"Living and Active"---- So You Too Can Be!

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.  I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."  (Isaiah 45:2, 3-- NIV)

 

I sent this Word earlier today to a pastor/missionary friend of ours who is headed out on a mission.  The more I have looked at it the more "powerful" it has become to me.  This word was first given to Cyrus, but it was not just to Cyrus.  The Word of God is "living and active," whether speaking 2500 years ago, or right now.  This "Isaiah Word" is not just an historic word, not just a said-and-done word.  This is a "Now Word," because He Who is the Word of God is the "Now" God. 

 

"He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."  The "Isaiah Word" today is The Ever-Present Word of God, "dressed in blood," as Hebrews 4:12 describes Him, the "alive and full of power,... active, operative, energizing, and effective]..." Word of our Father, Jesus, the Christ.  And Our Living Word will operate, energize, and be effective in you today!--------------------------------- if you allow Him.  

 

Have a nice day.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, You just keep "active, operative, energizing, and effective" in my life.  Thank You.  Amen.  

 

 

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Napalm Praying

"Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?  (Psalm 139:7

Enemy prisoners of war have said that they feared napalm more than any weapon.  It could find you, no matter where you hid.  Yesterday, as I was walking the path along the river and praying, the word, "napalm," came to me.  I believed that is what I was doing.  I didn't know what to "pray as we ought," so I did not "pray with the understanding."  I prayed "with the spirit," in the Holy Spirit.  And while I was doing this, I felt as though I was on a "saturating bombing" run on Johnstown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the US, and the world. 

Now some would say that is presumption.  Yes, it would be if it were my agenda and my "power" at work.  But it was not.  It was the "napalm" of the Holy Spirit at work.  Could it be if we prayed this way, the enemies of Jesus Christ would cry out--- "Where can I flee?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to pray what You are doing.  Amen.


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Go Down That Ramp!

"Then the kingdom of heaven...is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them." (Matthew 25:1a &14)

During the Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944, there were many acts of heroism, individuals who did "great things," units storming high cliffs, others blowing up key gun emplacements, some even receiving the Medal of Honor.  I once heard a veteran of that hellish day say that as soon as the ramp of his LCM went down, his captain's body was riddled with bullets before he got off the ramp.  Others, well, they were just a part of squads, platoons, companies, no names, no front page heroics, no "great things," just doing their part.  Personally, I salute that bullet-ridden captain, and say, "Well done, sir!"

Jesus teaches us in our text that an individual, no matter how "charismatic," dynamic, brave, boring, unnoticed, or "limited" in resources, is important and has a vital role in His Kingdom.  Yes, you do!  Our Master has "entrusted his possessions to" you and me.  What are we doing with them?  Does it have to be some Medal of Honor for me to be faithful, or just going down that ramp?!? 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I live for Your, "Well done, good and faithful slave."  Amen.
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"And When He Has Come"

"And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment....(John 16:8)

 

Literally, the Holy Spirit will convict of the "ignorance of the real nature" of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Vincent's Word Studies).  And if you read the succeeding verses, Jesus dispels some of the ignorance.  Jesus says that sin is rejection of and disobedience to Himself, and righteousness is the Presence of Himself, not only in a person, but also in a nation.  And judgment?-- "the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him" (Ampflied Bible).  Understanding of our text alone would usher in a great revival!   

 

Yesterday, during our Pittsburgh Prayer Network meeting, I found myself praying our text concerning the upcoming Homosexual "Pride Week" in Pittsburgh.  It is a prayer not only for the homosexuals, but also the Church. Could it be that the "ignorance of the real nature" of sin, righteousness, and judgment in the religious community is the reason we have the increase of sin in the streets-------------------- and, in the church?  Perhaps in these perilous times, when Church leaders in a community call a solemn assembly, they should place greater emphasis on prayer for understanding "the real nature of...." 

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I ask for greater understanding of "the real nature of."  Amen.

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