Christ we are under the eternal curse of God, as the worst of His enemies, we shall never flee to Him for refuge."

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

- Hebrews 11:1

LAY YOUR CONVICTIONS BARE

"When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith."

- Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920) Prime Minister Netherlands, Theologian, Journalist

IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH FULL CONVICTION

"For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake."

- 1 Thessalonians 1:5

CONVICTION THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD

"If a man fights his way through his doubts to the conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord, he has attained to a certainty that the man who unthinkingly accepts things can never reach."

- William Barclay (1907-1978) Church of Scotland Minister, Author

OUT OF THE DEEPEST PAIN HAS COME THE STRONGEST CONVICTION

"I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God."

- Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) Christian Missionary and Writer

WHO AMONG YOU CAN CONVICT ME OF SIN

“Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”

- John 8:45-46

Photo Credit: arthistorynews.com/articles/295_Armageddon_outta_here

Words to Think About...

YOUR OWN CONVICTION BEFORE GOD

"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves."

- Romans 14:22

TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

- John 12:47

AND CONCERNING JUDGEMENT

"And concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."

- John 16:11

WHAT GIVES US CONVICTION OF SIN

"What gives us conviction of sin is not the number of sins we have committed; it is the sight of the holiness of God.”

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1891) British War Hero, Minister

PROFITABLE FOR CORRECTION

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."

- 2 Timothy 3:16

TO CONVICT THOSE CONTRADICTING IT

“Holding to the faithful word according to the teaching, that he may be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to convict those contradicting it.”

- Titus 1:9

SOUND CONVICTION FOR SIN

"It gave me no pleasure to see people drink in my opinions if they seemed ignorant of Jesus Christ and the value of being saved by Him. Sound conviction for sin, especially the sin of unbelief, and a heart set on fire to be saved by Christ, with a strong yearning for a truly sanctified soul-this was what delighted me; those were the souls I considered blessed."

- John Bunyan (1628-1688) English Minister Writer

SORROWED TO REPENTANCE

“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

- 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"There is in the heart of every man or woman, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, a sense of guilt and condemnation. Bunyan made it a heavy pack on the back of Pilgrim; and he did not lose it until he reached the Cross of Christ. When we realize how guilty sin is, and how condemned is the sinner, we begin to feel the weight of that load."

- A.C. Dixon (1854–1925) Baptist Pastor, Bible Expositor

CONVICTION IS NOT REPENTANCE

“Conviction is not repentance; conviction leads to repentance. But you can be convicted without repentance.”

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1891) British War Hero, Minister

BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

- Psalms 51:1-4

JULY 19

These Are What Defile a Person

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." - Matthew 15:19

LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES FORM EVERY DEFILEMENT

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."

- 2 Corinthians 7:1

TO THE DEFILED AND UNBELIEVING

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled."

- Titus 1:15

NOT WHAT GOES INTO THE MOUTH THAT DEFILES

"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

- Matthew 15:11

SIN IS OF A DEFILING NATURE

"Sin is of a defiling nature. You cannot touch pitch and not be defiled."

- William Tiptaft (1803-1864) Church of England Cleric

AND BY IT MANY BECOME DEFILED

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled."

- Hebrews 12:15

DANIEL RESOLVED THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF

"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself."

- Daniel 1:8

THEY HAVE ESCAPED THE DEFILEMENTS OF THE WORLD

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first."

- 2 Peter 2:20

LIVING HOPE INCORRUPTIBLE AND UNDEILED

"A Methodist (Christian) is one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength. God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul, which is continually crying, 'Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth whom I desire besides thee.' My God and my all! 'Thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.' He is therefore happy in God; yea, always happy, as having in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, and over-flowing his soul with peace and joy. Perfect love living now cast out fear, he rejoices evermore. Yea, his joy is full, and all his bones cry out, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten me again unto a living hope of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for me."

- John Wesley (1703-1791) English Cleric and Minister

WHAT COMES OUT OF A PERSON IS WHAT DEFILES HIM

"There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

- Mark 7:15

DEEDS WHICH YOU HAVE DEFILED YOURSELVES

"And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed."

- Ezekiel 20:43

THESE WHO HAVE NOT DEFILED THEMSELVES

"It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb."

- Revelation 14:4

Photo Credit: christinscripture.com/2022/01/20/understanding-gods-wrath/

Words to Think About...

DO NOT DEFILE YOURSELVES

"Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled."

- Leviticus 18:24

PURE AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

- James 1:27

ALL THESE EVIL THINGS

"All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

- Mark 7:23

TO DEFILE THE IMAGINATION

"Nothing in the world so tends to defile the imagination, to pervert the affections, and to corrupt the morals, as self-consciousness. You know it is connected with every disease and morbid action of the body. All self-consciousness is of the very essence and nature of sin."

- Archibald A. Hodge (1823–1886) American Presbyterian Leader, Principal of Princeton Seminary

HATH DEFILED THE WHOLE MAN

"Though selfishness hath defiled the whole man, yet sensual pleasure is the chief part of its interest, and, therefore, by the senses it commonly works; and these are the doors and windows by which iniquity entereth into the soul."

- Richard Baxter (1615-1691) English Puritan Church Leader

WOE TO HER THAT IS DEFILED

"Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!"

- Zephaniah 3:1

AN INHERITANCE THAT IS UNDEFILED

"To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

- 1 Peter 1:4

BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEFILED

"'So as I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, therefore I will also withdraw, and My eye will have no pity and I will not spare."

- Ezekiel 5:11

TO BE DEFILED BY THEM

"Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God."

- Leviticus 19:31

JULY 20

The Great Red Dragon and the Beast From the Sea

AND I SAW A BEAST RISING OUT OF THE SEA

"And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months."

- Revelation 13:1-18

AND THE DRAGON FOUGHT WITH HIS ANGELS

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels."

- Revelation 12:7

WHEN THE DRAGON SAW THAT HE WAS CAST UNTO THE EARTH

"And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child."

- Revelation 12:13

HIS TAIL DREW A THIRD PART OF THE STARS

"And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."

- Revelation 12:4

AND THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

- Revelation 12:9

WHICH THE DRAGON CAST OUT OF HIS MOUTH

"And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth."

- Revelation 12:16

AND THE DRAGON GAVE HIM HIS POWER

"And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

- Revelation 13:2

AND HE LAID HOLD OF THE DRAGON

"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years."

- Revelation 20:2

HE SHALL SLAY THE DRAGON IN THE SEA

"In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea."

- Isaiah 27:1

Photo Credit: nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.11499.html

Words to Think About...

BEHOLD, A GREAT RED DRAGON

"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads."

- Revelation 12:3

AND HE SPAKE LIKE A DRAGON

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon."

- Revelation 13:11

THE DRAGON BECAME FURIOUS

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea."

- Revelation 12:17

THEY WORSHIPPED THE DRAGON

"And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"

- Revelation 13:4

AND IT SPOKE LIKE A DRAGON

"Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon."

- Revelation 13:11

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE DRAGON

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet."

- Revelation 16:13

JULY 21

So That They Are Without Excuse

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." - Romans 1:20

NOW THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR SIN

"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin."

- John 15:22

CONFLICTING THOUGHTS ACCUSE OR EXCUSE THEM

"They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them."

- Romans 2:15

DON'T PUT IT OFF, DO IT NOW!

"Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do."

- Proverbs 6:4

WHOEVER DOES NOT PRATCICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD

"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."

- 1 John 3:8-10

FREEDOM AS AN EXCUSE TO DO EVIL

"For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil."

- 1 Peter 2:16

IT'S PURPOSE IS TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM HAVING EXCUSES

"Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God."

- Romans 3:19

NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME

“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

- Matthew 7:21-23

WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

- 2 Corinthians 5:10

Photo Credit: ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/is-judas-iscariot-in-hell

Words to Think About...

THERFORE, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE

"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."

- Romans 2:1

TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR SIN

"Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them."

- Psalm 141:4

A MAN REAPS WHAT HE SOWS

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

- 2 Timothy 1:7

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

- James 4:14

THEY ALL BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES

"Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God! Jesus replied with this story: A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, Come, the banquet is ready. But they all began making excuses. One said, I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me. Another said, I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me. Another said, I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’

-Luke 14:15-20

WE ARE NOT PRACTICING THE TRUTH

"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth."

- 1 John 1:6

JULY 22

Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

“Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” - Joshua 24:15

YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you."

- John 15:16

LET THE LORD CHOOSE FOR ME

"Spread out your petition before God, and then say, 'Thy will, not mine, be done.' The sweetest lesson I have learned in God's school is to let the Lord choose for me."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

THEREFORE, CHOOSE LIFE

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

- Deuteronomy 30:19-20

DO NOT CHOOSE ANY OF HIS WAYS

"Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways."

- Proverbs 3:31

TO CHOOSE GOD'S WILL EVEN IF IT MEANS SUFFERING

"To choose to suffer means that there is something wrong; to choose God's will even if it means suffering is a very different thing. No healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he chooses God's will, as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not."

- Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) Scottish Evangelist and Teacher

LET MAN CHOOSE LIFE

"Let man choose Life; let him daily nourish his soul; let him forever starve the old life; let him abide continuously as a living branch in the Vine, and the True-Vine Life will flow into his soul, assimilating, renewing, conforming to Type, till Christ, pledged by His own law, be formed in him."

- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist

DID NOT CHOOSE THE FEAR OF THE LORD

"Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord."

- Proverbs 1:28-29

NOW IS OUR CHANCE TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIDE

"Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won't last forever. We must take it or leave it."

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer and Scholar

WE ARE ANSWERABLE FOR WHAT WE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE

"We can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe."

- John Henry Newman (1801-1890) English Theologian and Scholar

ANYONE WHOM THE SON CHOOSES TO REVEAL HIM

"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

- Matthew 11:27

BE AS RESOLUTE AND DETERMINED AS YOU CHOOSE

"I will" is no word for man. There is a far diviner one, "I ought." Bow passion to reason, reason to conscience, and conscience to God, and then be as resolute and determined as you choose."

- Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

Photo Credit: myjewishlearning.com/article/when-choosing-between-man-and-god-choose-man/

Words to Think About...

BLESSED IS THE ONE YOU CHOOSE

"Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!"

- Psalm 65:4

THIS VERY HOUR YOU CAN CHOOSE

"Thanks be to God, there is hope to-day; this very hour you can choose Him and serve Him."

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

CHOOSE OUT THE PATH FOR ME

"Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be; lead me by thine own hand; choose out the path for me."

- Horatius Bonar (1808- 1889) Scottish Minister and Hymn Writer

FOR YOU MUST CHOOSE

"Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know."

- Job 34:33

OF TW0 EVILS

"Of two evils choose neither."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

DID I NOT CHOOSE YOU

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”

- John 6:70

TO DO AND SAY WHAT IS RIGHT

"For not only does sound reason direct us to refuse the guidance of those who do or teach anything wrong, but it is by all means vital for the lover of truth, regardless of the threat of death, to choose to do and say what is right even before saving his own life."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

EVEYONE MUST CHOOSE HIS SIDE

"The issue is now clear. It is between light and darkness and everyone must choose his side."

- G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) English Writer, Theologian

CHOOSE ONE OF THEM

“Go and say to David, Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.”

- 1 Chronicles 21:10

TO CHOOSE HIS WILL

"God's thoughts, His will, His love, His judgments are all man's home. To think His thoughts, to choose His will, to love His loves, to judge His judgments, and thus to know that He is in us, is to be at home."

- George MacDonald (1824-1905 Scottish Christian Minister, Author

JULY 23

For They Shall Be Satisfied

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." - Matthew 5:6

WHO SATISFIES YOUR YEARS WITH GOOD THINSG

Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle."

- Psalm 103:5

WITH LONG LIFE I WILL SATISFY HIM

“With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.”

- Psalm 91:16

A WAY BY WHICH JUSTICE CAN BE SATIFIED

"God in his infinite mercy has devised a way by which justice can be satisfied, and yet mercy can be triumphant. Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, took upon himself the form of man, and offered unto Divine Justice that which was accepted as an equivalent for the punishment due to all his people."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

WE SHALL BE SATISFIED BY THE GOODNESS OF YOUR HOUSE

"Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!"

- Psalm 65:4

SIN LIKE THE GRAVE THAT IS NEVER SATISFIED

"Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, if it has its own way it will go out to the utmost sin in that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could, every thought of unbelief would be atheism if allowed to develop. Every rise of lust, if it has its way reaches the height of villainy; it is like the grave that is never satisfied. The deceitfulness of sin is seen in that it is modest in its first proposals but when it prevails it hardens men's' hearts, and brings them to ruin."

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

SATISFY US IN THE MORNING

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

- Psalm 90:14

WHEN YOU BECOME SATISFIED WITH GOD

"When you become satisfied with God, however, everything else so loses its charm that He can give it to you without harm."

- A. B. Simpson (1843-1919) Canadian Preacher, Theologian

HE WHO LOVES MONEY WILL NOT BE SATISFIED

"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity."

- Ecclesiastes 5:10

WE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED WITHOUT HIM

"The soul's deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him."

- F. F. Bruce (1910-1990) English Biblical Scholar

THE EARTH IS SATISFIED WITH YOUR WORKS

"From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work."

- Psalm 104:13

THIS IS NONE OTHER THAN A SATISFIED LIFE

"This is none other than a satisfied life. The Christian cherishes nothing but God; henceforth he is satisfied with His will."

- Watchman Nee (1903-1972) Chinese Church Leader

YOU SHALL EAT IN PLENTY AND BE SATISFIED

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."

- Joel 2:2

THE AFFLICTED SHALL EAT AND BE SATIFIED

"The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!"

- Psalm 22:26

SATISFIED THEM WITH THE BREAD OF HEAVEN

"They asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven."

- Psalm 105:40

Photo Credit: learnreligions.com/bible-on-paying-taxes-700647

Words to Think About...

I SHALL BE SATISIFED BY THY LIKENESS

"I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness-satisfied, satisfied."

- Charles Wesley (1707–1788) English Minister and Hymnwriter

I SATISFY THE WEARY ONES

"For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.”

- Jeremiah 31:25

MY SOUL WILL BE SATISFIED

"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips."

- Psalm 63:5

MUST BE SATISFIED

"Faith is the root of all blessings. Believe, and you shall be saved; believe, and you must needs be satisfied; believe, and you cannot but be comforted and happy."

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

GOD'S COURT IS FOREVER SATISFIED

"There are two 'courts' we must deal with: the court of God in Heaven and the court of conscience in our souls. When we first trust in Christ for salvation, God's court is forever satisfied. Never again will a charge of guilt be brought against us in Heaven. Our consciences, however, are continually pronouncing us guilty. That is the function of conscience. Therefore, we must by faith bring the verdict of conscience into line with the verdict of Heaven. We do this by agreeing with our conscience about our guilt, but then reminding it that our guilt has already been borne by Christ."

- Jerry Bridges (1929–2016) Evangelical Christian Author

HE IS RICH THAT IS SATISFIED

"He is rich that is satisfied."

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian

THE EYE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SEEING

"All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing."

- Ecclesiastes 1:8

OVERWHELMINGLY SATISFIED

"Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can't unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors."

- Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) Scottish Evangelist and Teacher

FOR YOU SHALL BE SATISFIED

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh."

- Luke 6:21

THE EYES OF MAN EVER SATISFIED

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied."

- Proverbs 27:20

JULY 24

The Bride of Christ

"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." - Revelation 21:9

THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY COME

"The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."

- Revelation 22:17

FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."

- Revelation 19:7-9

PREPARED FOR A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

- Revelation 21:2

I WILL SHOW THEE THE BRIDE

"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."

- Revelation 21:9-11

INVITE TO THE WEDDING FEAST AS MANY

"Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’

- Matthew 22:9

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN COMPARED TO A WEDDING FEAST

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son."

- Matthew 22:2

WHILE THE BRIDEGROOM IS WITH THEM

"And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

- Luke 5:34

COME TO THE WEDDING FEAST

"Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’

- Matthew 22:4

THE FRIEND OF THE BRIDEGROOM

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled."

- John 3:29

A HEART FRESHLY SET ON THE BRIDE

"The freshness of heart in Christ was always the same. You and I get so weary in our experience of the wilderness, but Christ's heart is never wearied, it is as freshly set on the bride as when God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world."

- G. V. Wigram (1805-1879) English Biblical Scholar

MAN WHO HAD NO WEDDING GARMENT

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment."

- Matthew 22:11

WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM I STAKEN AWAY

"The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

- Mark 2:20

PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADOREND FOR HER HUSBAND

"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

- Revelation 21:2

Photo Credit: blog.adw.org/2017/12/the-bridegroom-is-near/

Words to Think About...

THE WEDDING FEAST IS READY

"Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy."

- Matthew 22:8

AS THE BRIDEGROOM WAS DELAYED

"As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept."

- Matthew 25:5

BE LIKE MEN WHO ARE WAITING

"And be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks."

- Luke 12:36

HIS BRIDE IS HIS DELIGHT

"It is the consciousness of the threefold joy of the Lord, His joy in ransoming us, His joy in dwelling within us as our Saviour and Power for fruitbearing and His joy in possessing us, as His Bride and His delight; it is the consciousness of this joy which is our real strength. Our joy in Him may be a fluctuating thing: His joy in us knows no change."

- Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) Missionary to China

WHILE THE BRIDEGROOM IS WITH THEM

"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast."

- Mark 2:19-20

FOR THY MAKER IS THY HUSBAND

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."

- Isaiah 54:5

I PROMISED YOU TO ONE HUSBAND

"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him."

- 2 Corinthians 11:2

AND THOSE WHO WERE READY

"And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut."

- Matthew 25:10

AS A BRIDE ADORNS HERSELF

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

- Isaiah 61:10

AT MIDNIGHT THERE WAS A CRY

"But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him."

’

- Matthew 25:6

JULY 25

God Gave Them Over to a Reprobate Mind

"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper." - Romans 1:28

THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT ON THE EARTH

"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”

- Genesis 6:5-7

IF YOU DO NOT OBEY THE LORD YOUR GOD

“But it shall come about, if you do not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl."

- Deuteronomy 28:15-68

I WILL FORSAKE THEM AND HIDE MY FACE

"Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will come upon them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?"

- Deuteronomy 31:17

MY PEOPLE DID NOT LISTENS TO MY VOICE

“But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel did not obey Me."

- Psalm 81:11

FOR IF GOD DID NOT SPARE HIS ANGELS

"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment."

- 2 Peter 2:4

YOU WILL KEEP HEARING BUT NOT UNDERSTAND

"In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive."

- Matthew 13:14

BECAUSE THE LORD HAS REJECTED THEM

"They call them rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them."

- Jeremiah 6:30

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO THEM WILL BE

So the word of the Lord to them will be, “order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there, that they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive."

- Isaiah 28:13

THE LORD HAS POURED OVER YOU A DEEP SLEEP

Be delayed and wait, blind yourselves and be blind; They become drunk, but not with wine, They stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, the seers. The entire vision will be to you like the words of a sealed book, which when they give it to the one who is literate, saying, “Please read this, he will say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”

- Isaiah 29:9-12

MANY WILL SEEK TO ENTER AND WILL NOT BE ABLE

“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, Lord, open up to us! then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets."

- Luke 13:24-28

I CALLED YOU AND YOU DID NOT ANSWER

"I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

- Isaiah 65:12

THEY WILL SEEK THE LORD BUT NOT FIND HIM

"They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them."

- Hosea 5:6

AND THEN HAVE FALLEN AWAY

"For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame."

- Hebrews 6:4-8

Photo Credit: anystories.com/story/reason-with-who-reprobate-mind-r-l-g-ministries--u-5d8b05fb601f5425001179c7

Words to Think About...

EPHRAIM IS JOINED TO IDILS

"Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone."

- Hosea 4:17

BECAUSE I CALL AND YOU REFUSED

“Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes."

- Proverbs 1:24-28

FOR I DO NOT HEAR YOU

“As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you."

- Jeremiah 7:16

LET THEM ALONE, THEY ARE BLIND

"Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

- Matthew 15:14

BUT WHOEVER BLASPHEMES

"But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."

- Mark 3:29

THE FOOLISH SAID TO THE PRUDENT

"The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut."

- Matthew 25:8-13

YOU DO NOT BELEIVE BECAUSE

"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep."

- John 10:26

ONE VESSEL FOR HONOR

"Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?"

- Romans 9:21

TEST YOURSELVES TO SEE IF YOU

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved."

- 2 Corinthians 13:5-7

AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS

“Therefore I was angry with this generation,

And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways’; As I swore in My wrath,‘They shall not enter My rest.’ Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God."

- Hebrews 3:10-12

THERE IS A SIN LEADING TO DEATH

"If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this."

- 1 John 5:16

JULY 26

The Earth Would be Filled With Violence

"Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. " - Genesis 6:11-13

THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED CONCEALS VIOLENCE

"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."

- Proverbs 10:11

FROM OPPRESSION AND VIOLENCE HE REDEEMS

"From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight."

- Psalm 72:14

DO NOT ENVY A MAN OF VIOLENCE

"Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways."

- Proverbs 3:31

THE MARK OF VIOLENCE IS NOT FOUND AMONG THEM

"The sanctified body is one whose hands are clean. The stain of dishonesty is not on them, the withering blight of ill-gotten gain has not blistered them, the mark of violence is not found upon them. They have been separated from every occupation that could displease God or injure a fellow-man."

- A. B. Simpson (1843-1919) Canadian Preacher, Theologian

A MAN OF VIOLENCE ENTICES HIS NEIGHBOR

"A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good."

- Proverbs 16:29

YOUR RICH MEN ARE FULL OF VIOLENCE

"Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth."

- Micah 6:12

THE KINGDOM OF GOD SUFFERETH VIOLENCE

"Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die-or if need be, to win and die! "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

- Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) American Presbyterian Minister

VIOLENT EXCITEMENT EXHAUSTS THE MIND

"Violent excitement exhausts the mind, and leaves it withered and sterile."

- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) French Catholic Archbishop

YOU SAVE ME FROM VIOLENCE

"My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, You save me from violence."

- 2 Samuel 22:3

NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES OF VIOLENCE

"Nothing good ever comes of violence."

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

PUT AWAY VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord GOD."

- Ezekiel 45:9

I SEE VIOLENCE AND STRIFE IN THE CITY

"Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city."

- Psalm 55:9

YOU DELIVERED ME FROM MEN OF VIOLENCE

"Who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence."

- 2 Samuel 22:49

THE WICKED WHO DO ME VIOLENCE

"From the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me."

- Psalm 17:9

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_violence

Words to Think About...

PRESERVE ME FROM VIOLENT MEN

"Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men who devise evil things in their hearts; they continually stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah."

- Psalm 140:1-4

NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES

"Nothing good ever comes of violence."

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

ONE WHO LOVES VIOLENCE

"The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence."

- Psalm 11:5

DEEDS OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR HANDS

"Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands."

- Isaiah 59:6

DO NO VIOLENCE

"Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home."

- Proverbs 24:15

NOT VIOLENT BUT GENTLE

"Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money."

- 1 Timothy 3:3

THEY BREATHE OUT VIOLENCE

"Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence."

- Psalm 27:12

DRINK THE WINE OF VIOLENCE

"For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence."

- Proverbs 4:17

DO NO VIOLENCE TO STRANGERS

Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place."

- Jeremiah 22:3

YOU SAVE ME FROM VIOLENCE

"My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, You save me from violence."

- 2 Samuel 22:3

RESCUE ME FROM THE VIOLENT MAN

"He delivers me from my enemies; surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man."

- Psalm 18:48

JULY 27

Accept My Words, That Your Years Will Be Many

"Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many." - Proverbs 4:10

WHOEVER THUS SERVES CHRIST IS ACCEPTABLE

"Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men."

- Romans 14:18

NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME

"And now let me address all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to accept of mercy and grace while it is offered to you; Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation; and will you not accept it, now it is offered unto you?"

- George Whitefield (1714-1770) Church of England Evangelist

CHRIST WILL ALWAYS ACCEPT THE FAITH

"Christ will always accept the faith the puts its trust in Him."

- Andrew Murray (1794-1866) Scottish Missionary, Writer

LISTEN TO ADVICE AND ACCEPT INSTRUCTION

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."

- Proverbs 19:20

ACCEPT THAT IT IS COMING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD

"I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart."

- Alan Redpath (1907–1989), American Evangelist, Pastor, Author

TO DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE IS MORE ACCEPTABLE

"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."

- Proverbs 21:3

TO ACCEPT HIS LOT AND REJOICE IN HIS TOIL

"Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God."

- Ecclesiastes 5:19

ALL WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE BIBLE

"All who are willing to accept the Bible as the Word of God recognize that inspiration is a work of the Holy Spirit and that the Scriptures would have been impossible apart from this supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit."

- John F. Walvoord (1910-2002) Christian Theolgian, Pastor

WHAT IS RIGHT AND ACCEPTABLE TO HIM

"But in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him."

- Acts 10:35

TO WIN MEN TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST

"To win men to acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord is the only reason Christians are left in this world."

- R. A. Torrey (1856-1928) American Evangelist. Educator, Writer

ACCEPT EVERYTHING GLADLY FROM THE LORD

"He who is able to accept everything gladly from the Lord - including darkness, dryness, flatness - and completely disregard self is he who lives for Him."

- Watchman Nee (1903-1972) Chinese Church Leader

ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

"You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

- 1 Peter 2:5

THEY DO NOT ACCEPT IT AS THE WORD OF GOD

"Many people hear the Word of God, but to some of them it is only words; they do not accept it as the Word of God. What a paradox it is that all creation obeys His Word except we who are made in the image of God and have the ability to choose.

- Theodore Epp (1907-1985) American Clergyman and Radio Evangelist

DECEIVED INTO SUPPOSING THEY HAVE "ACCEPTED CHRIST"

"Thousands are deceived into supposing that they have "accepted Christ" as their "personal Saviour, who have not first received Him as their LORD."

- A. W. Pink (1886-1952) English Bible Teacher

Photo Credit: theimaginativeconservative.org/2021/07/david-noe-classical-ark-david-deavel.html

Words to Think About...

WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. "

- Romans 12:2

BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."

- Psalm 19:14

I WILL ACCEPT A SUBSTITUTE

"In Gods case, if He had said in the infinite sovereignty of His absolute will, I will have no substitute, but each man shall suffer for himself, he who sinneth shall die, none could have murmured. It was grace, and only grace which led the divine mind to say, I will accept of a substitute. There shall be a vicarious suffering; and My vengeance shall be content, and My mercy shall be gratified."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

AND HE ACCEPTS HIM

"Then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness."

- Job 33:26

OR ELSE ACCEPT IT

"There is either of two things we must do. One is to send back the message to heaven that we don't want the blood of Christ to cleanse us of our sin, or else accept it."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

OFFER TO GOD ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe."

- Hebrews 12:28

WHEN WE HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST

"When we have accepted Jesus Christ, we have become akin to the Father; having become real children of God, we then have the spirit of sonship by which we can come into His presence and make known our wants in a familiar way."

- A.C. Dixon (1854–1925) Baptist Pastor, Bible Expositor

ACCEPTABLE TO GOD

"A little lifting of the heart suffices; a little remembrance of God, one act of inward worship are prayers which, however short, are nevertheless acceptable to God."

- Brother Lawrence (1611-1691) Lay Monk in Paris

DESERVING FULL ACCEPTANCE

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."

- 1 Timothy 1:15

HUMBLY ACCEPT THE WORD

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

- James 1:21

JULY 28

O Sovereign Lord, Holy and True, How Long?

"They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” - Revelation 6:10

THE SPIRIT OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD IS ON ME

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

Ephesians 1:4-6

SOVEREIGN LORD, I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS

“I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.”

- Psalm 71:16

FOR IN HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

- Colossians 1:16

THE SOVEREIGN LORD WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

- Isaiah 25:8-9

YOU WHO ARE TRUE, THE SOVEREIGN JOY

"How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!... You drove them from me, You who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, You who are sweeter than all pleasure."

- St. Augustine (354-430) Theologian and Philosopher

WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

“And looking at them Jesus said to them, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

- Matthew 19:26

HOW UNFATHONABLE ARE HIS WAYS

"Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"

- Romans 11:33

STANDING IN THE AWE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

"Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty. acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours."

- J. I. Packer (1926-2020) English Theologian, Cleric

BY YOUR WILL ALL THINGS WERE CREATED

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

- Revelation 4:11

GOD HAS TAKEN TO WORK HIS SOVEREIGN WILL

"There is nothing so masterly as inactivity in some things, and there is nothing so hurtful as restless working, for God has undertaken to work His sovereign will."

- A. B. Simpson (1843-1919) Canadian Preacher, Theologian

THE LORD REIGNETH IS INDISPUTABLE

"No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God. The fact that "the Lord reigneth" is indisputable, and it is this fact that arouses the utmost opposition in the unrenewed human heart."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

HE WEARS THE CROWN OF SOVEREIGNTY

"On the head of Christ are many crowns. He wears the crown of victory; He wears the crown of sovereignty; He wears the crown of creation; He wears the crown of providence; He wears the crown of grace; He wears the crown of glory - for every one of His glorified people owes his honor, happiness and blessedness to Him."

- James H. Aughey (1828-1911) Imprisoned American Minister

Photo Credit: aleteia.org/2019/06/22/a-doctor-on-why-blood-and-water-gushed-from-jesus-heart/

Words to Think About...

AH, SOVEREIGN LORD

“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

- Jeremiah 32:17

MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

- Psalm 121:2

DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY

"Divine sovereignty is not the sovereignty of a tyrannical Despot, but the exercised pleasure of One who is infinitely wise and good! Because God is infinitely wise He cannot err, and because He is infinitely righteous He will not do wrong."

- A. W. Pink (1886-1952) English Bible Teacher

HE DOES WHATEVER PLEASES HIM

“Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases him.”

- Psalm 115:3

THE LORD REIGNS

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, the Lord reigns!’

- 1 Chronicles 16:31

SOVEREIGN GRACE

"And as grace is free, so is it sure. Nothing can change, or alter, or turn away sovereign grace."

- Alexander Whyte (1836–1921) Moderator Church of Scotland

ONE SOVEREIGN REMEDY

"To realize God's presence is the one Sovereign remedy against temptation."

- Francois Fenelon (1651-1715) French Catholic Archbishop

GRACE IS FREE SOVEREIGN FAVOR

"Grace is free Sovereign favor to the ill-deserving."

- B. B. Warfield (1851–1921) Professor of Theology Princeton Seminary

OUR TIMES ARE IN HIS HAND

"We cannot enjoy peace in this world unless we are ready to yield to the will of God in respect of death. Our times are in His hand, at His sovereign disposal. We must accept that as best."

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

"We all believe in the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men, but when this view is strained to the point of eliminating man's responsibility, we have no hesitation in saying it borders on heresy."

- Duncan Campbell (1898-1972) Scottish Evangelist

JULY 29

Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

A sobering fact in this parable about the Kingdom of God is that all were called; yet only five were ready and went in to the meet the bridegroom. This passage says that five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They are not distinguished into being good and bad, but wise.

This parable illustrates the vigilant and expectant attitude of faith that the Lord expects in believers in the end times described in "they that look for Him" (Hebrews 9:28) and who "love His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).

Both the foolish and the wise took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom, but only the ones who were wise with full lamps of oil went into the feast. Be sure not to let the distractions and deceptions of this world cause you to not be ready and wise when our Lord comes. We are living in a time when you need to keep your lamps full each day. For no man knows the day or the hour that our Lord will return.

PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS

1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’

12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

- Matthew 25:1-13

MANY ARE FATALLY DECEIVED

"The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Savior from Hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness."

- A. W. Pink (1886-1952) English Bible Teacher

Photo Source: metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/340853 The ca. 1799–1800

Words to Think About...

NO MAN IS EXCLUDED FROM CALLING

"Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief."

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian, Minister

HE WHO CREATED US

"He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent."

- Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Bishop, Theologian and Philosopher

SALVATION IS ALL OF GRACE

"You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences: Salvation is all of the grace of God. Damnation is all of the will of man."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

IT IS ALTOGETHER DOUBTFUL

"It is altogether doubtful whether any man can be saved who comes to Christ for His help with no intention to obey Him."

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

PENALTY OF SIN IS DEATH

"If one believes in the death of the Lord Jesus as his substitute he already has been united with the Lord Jesus in His death. For me to believe that in the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus is to believe that I already have been punished in the Lord Jesus. The penalty of my sin is death; yet the Lord Jesus suffered death for me; therefore I have died in Him."

- Watchman Nee (1903-1972) Chinese Church Leader

JULY 30

The Lord Makes a Path in the Sea

"Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters." - Isaiah 43:16

AND A THIRD OF THE LIVING CREATURES IN THE SEA DIED

"And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water."

- Revelation 8:9

WHO HAS MEASURED THE WATERS?

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”

– Isaiah 40:12

HE CALLS FOR THE WATERS OF THE SEA

"He builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth; He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land—the Lord is his name."

- Amos 9:6

RULE OVER THE FISH IN THE SEA

"God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

- Genesis 1:28

HIS VOICE WAS LIKE THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS

"And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory."

Ezekiel 43:2

WHO STIRS UP THE SEA SO THAT IT ROARS

"For I am Yahweh your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar. Yahweh of Armies is his name."

- Isaiah 51:15

HE TREADS ON THE WAVES OF THE SEA

"He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea."

- Job 9:8

WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA

"Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever."

- Psalm 146:6

AND THE SEA GAVE UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN IT

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds."

- 1 Peter 4:5

THE ROARING OF THE SEAS AND THE WAVES

"There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves."

- Luke 21:25

SEEK TO DRINK IN THE OCEAN

"As well might a gnat seek to drink in the ocean, as a finite creature to comprehend the Eternal God. A God whom we could understand would be no God. If we could grasp Him, He could not be infinite. If we could understand Him, He could not be divine."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

YOU MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA

"When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord, they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them."

- Acts 4:24

UNDER THE EARTH AND ON THE SEA

"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

- Revelation 5:13

AND THE SEA WAS NO MORE

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

- Revelation 21:1-27

Photo Credit: biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/crossing-the-red-sea-bible-story.html

Words to Think About...

YOU RULE THE RAGING SEA

"You rule the raging sea. When its waves rise, you quiet them."

- Psalm 89:9

THE SEA IS HIS

"The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land."

- Psalm 95:5

HE COMMANDS THE WAVES

"For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves."

- Psalm 107:25

SO THAT WAVES ARE STILL

"He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still."

- Psalm 107:29

THE VAST COMPASS OF THE OCEAN

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."

- Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Bishop, Theologian and Philosopher

IN THE HEART OF THE SEAS

"For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me."

- Jonah 2:3

A VIOLENT STORM CAME UPON THE SEA

"Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep."

- Matthew 8:24

WILD WAVES OF THE SEA

"Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever."

- Jude 1:13

THE ONE WHO DOUBTS

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

- James 1:6

YOU STILL THE ROARING SEAS

"You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations."

- Psalm 65:7

THOUGH THE WAVES TOSS

"‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea,

An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.

Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it."

- Jeremiah 5:22

JULY 31

The Future War of Ezekiel

EZEKIEL CHAPTER 38

Gog and Allies Attack Israel

"Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, [a]the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” 17 Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?

Judgment on Gog

“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains, says the Lord God. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

EZEKIEL CHAPTER 9:1-11

Gog's Armies Destroyed

39 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord God. And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Surely it is coming, and it shall be done, says the Lord God. “This is the day of which I have spoken. Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them, says the Lord God.

The Burial of Gog

11 “It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. 12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified, says the Lord God. 14 “They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. 15 The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. 16 The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus they shall cleanse the land.”

YOU WILL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. "

- Matthew 24:6

YOU HAVE GIRDED ME WITH STRENGHTH FOR BATTLE

"For You have girded me with strength for battle; you have subdued under me those who rose up against me."

- Psalm 18:39

Photo Credit: myjewishlearning.com/article/ezekiel-prophecy-as-performance-art/

Words to Think About...

THE BOOK OF WARS

"Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon."

- Numbers 21:14

A TIME FOR WAR

"A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace."

- Ecclesiastes 3:8

WAR IS THE GREATEST PLAGUE

"War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it."

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest and Theology Professor

BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES

"He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore."

- Isaiah 2:4

HE TRAINS MY HANDS FOR BATTLE

"He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze."

- Psalm 18:34

THE LORD IS A WARRIOR

“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name."

- Exodus 15:3

THE LORD IS MIGHTY IN BATTLE

"Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

- Psalm 24:8

WHEN YOU GO TO WAR

"When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and be saved from your enemies."

- Numbers 10:9

VICTORY BELONGS TO THE LORD

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord."

- Proverbs 21:31

THEY ARE FOR WAR

"I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war."

- Psalm 120:7

THEY CONTINUALLY STIR UP WARS

"Who devise evil things in their hearts; they continually stir up wars."

- Psalm 140:2

GATHER THEM TOGETEHR FOR WAR

"And will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore."

- Revelation 20:8

Prophecy News daily Links

Praying For the Nations

366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

Information on How to Pray for the 195 Nations. - "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers." - Proverbs 11:14

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366 Daily Devotionals on How Should We Live in these Times

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366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

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Bible Prophecy Articles on How People Would Be in the Days Before Jesus Returned.

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Read What Churches are Posting on Their Signs Throughout the World

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Famous Last Words of Dying Christians Who Overcame This World.

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How Can I Be Saved?

You’ve probably seen John 3:16 posted somewhere on a sign, written on a freeway overpass, at a concert, at a sporting event, or even read to you as a little child. This verse is a simple one. There are 20 monosyllables (single words) in the verse. The Gospel is meant to be simple for everyone!

Be sure of your Salvation. Right now, and pray this simple prayer with a sincere heart...
“Lord, forgive me for my sins. I confess that I am a sinner. Come into my heart and make me the person you created me to be. I receive your gift of pardon through Jesus dying for me on the cross to save me. – Amen”

It was once determined in a court of law that a pardon is only a pardon when it is accepted. There is a true story about a man that refused his pardon. A judge ruled that a pardon is only a pardon when it is accepted. When you prayed that prayer and accepted God’s pardon for your sins, you became a new creation in Christ.

The Bible teaches that you are saved by faith through Jesus. Grow in the Grace that was just given to you, seek God in His word (The Bible) and go out tell somebody!

July 16-31 DAILY DEVOTIONALS - EVENING

How Then Shall We Live?

Words to Think About...

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JULY 16

The Holy Angels Are in Awe Before Him

Words to Think About...

JULY 17

Being a Christian in the Last Days

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JULY 18

When He Comes, He Will Convict the World

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JULY 19

These Are What Defile a Person

Words to Think About...

JULY 20

The Great Red Dragon and the Beast From the Sea

Words to Think About...

JULY 21

So That They Are Without Excuse

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JULY 22

Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

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JULY 23

For They Shall Be Satisfied

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JULY 24

The Bride of Christ

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JULY 25

God Gave Them Over to a Reprobate Mind

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JULY 26

The Earth Would be Filled With Violence

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JULY 27

Accept My Words, That Your Years Will Be Many

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JULY 28

O Sovereign Lord, Holy and True, How Long?

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JULY 29

Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

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JULY 30

The Lord Makes a Path in the Sea

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JULY 31

The Future War of Ezekiel

Words to Think About...

Prophecy News daily Links

Praying For the Nations

366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

People in The Last days

366 Daily Devotionals - Morning

People in The Last days

Church Signs

Famous Last Words

People in The Last days

Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words

Bible in the News

Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words

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