From: ngninja@baptist.email   
      
   Bible Reading for December 20   
      
   Hebrews Chapter 11   
      
   1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things   
   not seen.   
      
   2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.   
      
   3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of   
   God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.   
      
   4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,   
   by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of   
   his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.   
      
   5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was   
   not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he   
   had this testimony, that he pleased God.   
      
   6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh   
   to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that   
   diligently seek him.   
      
   7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved   
   with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he   
   condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.   
      
   8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he   
   should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not   
   knowing whither he went.   
      
   9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,   
   dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the   
   same promise:   
      
   10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and   
   maker is God.   
      
   11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed,   
   and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged   
   him faithful who had promised.   
      
   12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many   
   as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the   
   sea shore innumerable.   
      
   13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having   
   seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and   
   confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.   
      
   14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.   
      
   15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they   
   came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.   
      
   16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore   
   God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them   
   a city.   
      
   17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that   
   had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,   
      
   18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:   
      
   19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead;   
   from whence also he received him in a figure.   
      
   20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.   
      
   21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph;   
   and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.   
      
   22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the   
   children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.   
      
   23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his   
   parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not   
   afraid of the king's commandment.   
      
   24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the   
   son of Pharaoh's daughter;   
      
   25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to   
   enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;   
      
   26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in   
   Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.   
      
   27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he   
   endured, as seeing him who is invisible.   
      
   28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest   
   he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.   
      
   29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the   
   Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.   
      
   30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed   
   about seven days.   
      
   31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,   
   when she had received the spies with peace.   
      
   32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of   
   Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and   
   Samuel, and of the prophets:   
      
   33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained   
   promises, stopped the mouths of lions,   
      
   34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of   
   weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the   
   armies of the aliens.   
      
   35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were   
   tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better   
   resurrection:   
      
   36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover   
   of bonds and imprisonment:   
      
   37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain   
   with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being   
   destitute, afflicted, tormented;   
      
   38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in   
   mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.   
      
   39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received   
   not the promise:   
      
   40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us   
   should not be made perfect.   
      
   Hebrews Chapter 12   
      
   1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of   
   witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so   
   easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set   
   before us,   
      
   2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the   
   joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and   
   is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.   
      
   3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against   
   himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.   
      
   4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.   
      
   5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto   
   children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint   
   when thou art rebuked of him:   
      
   6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom   
   he receiveth.   
      
   7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what   
   son is he whom the father chasteneth not?   
      
   8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are   
   ye bastards, and not sons.   
      
   9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and   
   we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto   
   the Father of spirits, and live?   
      
   10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;   
   but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.   
      
   11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)