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Saturday, December 27, 2008

Command For The Coming Year: "Watch, Stand, Be Brave, Be Strong"

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."  (1 Cor. 16:13)
 
On this date in 1944, during the Ardennes Offensive, the German Army was still wreaking havoc in the American lines.  Some, in the face of overwhelming odds and firepower, stood their ground.  Some survived.  Many died in the process.  Thousands, however, fled in shear panic.  I have never condemned the latter.  If I would have been in that hellish position, I cannot really be sure what I would have done.  "Stand fast" means to hold your ground, be unmovable, unshakeable.  The NASB translates, "be brave," as, "act like men."  Variations on this were heard all over the battlefield in those horrendous days. 
 
And so, in the desperate war of life, the God-Breathing Word says the same to us.  The Holy Spirit would not have urged Paul to write our text if Believers did not need this kind of exhortation and encouragement.  We all know people who exude the air of perfect spirituality, never show signs of weakness, never fearful, always seemingly on top of things.  I write not for them.  I write for those who find days or moments in the days when we need to hear, "watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."  There are seasons in this pilgrimage when the enemy throws overwhelming forces at us, and we face the temptation to turn and attempt to outrun the onslaught.  Our text commands us what to do.
 
Someone once said that when the Lord says, "Fear not," He has a reason.  Something is facing you which will cause fear.  But to those who are utterly dependent in Jesus Christ, the, "Fear not," command rules.  Mark this--- There are no impossible commands in the Bible.  If some seem as such, it is only because we try to walk in them apart from total dependency on the Living, Indwelling Christ.  "Watch" in Jesus.  "Stand fast in the faith" in Jesus.  "Be brave" in Jesus.  "Be strong" in Jesus Christ.  And as He says, "Do this and you will live"--------------------------------- and not run.  
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You are the power of the command.  Amen.             
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News, Commentary:        www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
Devotional Archive:         www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Thursday, December 25, 2008

"To All People"

"....Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."  (Luke 2:"10)
 
This is the "Great Commission," Christmas style.  What you and I are enjoying today is "to all people"------------- not just Christians, religious people.  No one was left out of this angelic decree from Heaven.  "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."  And if you believe that "all have sinned," and that "no one is good but One God," then you realize the universality of the "good tidings of great joy."
 
Remember today that this good news is for the people around you who may not know Jesus Christ.  They are there with you by "Divine Appointment."
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, never let me forget that You are "to all people."  Amen.  
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Let The Pagans Do What They May

"Glory to God in the highest...." (Luke 2:14a)
 
Some church-goers don't celebrate Christmas because they say it is a pagan holiday.  Excuse me?  Why should we allow the pagans to rule the day and rob us of celebrating the birth of Christ, rather than joining the angels and declare, "Glory to God in the highest"?!?  Let the pagans commercialize the day, get drunk, fight at family gatherings.  There is precious little we can do about that.  What we can do is take the day to celebrate the revelation of the Messiah, the Christ, the "Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace," the One "Who loved me and gave Himself for me."  And who cares if it was December 25 or not?  My grandfather Sherwood was born some time near the close of 1882, but was never sure of the exact date.  So, he never had a birthday party?  Of course he did.  What did the date matter?  He was here.  He was with us, and for that we were extremely grateful. 
 
The Bible says, "One greater than the temple is here....One greater than Jonah is here....One greater than Solomon is here."  Jesus, "Emmanuel, God with us," The One in Whom the Godhead dwells bodily----- is here!  He "will never, no never leave you nor forsake you."  He promised, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Now, are you going to let the pagans take that from you, or, are you going to light the tree, cook the turkey, exchange gifts, be festive and merry?  I can think of absolutely no better reason to engage in such merriment. 
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Glory to You in the highest!"  Amen. 
 
 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

What a Savior!

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."  (Matthew 1:21)
 
The Son, the Baby Jesus in the manger, is Savior.  "He shall save."  You have heard over the years, I am sure, the definition of, "save."  It means, "deliver, protect, heal, preserve," cause you to "do well, make whole."  In Luke 7:50, in the healing of a sick woman, Jesus says, "Go your way.  Your faith has saved you"--- same Greek word as in our text.  Paul said, "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners"----- same word.  And when Peter was about to physically drown in the storm, he cried out to Jesus," Lord, save me!"----- same word.  Luke 2:11, "for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  That's right; same root word!  And did you know that the Hebrew word for, "save," means essentially the same.  In Deuteronomy 20:4, the Living Triune God told the Jews, "For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."  The psalmist cried, "Save me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen!"  The Hebrew words for, "save," here mean the same as the NT Greek word, but more, "to be open wide, free, to succor, defend, avenge." 
 
The god of evangelicalism has over the years deprived humanity of "so great a salvation."  Jesus Christ came to "open wide" the door of Heaven for me, to save me, forgive me, and set me free of my sin, save me from Hell, but also from the enslaving entanglements of sin in this life, to defend me in this life, even avenge me in this life, "to fight for you against your enemies," to save you "from the lion's mouth."  Consider what He did for Daniel!   This is all for you and me!  So when you hear and/or read the great "Christmas" passages this year, remember that there is a whole lot more saving Jesus came to do and be for you and me than we have ever imagined!
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to believe for salvation in areas I have never considered.  Amen. 
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News, Commentary:            www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
Devotional Archive:            www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com 
 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Monday, December 22, 2008

"This Child Is Destined For the Fall And Rising of Many"

"Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 'A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Matthew 2:17)
 
Yes, this is a part of the Christmas Story.  While the men from the East brought gifts, others brought death.  Simeon prophesied to Mary that Jesus was "destined for the fall and rising of many...." and, "yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul."  History has proven he was a true prophet----- wars, genocide, and as Jesus Himself said later, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."  Jesus' Coming stirred the "pot" of human civilization. 
 
Every Christmas season I think of the horrendous German Ardennes Offensive, more popularly known as "The Battle of the Bulge," which lasted from December 16, 1944 through January 1945.  It was one of the deadliest battles in American history.  At least 19,000 American soldiers were lost.  I still remember the photo of a scraggly Christmas tree in General McAulliffe's headquarters in Bastogne.  One soldier called it, "Christmas in hell."  Patton wrote in his diary on December 25, 1944:  "A clear cold Christmas, lovely weather for killing Germans, which seems a bit[odd] seeing whose birthday it is." 
 
On the other "side" of the battle the suffering and desperation was also heart wrenching.  A schoolmaster who returned from Bastogne after Christmas found this "agonized message" scrawled on a blackboard of his classroom in Champs, Belgium.  "May the world never again live through such a Christmas night!  Nothing is more horrible than meeting one's fate, far from mother, wife and children.  Is it worthy of man's destiny to bereave a mother of her son, a wife of her husband or children of their father?  Life was bequeathed to us in order that we might love and be considerate to one another.  From the ruins out of blood and death shall come forth a brotherly world."  The message was "chalked in German and signed by a German officer."
 
Christmas is not about "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," or just lights and manger scenes.  Jesus did not come into the world so that we could have a "feel good" holiday.  "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."  This is not in conflict with, "peace on earth."  It is further revelation on,  "this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many...."  The choice for mankind has been always, "peace on earth," or, "a sword."  It all depends on what, who, or Who reigns in our lives. 
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that "from the ruins out of blood and death shall come forth a brotherly," Jesus-Centered, and Jesus Exalting world.  Amen.  
 
 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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