He Quieted the Storm on the Sea--And in "Many-a-Troubled Heart"

"Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.'" (Matthew 8:3)

Here is the 8th chapter of Matthew.  Jesus heals many people; Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship; "the winds and the sea obey Him;" Jesus delivers two demon possessed men from the power of Satan.  This is a classic "day-in-the-life-of." 

Jesus said that He came, "to seek and to save that which was lost."  The powerful deliverance of the human race at the cross, the empty tomb, and the ascension demonstrated the God Whom we serve.  "We were reconciled to God through the death of His Son."  It was Jesus on that cross for six agonizing hours, Blood spilling, parched tongue, pierced hands and side, thorn-crowed brow.  "I scarce can," no, I cannot "take it in."

Yet before the Cross, our text reveals what a "typical" day was like for our Lord Jesus as He walked this planet in human flesh.  Each day in His Galilean sojourn was filled with serving, giving, demonstrating the Love of the Godhead.  No one was beyond either his reach or his love.  "I am willing," is the great Covenant of the Blessed Trinity. 

Take this with you today, child of God.  Take this with you always, the, "I am willing," of Jesus, Savior, Lord, King.  Never doubt His, "I am willing;" never wonder if you "qualify."  The demon possessed, the Roman soldier, the leper--- what great examples of the love and willingness of Our Good Shepherd, "friend of sinners," to take care of His Flock, to serve people of faith.

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for any time in my life I doubted Your, "I am willing."  Amen.
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Be sure to read the revealing article on Islam at: www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "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

"Jesus Standing"

"But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing...." (Acts 7:55)

My Dad once said the reason Jesus was, "standing," was that He was honoring Stephen.  Would to God that He could "stand" for me. 

Stephen was a young deacon, serving at tables, taking care of widows, etc.  He was not what some call today a "full time worker."  He loved Jesus Christ and bore witness to Jesus Christ.  He took the Jews through their history, showing the faithfulness of God and their unfaithfulness.  The purpose was to bring forth repentance and surrender to Jesus Christ. For this he was murdered.  The future Apostle, who was to write most of the New Testament Epistles, guarded the clothes of the murderers.

Anyone who is "prophetic" will have enemies.  Their enemies will be people who are quite satisfied with their lives, and all they wish to hear is how wonderful they are, affirm their present life style, no challenge to, "bring...fruit to perfection."  But friends of the prophetic realize that man lives, "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  As difficult as it might have been to listen to Stephen's exhortation, it was for their good.  The purpose was to bring them to repentance, a change of mind and heart, which brings obedience to Jesus Christ.  This is the purpose of the Word of God.

If I want anyone to stand for me in honor, may it be Jesus Christ.  If I could just see Jesus standing for me, all will be well.

Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me such favor.  Amen.
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ATTENTION: For the best insight I have read concerning the growing Islamic victory, go to:  www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "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

How to "Be Certain and Glad That God Hears Us"

"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You." (Psalm 22:27)

 

I pray the Psalms reading each day; and our text is a powerful prayer to confess and pray for the nations.  Our Lord Jesus prayed from this Psalm on the Cross. 

 

The Bonhoeffer biography by Metaxas which I have read recently gave me encouragement to continue in the practice.  Bonhoeffer was a strong believer in praying the Psalter.  The last book he would publish before his death was The Prayer Book of the Bible.  Bonhoeffer asserts that by praying the Psalms, we "pray along with Christ's prayer and therefore may be certain and glad that God hears us.  When our will, our whole heart, enters into the prayer of Christ, then we are truly praying.  We can pray only in Jesus Christ, with whom we shall also be heard.'"    

 

Praying the Bible does not always mean "adapting" a text to our particular situation or desires.  Praying the Bible means just that--- praying the Bible.  The Greek word translated, "confession," or "profession," means "to assent, acknowledge, covenant."  Hebrews 3 says that Jesus is, "the Apostle and High Priest of our confession."  I pray passages whether they sound like prayers or not.  For me, praying a passage is confession of that passage, as one Greek scholar says, "confession," means "saying the same thing" God says.  Praying the, "Words of God," is acknowledging His Words, covenanting with His Words.  How can you not have such prayers answered?  His Word is His Will, His purposes for mankind and the universe.  Bible praying is a grand praying, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the Great Prayer Book.  Amen.

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Be Sure to read the article at: www.apf327.blogspot.com  and contact your representatives in DC. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "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

"My Goodness?----Nothing Apart From" Jesus Christ

"O my soul, you have said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.'" (Psalm 16:2)

I read our text this morning and chuckled at the understatement of it, our pathetic attempts at "goodness," our comparing ourselves with one another, not just in the world, but also in the Christian Community; and all this in the light of the Goodness of Jesus Christ-- "No one is good except God alone" (NASB).  It is a never ending striving among men and cultures to show just how much better one is than others.

You have heard, I am sure, the statement made by so many religion-pursuing people, "Oh, I just live by the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount."  Right.  Somehow they have the delusion that this is possible.  It is not, not for me, not for you, for any human who ever walked this planet.  We can only walk in His Words, when we walk in, "The Word of God," Who is Jesus Christ.  "No one is good except God alone," and the sooner man realizes this, the sooner revival will come, not a revival of, "look what we prayed in," or a revival of feel good religion, but the revival which brings men to repentance, a repentance which acknowledges, "My goodness is nothing apart from You," a repentance preceded by, "the sorrow that is according to the will of God,..a repentance without regret, leading to salvation." 

Holy Spirit Baptized praying, preaching, will bring Holy Spirit repentance --- and revival.  In this alone will the world be brought to its knees, bewailing its sin, its arrogance, "and sinners be converted and Thy Name glorified."  Only then will man be able to say in the depths of reality, not in some religious spirit, "You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, what else can I say?  Amen. 
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "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 Bible Takes on "Liberalism"

"Abram was very rich...." (Genesis 13:2a)

Biblically there is nothing wrong with being rich or making money.  The biggest propaganda of the American Democrat Party and other "leftist" organizations is that the "rich people" are the reason for American woes.  The reality is that the rest of us have the most enviable country in the world because historically in America there were people who were willing to take risks so that the rest of the population would have corporations and companies to work for.  The almost laughable philosophy being lauded by such organizations as MSNBC and played upon constantly by the Democrat Party is that the American government should steal what the rich have taken risks to obtain, what they have earned, and give it to people who produce nothing but complaints about the producers of whatever riches America has.  Now we can give all the exceptions and talk of greed and corruption, but it is not just the sin of the rich.  The joke, "There are two kinds of people: Those who are rich and those who want to be," is the plague of the human race.  Why do you see so many "poor" people standing in line for lottery tickets?!?

Abraham was rich because God made him rich.  Abraham's wealth is referred to Biblically as, "the blessing of Abraham," and, this blessing is the blessing of the Gentiles also when any Gentile surrenders to Jesus Christ.  If the "have-nots" are receiving help today, it because of the "haves."  All the mission work in the world is supplied by "have" people.  Now I'm not speaking just of millionaires.  I'm speaking of anyone who has more than they need to "pay the bills" and live comfortably.  I heard a historian once say that the richest kings of the Middle Ages did not have what the average American has today.  Wealth is relative.  Jesus did not say that money is the evil.  The Bible says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil."  Jesus simply said that you cannot serve money and Father at the same time.  The sin is serving money, not having money.
In fact, having money is a blessing from the Blessed Trinity.

Okay, you were probably not expecting such a "devotional" today.  But this is Biblical.  This is also historic reality.  Don't let anyone ever tell you that any government program, programs sponsored by people who are not producing anything, but are only taking from those who do, is "compassionate" concern and care for the poor.  If they had such, why are some of the most stingy people in our culture the liberal politicians who are all too quick to spend someone else's money, but not their own?  Communist/Socialism philosophy is not of God.  It is sinners who produce nothing taking from sinners who do.  "All have sinned."  Yes, the rich will have to give an account at the, "Judgment Seat of Christ," just as anyone.  But in Biblical Theology, you and I are responsible for our giving.  The government is not.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law."  Amen.
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New Article @:  www.apf327.blogspot.com  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "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