40 DAYS OF PRAYER: DAY 32

Old and new - the Whole Counsel 

Deuteronomy 4:5-8  “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

When is the last time you read the book of Deuteronomy? We must remember that there is so much we can glean from the Old Testament. We need the Whole Counsel of Gods word.

 Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 

Deuteronomy is the 5th book of the Torah and the 5th book in the Bibles Old Testament. Translated from the Greek, Deuteronomy means “second law”. This was a farewell address from Moses to the Israelites before they finally crossed into the promised land. Basically, Moses was retelling Gods laws. So what can we glean from this passage? 

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?

The Israelites were commanded to obey Gods commands, His words, so not only that they may live, but that they would be a light to other nations. 

God says in; Isaiah 49:6 “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

We are so blessed to have ALL of Gods word to read, study, meditate on and apply. It guides us and directs us in every aspect of our lives. Because of Jesus we have an amazing hope that lasts for eternity.

Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-5 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...

We are made ALIVE in Christ because of Christ! What would happen to our world, our nation, our cities and our families if we would ALL humble ourselves seeking Gods direction and favor? If we actually obeyed His commands? We are called to do the same thing the Israelites were, to be salt and light. 

Matthew 5:13-15 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

As we close out the last of our 40 days of prayer over the next few days, we will be doing two things, praying for our nation, that we engage with our faith in our families and in our community. The second thing we will do as we pray is thank God for all that he is doing and has done. 

Look to Gods Word, obey it and stand strong. Our hope is in the Lord. Not in any man or law passed by a man. Jesus alone has the ability to save the lost in this wicked and seemingly dark world we live in. At one time we didn't have hope, but Jesus…and because of him, now we are salt and light. 

Praise God for what he has done in and through your life and ask Him to use you even more! 

We have HOPE! We have the WHOLE COUNSEL OF GODS WORD! 

We are so blessed! 

Prayed for you all this morning! 

Much love! Pastor Scott