The God of the Before and the After

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh.  For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.'" (Exodus 6:1)

 

To Moses this was a, "Well, perhaps, but I really don't see how it can be done."  To God it was, and always is------ "Done." 

 

As you may recall, in Exodus 3 Moses started a sort of argument with God about the whole deliverance of the Hebrews from the Egyptians.  Most Jews in Egypt also had probably given up; certainly Moses thought it was a lost cause.  But if you read Exodus 6:1-9 you will discover that Jesus, "The Word of God," speaks to Moses as though everything were a "done deal."  He speaks of Canaan as though the Jews were already there, because with "The Eternal One" all is done, all is "there."  To the Blessed Trinity, the Jews are in The Land, even while still under the Egyptians' whip--------- classic paradox.  Oh, that you and I will walk in such reality.  

 

Even with the greatest "faith people," there is a measure of "hope so" to belief in the Word of God, but not to our God.  In Jesus Christ, we are already "there," wherever and whatever that may be.  He is The God of the Before and the After, or, "the Alpha and the Omega."  In Jesus Christ, December 31 of next year is here; where you and I will be, in what condition, and with whom none of us knows, but Our Living Triune God does know.  He "sees" us at this moment on December 31 next year, because He is already there, still being God, Savior, Deliverer, Healer, Shepherd, "Faithful and True," literally, "Trustworthy and Truthful." 

 

Whether we are on this planet, with Him in Glory, or being, "caught up...to meet the Lord in the air," we are there, now, securely, eternally.  I pray for you a Happy Year; it's only "New" to you and me. 

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, just that, "grain of a mustard seed," is all I ask.  Amen.

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Another new article is at:   www.apf327.blogspot.com

 

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

"The Commander of the Armies of Heaven"

"The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us.  He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us." (Psalm 46:7, Living Bible)

 

....and He will continue, "to rescue us," until the close of the Age, when He comes to take us to Himself in Glory.

 

In late December, 1944, when it seemed as though the German was about to annihilate the 101st Airborne Division surrounded in Bastogne, Belgium, elements of Patton's Third Army, led by the 37th Tank Battalion, broke through to frustrate the German Army's plans.  Most members of the 101st, even those still alive, never admitted that they needed rescued.  I have never been under such illusion.  I have needed "rescued" all my life. 

 

You may have found yourself facing annihilation in the past year, but Jesus Christ, "the Commander of the armies of heaven," the One Who, "is here among us," has seen us through another year.  There should be no doubt about His ability for 2011. 

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for including me.  Amen.

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New Article at: www.apf327.blogspot.com  

 

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

This is Praise and Worship Without Equal

"Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations." (Psalm 145:13, KJV) 

 

"Thy reign is a reign of all eternities."  Enter 2011 with this, because it is settled and done---- now rest. 

 

Our text comes from my "favorite" Psalm.  Psalm 145 is the greatest expression of praise I have ever heard or read or expressed in any "worship gathering."  I agree with Spurgeon; if you only have time for one passage of Scripture, make it this one; it declares the Glory and Worth of the Blessed Trinity, revealed solely in Jesus Christ, perfectly.  Spurgeon said, "When you get to Psalm 145, you get to the Beulah Land of the Psalms."  

I would encourage you to take the time you ordinarily would take to read a devotional, and pray Psalm 145------------ really take the time.  It will be healing to your soul.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

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New Article at: www.apf327.blogspot.com

 

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

Please Note 2011 Goals At the End of the Devotional

"Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble." (Psalm 140:4)

I was praying my Bible prayers this morning, and prayed the prayer of our text for all of us, particularly the United States of America and Israel.  There have always been, "wicked," and, "violent men," and there always will be, that is until Jesus appears the second time.  As I was going through the pages of the prayers I put together while in Berlin in 1998-1999, I realized again just how many prayers there are in the Bible for deliverance from such forces.

We do not know what 2011 holds, but we do know that the prayers of the Bible are eternally powerful.  Pray them; turn Scriptures into prayers; they are the will of God.  No one, but the Word of God, Jesus Christ, knows the future.  No one, but the Word of God, Jesus Christ, can keep you in that future.  If you do pray His Words, I encourage you to give this careful consideration

Father, in Jesus' Name, deliver my friend here from those, "who have purposed to make [their] steps stumble."  Amen.
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1. I am renewing my commitment to praying four hours per day in 2011.  Of course, there will be some days as in the past, due to travel or other things, which will "interrupt" the schedule, but infrequently.  If you would like me to pray for you and/or some requests, let me know.  I will keep each request on the "list" for one week.  If you still wish to have me pray for a particular request, just add the request the following Monday.  2. Missions will be predicated on income.  Our contributions have been down significantly for 2010, and if it stays that way, our mission trips will be governed accordingly, this includes Washington, DC.
3. I am available to come to your house church, prayer group, or local congregation.
 
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

"In Whome You Delight"

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

 

Jesus came as Savior the first time.  The second time, He will come as Judge, "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). 

 

There is no reason to dread the Second Coming, if we are walking, "in the light as He is in the light."  The Bible declares that, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad," and this is a great motivator for "good living."  But everywhere in Scripture, the anticipation of the coming of the Lord is a delight-- "'Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.  And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.  Behold, He is coming,' says the LORD of hosts."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I, "delight," in You--- and Your Coming.  Amen.

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News, Commentary:  www.apf327.blogspot.com

 

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