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Friday, May 1, 2009

A Critical Mass of Trust

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
 
The Gospel "is the power...."  There is no power as "gospel of Christ" power, not nuclear, not political, not financial, not anything of man. The "God-Breathed" Word gives the reason.  "For it is the power of God to salvation," literally, "to save, to rescue."  Look around you today.  Man is looking to man for "the power...to save" and "to rescue," rather than "the gospel of Christ."  Paul said that the reason is quite simple.  "The gospel of Christ....is foolishness to those who are perishing....For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom...."  Man looks to man rather than to Jesus Christ because it just plain makes more sense to him.  In my life time I have never seen such "emperor worship" as there is today in America.  And it is not only worship of a man, but a system.  Instead of, "Oh, Baal, hear us," it is, "Oh, government, hear us"--and, "save us."  America has reached a critical mass of trust.
 
The problem is a heart problem.  Jesus said, "For out of the heart proceed" the evils of man, the evils which cause him to abandon absolute trust in Jesus Christ.  It is my "heart" dependency, affection, and trust, which is the gauge for "where my treasure is."  Every day I must choose "the power to save," or the "power" of talk and demagoguery.  In Jesus Christ there is nothing but "power," and that to save, to rescue, save and rescue now, save and rescue and keep for eternity.
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, fulfill the command of Jude in me to "keep yourselves in the love of [You]."  Amen. 
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Read the letter of a law professor who refused an invitation to speak at the Notre Dame commencement:  www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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Thursday, April 30, 2009

You Want Reality?-Read the Bible & Watch the News

"The people of Israel feed on the wind; they chase after the east wind all day long.  They multiply lies and violence; they make alliances with Assyria and cut deals with the Egyptians."  (Hosea 12:1--- NLT)
 
I am not making up this "stuff."  I read each day from 7 sections of the Bible, i.e., Psalms, Wisdom Books, Pentateuch/History, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets, Gospels, and Acts-Rev.  When I read the "God-Breathed" Word and current news, I don't have to go looking for "material."  It is just there, every day, everywhere.   
 
I read a report today from the "World Tribune" that "Obama and his senior advisors wish to incrementally diminish US strategic cooperation with Israel" (I will send the article later).  This would be the first time since the establishment of the modern State of Israel 61 years ago that an American President took such a position---------------------- and another step closer to Armageddon.  It was inevitable. 
 
In the final days of this present age, the Jews and Israel will have no friends in the earth.  Jesus spoke in the Prophet Ezekiel a phrase which occurs nowhere else in Scripture, "then they will know that I am the Lord."  This could be the reason Jesus will allow Israel's total abandonment by the nations, "then they will know...."  Our text tells us that the Jews were making alliances and cutting deals with their enemies, and not only our text.  The Word of God is full of warnings against unholy alliances, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!"  Could the text also read, "Woe to those who rely on the might of the United States of America for help, whether Jew or non Jew?!"
 
There is a recurring phrase in the Bible which at the same time fills me with excitement and "the fear of the Lord."  It's the phrase, "in that day."  It almost always refers to the end of the present age and the return of King Jesus.  But do not be afraid of "that Day."  No matter where you live, what people group you are a part of; if Jesus Christ dwells in you and you in Him,
it will be said of you what the Lord God said of Noah, "and the LORD shut him in."  Jesus is for you and me what the old timers used to call, "the Ark of Safety."  And when the trumpet sounds, "when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe," you and I, as the old song goes, "will be there!"
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my friend and I will "find mercy of [You] in that Day."  Amen.
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Netanyahu speech and other prophetic news @:   www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com 
 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

"You Want 'Everlasting'--I Have 'Everlasting'" (God)

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting."  (Psalm 136:1-- NASB)

I received a report yesterday from Open Doors telling of the suffering Church in Nigeria.  Now consider that earlier in the morning I had read our text.  "A few months ago Islamic extremists went on a rampage against Christians.  45 church (buildings) were destroyed.  129 Christians were murdered.  And hundreds of women were widowed and countless children orphaned."  How dare the psalmist affirm again and again, "For His lovingkindness is everlasting," when so much of human history screams the opposite?  Well, I give you both encouragement and challenge today.  The reports keep coming in that Nigerian Believers, in the face of unimaginable suffering, just keep affirming, "For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

In the midst of suffering and unanswerable questions, the only way to  triumph in life is, "as seeing Him who is invisible," Jesus Christ.  We "press on" when we live by The Word of God and not some fanciful idea of how religion works.  The man who composed the hymn, "Jesus Is All The World To Me," asked, "Oh, how could I this Friend deny, when He's so true to me?"  He had touched, "for His lovingkindness is everlasting."  His was not conceptual religion.  His was a very deep, personal religion.  His was the triumph of relationship over academics. 

The last words of Job should be a standard for us all.  "You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'  I admit it.  I was the one.  I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head....I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand-- from my own eyes and ears!" (The Message)-  If this is our conclusion, then "through many dangers, toils, and snares," we will contiune to affirm----------------- "for His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Father, in Jesus' Name, all I can say to the psalmist's declaration is, "Amen."  Amen.
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There is great stuff about Israel's Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations at:     www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com



"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Command of Jesus: "Rejoice!"

"And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!'" (Matthew 28:9)
 
The Crucified One was standing before them alive.  Earlier, the site of an empty tomb had filled the women with fear and joy--- The power of God will often give you these mixed emotions.  But now, from the Savior Himself came the assuring command, "Rejoice!" 
 
"Rejoice!"  Satan and the powers of darkness tried to destroy the Word of God at the Cross.  But Father had a different purpose for you and me.  At the Cross, Satan and the powers of darkness themselves were destroyed.  "Rejoice!"  Jesus, the One whom Isaiah described as "rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him," this same Jesus took rejection, sorrows, grief, despising, sicknesses, pains, for all humanity "in His Own Body on the cross."  Now these sins "shall not have dominion over you, for you are...under grace." 
 
"Rejoice!"  The One Who was revealed as the Word of God, Jesus, took everything that is out to destroy you and me "in His Own Body on the cross."   Listen, I can hear Him saying to us, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you."  Can you not hear Jesus say, "And because My body was broken for you, you don't have to be broken?"
 
"And again, I say, Rejoice!"  In the Book of Revelation, when John saw Jesus, he had the same reaction as the women at the empty tomb.  "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead.  But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid!  I am the First and the Last, and the ever-living one [I am living in the eternity of eternities].  I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and...the realm of the dead."  What more can we do?------ "REJOICE!"
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, I do "Rejoice!"-- and only You are responsible for this.  Amen.
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*    I will be preaching in the CCE meetings over the Mother's Day Weekend.
*    You don't want to miss great prophetic news and commentary, do you?  Go to:        www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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Monday, April 27, 2009

"How Do I Do This?"

"....Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus...." (Hebrews 12:1b, 2)

Someone asked me about the quote which I have at the bottom of my
e-mails which is our text today, "Looking unto Jesus," or, as the NIV says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus."  They asked, "How do you do this?"  My response may seem too easy and even naive to some, but I am more and more convinced that it is the only way to fulfill the command.  It is not staring off into space, nor trying to imagine an image of Jesus, nor asking, "What would Jesus do?"  It is "looking unto Jesus" in the "God-Breathed" Word, which He Himself is-- "And His Name is called The Word of God."

Worship, prayer, serving, etc., are means of grace which help keep us in "the way of Christ," but they are subjective.  We simply must have the written expression of "The Word of God," the Bible, That to Which Jesus referred when He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."  You know I am not minimizing worship, prayer, or service, but I can "control" them.  The Word of God I cannot.
  
This week will be victorious if it is based on fact, not on "feel-good" religion.  The only "fact" of life upon which you and I can depend is the "Fact" of His Words.  I'm paraphrasing the Words of Jesus now---- "Build that house.  Dig deep and lay a foundation on the Rock, The Word of God.  And I promise you that when a flood occurs, the torrent bursts against the house, they will not 'shake it, because it had been well built.'"

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to build my life not on feelings or emotion, but on You in Your Word, Jesus Christ.  Amen. 
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News, Commentary:          www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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