"Weak and Worthless" Or, "A Kingdom of Priests to...God"

"So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world....But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?" (Galatians 4:3 & 9)

 

The word translated, "elemental," in our text is translated, "beggarly," in the KJV.  That is what it literally means, "pauper, a beggar."  This is how Jesus found you and me.  He took us as beggars in "the power of darkness..., and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father."

 

Jesus "found" you and me as beggars, "slaves of sin," and redeemed us to and for Himself.  We were not redeemed to be our own person.  We are redeemed to be His person.  Left to myself, I am a pauper.  Left to Jesus, I am a rich man.  When I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, I changed masters---------- from Satan, who lies to us, causing us to think we are in control, to Jesus, Who never lies about ownership or control.  When anyone or anything but Jesus has us, we are "held under the beggarly things of the world-- weak and worthless elemental things." When Jesus "has" us, we are under His power, His worthiness, His riches.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, how foolish to stay in "weak and worthless elemental things," when I can have You.  Amen.

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This is Not Your Father's Devotional Book

"If I send pestilence among My people, and My people...humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then...."  (2 Chronicles 7:13b-14a)

 

Notice the location of the commas in our translation-- "humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn...."  Usually when this text is read or quoted it is sounds as though there are four processes here.  Not so.  Only the humble will pray, and only the Face-seekers will "turn from their wicked ways."  Trust me.  We are going to need this kind of Believer in Jesus Christ more than ever in human history!

 

Islam is growing at an alarming rate in Europe.  It is also growing in the US.  Western man worships freedom, not the freedom which is in Jesus Christ, but the freedom which allows anyone to do anything.  It will be the destruction of Western Civilization.  The Arab/Islamic religion of the moon god, Allah, is a slaughterhouse religion.  I posted a film on our Blog site which very graphically reveals the intent of this "peaceful religion."  There is no "new testament" in the Koran.  The murder of the Jew and other infidels is still advocated in mosques all over the world, perhaps surprisingly to some, including Western Europe and America.  This religion came from the Arab world, just as the first state sponsored genocide of the Jews in 2500 years came from the Germany of my life time.  We had to level Berlin to stop the madness.  What will mankind have to do to rid itself of this madness?!?  For the "bleeding hearts," remember, it was the Arab world which started Crusades, not Europe.

 

Jesus will return, when, no one knows.  I believe the prophetic signs show that it is imminent.  But if He tarries, our children, for sure our grandchildren, could very well be enslaved under the murderous religion of Islam.  While Western man murders his babies and no longer has the will to fight for his freedom, Muslims are patient, their birth rate just keeps growing, and their children are being trained from infancy to "kill the infidel." 

 

Now, the United States of America has the most left wing candidate in its history, a man friendly to this anti-West culture; and starry-eyed youth, trendy liberals, and life long Democrats who have no thought processes of their own, will be voting for him.  If this will not get you and me to "humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways," I wonder what will?  And to the Brethren in other nations, remember, as the US goes, so goes the world. 

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, wake me up.  Amen.  

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Blog site:    www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

 

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Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside

"Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?"  (Luke 11:40

 

In the mid 1940's the United States Military Academy (Army) had two great running backs, Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis.  They were called, "Mr Inside and Mr. Outside."  Together they were almost unstoppable.  They produced three undefeated and two national championship teams, and two Heisman Trophies.     

 

Our text describes life in Jesus Christ as an "inside/outside" life.  "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.  Foolish ones!  Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?"  Of course He did.  And when Jesus appeared among men, He revealed that the law was after the "inside" man to affect the "outside" man.  Jesus said, "....First clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also."  If I try the reverse, it simply won't work.  The only result will be a Pharisee.  Jesus does not work from the outside in.  He works from the inside out.  Maybe that's why "the work" takes so long.  

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that "Mr Inside and Mr. Outside" will be the same person.  Amen.

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I Think Jesus Likes Sitting by the Sea

"That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea."  (Matthew 13:1)

Jesus was in somebody's house; then He "went out" to sit "by the sea."  God among men, Immanuel.  I think Jesus likes the sea.  I know He likes going to people's houses.  He took time for the begging, poor blind man on the road outside Jericho, and also went to the house of a very rich man------------ no discrimination or favoritism here!  He even made Peter's house "by the sea" a sort of headquarters.

Can you enjoy Jesus in the every day, or must it be some huge religious excitement rally, some great mission trip, some very busy project?  So often we pass over the times when Jesus just tried to get away and rest, perhaps to enjoy the great mountains around the Sea of Galilee.  What an idyllic scene!  Why don't I do that more?---- too religious, too obligatory, too guilty?  After all, He did say, "And it was very good!"

Isaac went out of his house into the field one evening just to meditate.  Ancient man and his God.  If you search the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, you will see the Servants of the Blessed Trinity enjoying His creation.  After all, where did the prophets receive some of their most astounding revelations?!?  I wonder if they always went to those locations just to receive some "message."  Yes, Jesus served humanity wherever He found them or they found Him.  But many times He found them in places He just enjoyed being as a Man among men.  I highly recommend it.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to see You where most don't look?  Amen.


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We Are Called To Participate With Heaven's Messengers

"In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel....Its message was true and it concerned a great war.....Then he said, 'Do you understand why I came to you?  But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.  However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.  And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.'" (Daniel 10:1; 11:1-- NIV & NASB)

The man speaking to Daniel is telling of his assignment concerning the great cosmic struggle and his assignment to "support and protect" a head of state.  Too many times we only think of these messengers as women with wings, ethereal beings who have no relevance for us today.  Not so!  This misperception comes most of the time from the concept of "angels."  But the word for "angel," means, "messenger, envoy, representative, ambassador, dispatched deputy."  In Daniel they are revealed to be great warriors.  In Daniel 10 there is mention of Michael.  Earlier Gabriel is mentioned.  In Daniel 10:5, however, the one talking to Daniel is referred to simply as, "a certain man." 

These powerful "ambassadors" are involved in what our text refers to as "a great war."  The Amplified Bible describes this "great war" as "great tribulation (conflict and wretchedness)," and the emissaries' assignment is to battle with hierarchical forces who are attempting to use and destroy the nations of the world and their leaders. 

This is just a glimpse into the great cosmic battle between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness, between the Kingdom of Satan and the "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ," Jesus.  We see Daniel involved in it. And you should see yourself involved in it.  In teaching many years ago on Daniel 10, Derek Prince said that "it was not the angel who got Daniel through.  It was Daniel who got the angel through." 

This is the assignment of The Church in this present day.  You and I have been privileged to participate with Heaven's Warring, supporting, and protecting "dispatched deputies."  Get in shape and stay in shape-- and into the battle! 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for this clear assignment which You have given to all Your children.  Holy Spirit, empower me anew in the battle.  Amen.


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