"Happy New Year?"---- It Depends

"....Happy (blessed,.. prosperous, to be envied) are the people whose God is the LORD."  (Psalm 144:15-- Amplified Bible)

 

The only, "Happy New Year," will be for the "people whose God is the LORD."  With all the, "Happy New Year," that will be going around, I say to all, "Got Happy?"

 

The, "Happy," in the, "New Year," has nothing to do with the events of 2010. It has to do with who reigns, who controls, who leads, upon what or whom we lean.  Our "wish" for you is a, "Happy (blessed,.. prosperous, to be envied)...God is the LORD," Year, AKA, "Jesus Christ is LORD," Year. 

 

I pray in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that He will wright on our hearts in the coming year:  "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desire and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."  Amen.

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"The Rape of Europe" video at:    www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

                                            and:    www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com


When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Why We Go To Berlin

If you want to know why we go to Berlin, Germany, go to:
               www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
and view the video, "The Rape of Europe."  If you want to understand current world events, this is a "must see."  It is in three parts.  Listen closely; it is packed with information.  If you experience any difficulty, let me know.

Woody



Eighteen year old Norwegian, Peter Torjesen, "when he heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The Rape of Europe (2002)

cross.tv - The Rape of Europe (2002)

 

When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The "Way" of Jesus

"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him....Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them....And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."(Lk. 2:40, 51,52)

 

The word translated, "subject," means to come under authority, to be in submission."  This is integral to "wisdom, and stature, and...favor with God and men."  Our King and Savior, Jesus, spent 30 years preparing for 3 years of ministry.  Of course we know better today.  Most pastors spend 3 years preparing for 30 years of ministry.  When I was younger, I never liked to hear people remind me that Moses spent 40 years in the backside of the desert.  The reality: Moses was 80 when he began his "ministry."  I started "full-time" at the proven age of 20. 

 

During the charismatic renewal of the 60's and 70's, it was not unusual to see people who had just surrendered their lives to Jesus, no Christian tradition, no Church experience, starting "churches," teaching, etc.  Derek Prince once said that no man should be ordained an elder under the age of 30.  He also said that no man should be in spiritual authority in the Church who had never suffered.  One may issue the great, "Yes, but," yet Derek's statements have more Biblical examples than any, "Yes, but."   To those who like to bring up the Apostle Paul as an example of "immediate" ministry, I remind them that Paul had been trained in the Scriptures, a Pharisee, whose whole life was given to the "God-Breathed" Word.  All twelve of Jesus' disciples spent 24/7 with Him, watching, learning before they were sent out.

 

"I am among you as one who serves."  This was not an isolated spiritual principle.  This was a part of the, "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."  Those so-called "silent years" of Jesus were spent in day to day living, obedient to Joseph and Mary, working with wood, fetching water, responsibility for His younger siblings, and most likely witnessing the death of the man who was His mentor and cared so faithfully for Him during those "early" years.  "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered."  Far too many times people render this passage to some ephemeral realm.  

 

The truth of walking in Jesus Christ is that there are truths which we confront all our lives and which we put on the proverbial "back burner."  But as His Name, "Faithful and True," Our Lord Jesus keeps Truth before us.  2010 will give many more opportunities to bring issues to the front burner.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I readily admit the continual need for learning obedience. Amen.

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Prophetic News:                www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

Devotional Archive:           www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com 

When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"He Has Explained Him"

"Simeon took him in his arms and praised God...."  (Luke 2:28)

 

The Greek word, "took," is better translated, "received."  Revelation and understanding are not synonymous.  Understanding is a mental process.  Revelation is a "receiving" process.  Our text does not say that Simeon understood Him.  It just says,  "Simeon received Him...." 

 

The angel told Mary something which she could not understand.  "'How will this be....'"?  We have all had such questions in our discipleship journey.  When revelation comes to you, don't try to understand; just take Him in your arms------ good advice for 2010.  When you don't understand what is happening, just respond as Simeon who, "received Him," and Mary who submitted to Him---- "'Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word.'"  

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Let it be to me according to your word."  Amen.

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News, Commentary:            www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com                

Devotional Archive:            www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com


When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The Great "Because Of" in Life

"I John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."  (Rev. 1:9) 

 

You and I are here for the same, "because of."  We may not be in a prison or marooned on some lonely isle, but our purpose for living, taking space on this planet is, "because of the Word of God," which is, "the testimony of Jesus."  Jesus said, "I am He who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."  The life of the Follower of Jesus is of no lesser, "because of."

 

Webster describes a resolution as, "the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones."  Here's a way to do that for 2010------------------ Reset our, "because of," living.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray with all my heart that 2010 will find a greater, "because of," in me.  Amen.

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News, Commentary:           www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

Devotional Archive:            www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com 


When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2