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Friday, June 12, 2009

"Till We Have Sealed The Servants of Our God"

"Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.  And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.'" (Revelation 7:2, 3)
 
The word for, "harm," here is from a judicial term.  It is a further confirmation that at some point in time, the Living Triune God will indeed judge the whole "earth, the sea,...the trees."  Of the "Last Days," the prophet Isaiah wrote, "The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.  Therefore the curse has devoured (literally, "eaten") the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate (literally, "guilty, by implication to be punished").        
 
"....till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 
There is a Biblical principle here.  God will not bring cataclysmic judgment "til all the ransomed Church of God be saved to sin no more."  Could it be that judgment is awaiting the last soul to be brought into the "Household of faith?"  When God was about to destroyed man on the earth, the Bible tells us of Noah, "and the Lord shut him in."  The angel told Lot, "Hurry, escape there.  For I cannot do anything until you arrive there."  What has been referred to as "The Rapture," the catching away of the "servants of our God," will take place before "the earth, the sea, or the trees" are harmed, i.e., judged, condemned.    
 
People of the Earth:  "The Great Escape" is only for those who live in obedience to Jesus Christ and His "Law/Word."  When you and I received Jesus into our lives, when we surrendered to His Reign in our lives, what is said of Noah became true in us, "and the Lord shut him in."  Stay there.  It is the "secret place of the Most High."  It is the place where, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right; but it shall not come near you."  
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for "the Shelter in the time of storm"- "under [Your] wings."  Amen.
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*    See just how exciting these days really are at:
*    Look for an update concerning our missions this coming fall
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
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Thursday, June 11, 2009

"We Are Going To Change The World-- Please Don't Interfere"

"Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any rise like him." (2 Kings 23:25)
 
I read an article this morning that an American Administration official, while in Jerusalem, told Prime Minister Netanyahu, "We are going to change the world.  Please, don't interfere."  This is the most arrogant statement of a government since Hitler's claim to a "Thousand Year Reich."  He got 12 years, followed by a national humility from which Germany will never recover.  Hans Frank, who was Governor General of Occupied Poland said just before he was hanged, "A thousand years will pass and the guilt of Germany will not be erased."  America is now in the process of building such a repertoire. 
 
Would to the Living Triune God that America and nations of the world had leaders such as Josiah, "who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses."  The Bible teaches clearly that this means a total surrender only to the Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and the reign of Jesus Christ through obedience to His Word.  I have adopted our text as a prayer for all government, church, and business leaders in America and every nation on earth, that they would be as Josiah, who was moved to repentance of such a kind that he "put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD." 
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, Give Your People the boldness to say to Your enemies, "We are going to change the world.  Please don't interfere."     
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If you don't access    www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
you are not informed. 
  
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Our Choice: From Princess to Slave, Or, Slave to Princess

"The princess among the provinces has become a slave!" (Lam. 1:1b)
 (Just passing on thoughts from the daily reading)
 
This is the inevitable end of rebellion---- from "princess" to "slave."  This is what Jeremiah saw as he looked upon a rebellious Jerusalem.  A little further in the text he says, "All her gates are desolate...."  Fast forward to the twenty-first century.  Several months ago there was a headline in a prominent American paper-- "China: America's Largest Foreign Creditor."  The once proud financial giant of the world is now a "slave," dependent for its very life on a nation of torture, persecution of Believers in Jesus Christ, and human rights abuses of the first order.  America has gone from lender to borrower, from "the head" to "the tail." 
 
How many times we read in the Scriptures of Israel saying such things as they said to Jeremiah, "Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."  Yet so very many times they were just words.  The saying-but-not-doing finally brought Jerusalem and Israel to the point where Jeremiah had to lament, "the princess among the provinces has become a slave."  
 
The call to salvation in Jesus Christ for the individual is the reverse of our text.  It is, "From Slave to Princess," to Prince, to "a kingdom of priests,"  but it is not just a one time "sinner's prayer."  How quickly can the shackles come to individuals and nations by just one act of disobedience.  The call in Jesus Christ is to "a devout and holy life," not just 'devout and holy" declarations.  And, the Good News in Jesus Christ is that when obedience rules in my walk in Christ, when obedience rules in the life of a nation, reigning rules over servitude.
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me moment by moment how to keep my "prince" status.  Amen.
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Be Sure to read the article, "The Exodus Obama Forgot to Mention," @
 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Pray The Breath of God

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 2)
 
For years I have started my prayers for people and nations this way, "I pray that they would prosper and be in health in body, soul, and spirit (from our text), that You would convict them of 'sin, righteousness, and judgment' (John 16), that You would put them in the center of Your Will for their lives (Mt. 6)."  You could pray these prayers for us every day, if you are so inclined.  They are "breath of God" prayers, not "vain repetition!"     
I was reading a headline the other day about the Air France plane which went down in the Atlantic.  I have flown with Air France, and I have flown on the Airbus 330-200, which, by the way, is the model Sarah and I will be flying on this coming fall; naturally I'm interested.  As I finished reading the article I just prayed, "I pray that they find them (the flight data recorders) and find out what happened."  According to all info coming in at that point, this was an "impossible prayer."  There are now, however, reports of finding pertinent pieces of the plane, and that the flight date recorders still might be found.  Who really knows?  
 
I knew a pastor years ago who said that when he reads the paper, many times he just utters a prayer for the people he reads about.  We pray earnestly for people and situations with whom and in which we are involved, and, thankfully, many times our desires are granted.  But what about those people and situations with whom and in which we are not involved, and, I might add, will never know if our request was granted?  What about that depressed check-out clerk, that fellow worker, all those unbelievers you know.  Your prayer just may be the only one they receive that day, maybe ever.  Jesus commanded us to "do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return," no "good feeling" of knowing the result.  It might not be a bad idea to pray some times--------------------- "expecting nothing in return."
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that in the Holy Spirit I will always be urged to pray for those who have no prayers.  Amen.
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Keeping you informed of the truth @: www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
Be sure to see the Litany of the Precious Blood on the devotional site the same site.  Sarah and I are using it to take daily communion together.
 
 "Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
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Monday, June 8, 2009

Litany Of The Most Precious Blood of Jesus

 
 

LITANY OF 
THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS
Responses are in Italics

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, Save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, Save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, Save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, Save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, Save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Price of our salvation, Save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, Save us.
Blood of Christ, river of mercy, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Victor over demons, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Courage of martyrs, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Strength of confessors, Save us....
Blood of Christ, Help of those in peril, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Relief of the burdened, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Solace in sorrow, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Hope of the penitent, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Consolation of the dying, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Peace and Tenderness of hearts, Save us.
Blood of Christ, Pledge of Eternal Life, Save us....
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, Save us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, OLord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood, And made of us a kingdom for our God.

Let Us Pray: Almighty and Eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily adore this Price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in Heaven. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Source:A Prayerbook of Favorite Litanies, Fr. Albert J. Hebert, S.M.;Tan books

 
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
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