Antipas Prayer Force Devotionals: 2/14/10

Friday, February 19, 2010

FW: "The Manifold Wisdom of God"

From: Sforest@aol.com
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:56:52 -0500
Subject: "The Manifold Wisdom of God"
To: sherwoodbarnett.apfd327@blogger.com

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:10, 11--NIV)

We have been discussing "wisdom." The Greek word is closely associated with acumen, "keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination, especially in practical matters." When people say that someone has such deep perception, discernment, they need to be aware that it is all relative. When compared with "the wisdom of God," it is nothing. The Bible declares, "Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best? No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales. He picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all." This is true with every endeavor of man. Whatever anyone has is, "but a drop in the bucket," when compared to the Living Triune God. In Luke 11:49, Jesus refers to the Words of God, the Scriptures, as, "....the wisdom of God...." It is a simple, yet powerful truth. If I want "the manifold wisdom of God," I need Jesus Christ and His Words.

To be sure, the Lord God has designed us to need the Five-Fold ministries, and each other. So keep going to church services, listening to your pastor, going to seminars and listening to those great teachers. Keep reading those great books by the sages of old, and listening to everything every child of God says. Then, after you have done that, never, never forget that no matter how much one may venerate a person, "They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on scales." Jesus and His Words reveal, "the manifold wisdom of God."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that at least I am "a drop in [Your] bucket." Amen.

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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

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FW: Mankind's "Simple" Choice: "Wisdom of Man" Or "Power of God"

From: Sforest@aol.com
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:09:53 -0500
Subject: Mankind's "Simple" Choice: "Wisdom of Man" Or "Power of God"
To:

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified..., that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:2, 5)

Note the contrast between "the wisdom of men" and "the power of God." This is the dividing line between "the joy of the Lord" Jesus Christ and depression, between "the fruit of the Spirit" and the fruit of Satan, victory and defeat. Yet it is a battle which so many professed
followers of Jesus Christ are losing.

My heart goes out particularly to university students. Many make it through secular, humanistic, Christ-denying grammar school, only to lose the battle in college. There, the "wisdom of men" triumphs all too often. And, quite frankly, I don't blame the home. It does not mater
how spiritual was their home environment, their faithfulness to their local church, and deep their commitment to Jesus. Unless a student, or any person on the planet for that matter, stays in a moment by moment relationship in Jesus Christ, subjected and submitted to the "God-Breathed" Word, defeat is inevitable. And for those who say, "Well, I'm not that fanatical, yet I am still a Christian," I say, Have you ever heard of a "fools paradise?" Beware.

You may have read the testimony which I sent some days ago about the battle between the Koran and the Bible, the religion of Muhammad and "the faith of Jesus." If not, you need to. You can access it on both Blog sites. It demonstrates the powerful difference between "the wisdom of men" and "the power of God." Now the Bible speaks much of wisdom; therefore, wisdom is not the issue. It is whether or not it is, "the wisdom of God" or "the wisdom of men." The "wisdom of God" is found only in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:30) "The wisdom of God" is manifest in "the power of God." God's wisdom is not just intellectual or academic; God's wisdom has power to change things and people.

Here is a great passage for winning the battle between the "wisdom of men" and the "power of God"------ "The weapons we fight with (notice that we are indeed in a "fight") are not the weapons of the world ("the wisdom of men"). On the contrary (get ready for "the power of God") they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension ("the wisdom of men")
that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Try it this way; the battle is between the words of men and "the Word of God."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You so much for Divine Offense and Defense. Amen.
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When Peter Torjesen, "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

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Monday, February 15, 2010

Devotional--- From the Brogdens---Land of Combustion

I don't think I have ever done this, but I thought this old fashioned, Holy- Ghost-power testimony would bless your heart and your day.

From: charlesjking@yahoo.com
To: charlesjking@yahoo.com
Sent: 2/15/2010 06:54:46 Eastern Standard Time
Subj: From the Brogdens---Land of Combustion

From the Brogdens...

Greetings from the Land of Combustion.

Wilson is a Southern Sudanese Christian who heads the bio water filter
project in Eastern Sudan. Made from local materials (cement, gravel, sand)
these three foot high filters can provide clean water to whole families. In
the last two years, Wilson has made and placed over 600 filters, primarily
in Muslim homes. This service has opened the door for verbal witness.

A few weeks ago, A Muslim family approached Wilson with a problem. Their
home was full of demonic activity. Furniture would be moved around in the
night, items in the house would spontaneously combust, the bursting flames
destroying many family possessions.

The Muslim family consulted a Muslim Sheikh who demanded 10,000$ to exorcise
the house. He came, did his Islamic chants, and left a Koran for the family
to use to ward off the evil. That night, the Koran burst into flames and
was destroyed. In desperation, the family turned to Wilson.

Wilson turned them to Jesus. He explained that protection follows Lordship
and that the family had to repent of sin and turn to Jesus as Savior in
order to be under his covering. Not rushing things, he took adequate time
to walk the family through what it meant to be a sinner and for Jesus to be
the only Savior. The family openly confessed their sin, repented, and
invited Jesus to be Lord and Savior. Only then did Wilson walk through the
house praying over every room.

When Wilson left, he gave the family a Bible. "Oh No!" They said, "We do
not want this to burst into flames as well." Wilson gently told them that
this was the real Word of God, and that as the house now was under the
protection of Jesus all would be well.

The next morning the new believers called Wilson. "This is great!" They
said. "No demons, and nothing has happened to the Bible." Water and Fire.
What a great combination.

Dick and Jennifer Brogden
Luke and Zack