November 2014 Prayers

Matthew 16:1-121 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away. 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, "Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 They said to one another, "It is because we have brought no bread." 8 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9 Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" 12 Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.The Word of the Lord.

Mark 13:33-3733 'Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.34 It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from his home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own work to do; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.35 So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow or dawn;36 if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep.37 And what I am saying to you I say to all: Stay awake!'

Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-192 over Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh; rouse your valour and come to our help.3 God, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.15 protect what your own hand has planted.16 They have thrown it on the fire like dung, the frown of your rebuke will destroy them.18 Never again will we turn away from you, give us life and we will call upon your name.19 God Sabaoth, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be safe.

Isaiah 63:16-17, 1916 After all, you are our Father. If Abraham will not own us, if Israel will not acknowledge us, you, Yahweh, are our Father, 'Our Redeemer' is your name from of old.17 Why, Yahweh, do you let us wander from your ways and let our hearts grow too hard to fear you? Return, for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.19 We have long been like those you do not rule, people who do not bear your name. Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down -- in your presence the mountains would quake,

Psalms 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-71 Come, let us cry out with joy to Yahweh, acclaim the rock of our salvation.2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, acclaim him with music.3 For Yahweh is a great God, a king greater than all the gods.4 In his power are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are his;5 the sea belongs to him, for he made it, and the dry land, moulded by his hands.6 Come, let us bow low and do reverence; kneel before Yahweh who made us!7 For he is our God, and we the people of his sheepfold, the flock of his hand. If only you would listen to him today!

Revelation 22:1-71 Then the angel showed me the river of life, rising from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing crystal-clear.2 Down the middle of the city street, on either bank of the river were the trees of life, which bear twelve crops of fruit in a year, one in each month, and the leaves of which are the cure for the nations.3 The curse of destruction will be abolished. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city; his servants will worship him,4 they will see him face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.5 And night will be abolished; they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever.6 The angel said to me, 'All that you have written is sure and will come true: the Lord God who inspires the prophets has sent his angel to reveal to his servants what is soon to take place.7 I am coming soon!' Blessed are those who keep the prophetic message of this book.

Revelation 20:1-4, 11--21:21 Then I saw an angel come down from heaven with the key of the Abyss in his hand and an enormous chain.2 He overpowered the dragon, that primeval serpent which is the devil and Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years.3 He hurled him into the Abyss and shut the entrance and sealed it over him, to make sure he would not lead the nations astray again until the thousand years had passed. At the end of that time he must be released, but only for a short while.4 Then I saw thrones, where they took their seats, and on them was conferred the power to give judgement. I saw the souls of all who had been beheaded for having witnessed for Jesus and for having preached God's word, and those who refused to worship the beast or his statue and would not accept the brandmark on their foreheads or hands; they came to life, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. In his presence, earth and sky vanished, leaving no trace.12 I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing in front of his throne while the books lay open. And another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, as their deeds deserved.13 The sea gave up all the dead who were in it;14 Death and Hades were emptied of the dead that were in them; and every one was judged as his deeds deserved. Then Death and Hades were hurled into the burning lake. This burning lake is the second death;15 and anybody whose name could not be found written in the book of life was hurled into the burning lake.1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea.2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride dressed for her husband.

Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 91 After this, I saw another angel come down from heaven, with great authority given to him; the earth shone with his glory.2 At the top of his voice he shouted, 'Babylon has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen, and has become the haunt of devils and a lodging for every foul spirit and dirty, loathsome bird.21 Then a powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone, and as he hurled it into the sea, he said, 'That is how the great city of Babylon is going to be hurled down, never to be seen again.22 Never again in you will be heard the song of harpists and minstrels, the music of flute and trumpet; never again will craftsmen of every skill be found in you or the sound of the handmill be heard;23 never again will shine the light of the lamp in you, never again will be heard in you the voices of bridegroom and bride. Your traders were the princes of the earth, all the nations were led astray by your sorcery.1 After this I heard what seemed to be the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, 'Alleluia! Salvation and glory and power to our God!2 He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her prostitution; he has avenged the blood of his servants which she shed.'9 The angel said, 'Write this, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb," ' and he added, 'These words of God are true.'

Job 9:1-12, 14-161 Job spoke next. He said:2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?3 Anyone trying to argue matters with him, could not give him one answer in a thousand.4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who then can successfully defy him?5 He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.6 He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making all its pillars tremble.7 The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.8 He and no other has stretched out the heavens and trampled on the back of the Sea.9 He has made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.10 The works he does are great and unfathomable, and his marvels cannot be counted.11 If he passes me, I do not see him; he slips by, imperceptible to me.12 If he snatches his prey, who is going to stop him or dare to ask, 'What are you doing?'14 And here am I, proposing to defend myself and select my arguments against him!15 Even if I am upright, what point is there in answering him? I can only plead for mercy with my judge!16 And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said,

Luke 21:5-115 When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, he said,6 'All these things you are staring at now -- the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed.'7 And they put to him this question, 'Master,' they said, 'when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that it is about to take place?'8 But he said, 'Take care not to be deceived, because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the one" and "The time is near at hand." Refuse to join them.9 And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified, for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once.'10 Then he said to them, 'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.11 There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines in various places; there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven.

Psalms 96:10, 11-12, 1310 Say among the nations, 'Yahweh is king.' The world is set firm, it cannot be moved. He will judge the nations with justice.11 Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad! Let the sea thunder, and all it holds!12 Let the countryside exult, and all that is in it, and all the trees of the forest cry out for joy,13 at Yahweh's approach, for he is coming, coming to judge the earth; he will judge the world with saving justice, and the nations with constancy.

Psalms 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-72 Sing to him, make music for him, recount all his wonders!3 Glory in his holy name, let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice!4 Seek Yahweh and his strength, tirelessly seek his presence!5 Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders, the judgements he has spoken.6 Stock of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob whom he chose!7 He is Yahweh our God, his judgements touch the whole world.