God Did Not Need Conversion

"For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.  And again, 'The LORD will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.'" (Hebrews 10:30, 31)

Yes, this is New Testament, even though to some it sounds more like Old Testament.  Few seem to realized that there is talk of grace and mercy in the Old Testament just as there is talk of judgment and wrath in the New.

Over the years I have heard comments and innuendos concerning the difference between the Old and New Testaments.  The disguised thinking goes something like this.  At some point in history, God had a conversion.  All those commands to go in and slay the enemy to the person, to destroy cities, which frankly disgusts most people were unkind and bad things.  Then there are all those, "Thou shalt nots," e.g., "not commit adultery, murder," and the Thou shalts, e.g., "honor thy father and thy mother," the talk of judgment, and if someone premeditatedly murdered someone, "by man shall his blood be shed"?  Even some in churches think this is not right.  So what happened? 

Well, apparently some believe this "god" realized one day that all that Old Testament stuff was wrong and he was filled with remorse for ever acting that way and making such commands.  He then at some point became an altogether different "god."  He became kinder, gentler, more forgiving, understanding, much more willing to overlook such peripheral things as unholiness and disobedience, a real New Testament, much more loveable kind of god. 

The reality, however, is that He Is the same Old Testament, "Immanuel," Jesus Christ of Leviticus and Numbers, as He Is, "Emmanuel," Jesus Christ of John and Ephesians.  In Malachi 3:6, He says, "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."  And in 1 Timothy we read, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."  Just accept it, world.  The God of the Old Testament revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.  He did not have to change to become Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not.  As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be."   Amen.
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New Articles 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

Typo

Misprint in the song quote.  Instead of "they" it is "Thy new creation," and "

"Thy great salvation."  But, I guess you already figured that out

 

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, heard "the call to evangelize China, 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)

Not Quite Through Yet

 "....the good things to come...."  (Hebrews 10:1

 

This verse just keeps staying with me.  I want to be clear, however, that I have not been implying, "the good things to come," are a sort of "Jesus plus" theology.  There is just nothing more than, nothing beyond Jesus Christ, "Alpha and Omega."  But there is more of everything, "to come," more than we can know now, perhaps ever, awaiting the Faithful Follower of Jesus Christ.  How pathetic are the people who have lost the, Really? in their eyes, the people who already know all there is to know, who talk of belief in God as though their finite mind has a grasp of the Almighty, no wonder, no awe, no, "And when I saw him, I fell at His feet as dead."

 

I have shared before that the last words my grandfather said on his bed-of-passing from this life were, "The other side is looking better;" that was 42 years ago this month.  I have never known anyone more full of the Living Triune God, so kind, sensitive, etc., than Thomas Barnette.  I still have the small New Testament he kept rolled up with a rubber band around it in his lunch box, the one he kept with him during all those years as an engineer for the B & O Railroad. 

 

What Tom Barnette gave me on that cold, snowy day in February, 1969, was the "last will and testament" of a great old saint to one of his grandsons.  He saw what I pray and hope yet to see of, "the good things to come."  What I saw on his face was not a big smile, but rather a smile of, "My Lord and My God!"  It was not only a smile of "recognition," but of also of childlike, REALLY?!?  It was a smile of, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name,

"Finish then they new creation

Pure and spotless let us be;

Let us see they great salvation,

Perfectly restored in thee,

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in heaven we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before thee,

Lost in wonder, love, and praise!"  Amen.

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Explaining Our Commitment to Berlin: www.antipasprayerforce2.blogspot.com

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* Please pray for our upcoming Mission, March 25-April 25 

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, heard "the call to evangelize China, 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)

There Are Still, My Friend, "The Good Things to Come"

"....a shadow of the good things to come...." (Hebrews 10:1)

 

I just cannot get away from the reality that there are still, "the good things to come."  We know that our text is speaking of the appearing of Jesus Christ, "shadowed" in the Law, and fulfilled when, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  But, if I may so say, there is more of the revelation of God's purposes here.  No matter what we may be going through in a particular day or "season" of our lives, there is always the great triumphant cry from Heaven, "Remember, my beloved child, there are still, 'good things to come,'" things which we know not.  Have you read Revelation lately?!?  There is indeed the reality that, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."  Yet there is also the reality of His revelation-- "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit."  

 

May you and I allow the Holy Spirit to give us what we can receive today of those still more, "good things to come."  Here we have just another glimpse of the grace and mercy of our Father, always keeping before you and me, "the good things to come."  Can you not just see a glimpse of them today, dear weary traveler?  Does not the Holy Spirit bring them before us as we, "fix our eyes on Jesus"?  He Who is the fulfillment of, "the good things to come," will show us day by day still more and more of those, "good things to come."  Whatever else is "before us" today will shrink into insignificance, seem small in comparison to those blessed, wonderful, glorious, "good things (still yet) to come."  Even though this sounds like a time/space phrase, I have a certain feeling this will be a theme of Eternity----- "the good things to come"!

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to always realize you never run out of, "the good things to come."  Amen.

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* Please remember to pray for our mission to Berlin/East Europe, March 25 to April 25

* Prophetic Praying news @:    http://www.apf327.blogspot.com

      

 

When in 1910, Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, heard "the call to evangelize China, 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"

Our God Has, "A Body"

"Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me'....He takes away the first that He may establish the second." (From Hebrews 10)

"A body You have prepared for Me."  This is the greatest problem for humanity, "a body."  Men prefer a god without, "a body."  As long as God stays, "to the unknown god," He is relatively harmless.  We can make Him anything we wish, sort of like comfy pants; only put them on to relax and do nothing.

Jesus says differently.  Jesus quotes Isaiah earlier in the Epistle, "Here I am, and the children whom God has given Me."  This is God Incarnate, Father and Holy Spirit saying in the Son, Jesus Christ, "Here Am I."  The Nicene Creed declares, "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.  Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down...." 

This is different from world religions.  This, "a body," is not a statue, not some moon god who teaches that you cannot know him personally, or tells you that you can never be assured of the forgiveness of sin.  This is, "Behold the Lamb of God."  This is, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body...."  This is as John said, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  THIS IS THE TRUE GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me in, "This...True God and eternal life."  Amen.
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* Berlin/East Europe Mission, March 25 to April 25, 2011
*If you want stuff few others will print, 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

A Testimony to God's "Yet"

"You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance." (Psalm 66:11, 12- ESV)

There is a, "You brought," and a, "You let," in our text.  It is rather a theological nightmare for people who want God to be "consistent" to read of the fact that He some times "brings," and some times "allows."  Ah, then there is the, "through fire and through water," of life.  If you are a human being who has lived very many years at all, you know of such journeys, some more painful than others, some seem as though they will never end.  Yet, here we are.

I was in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in September of 1985, having been invited to attend the 100th anniversary of the Czech Baptist Church.  I had just come from Morocco where I had spent a week with one of our missionaries, and had the chance to spend some great time with three young men, Arab Believers who were former Muslims.  I still pray for them.  I had become very sick, lost weight, couldn't eat, and hardly slept for several days due to an air traffic controllers' strike in France.  At any rate, here I was now in Prague.  The President of the Baptist Church asked me to share some greetings with the 1500+ participants gathered.  He also asked a man with Open Doors to share, but he had declined because he was involved with Bible "smuggling," as I was; so, he decided to share a song instead.  Even though I knew there were "secret police" in the meeting, I felt strongly that the Lord Jesus would have me to speak.  Physically I felt very weak, I just wanted to sleep and feel better.  But when they introduced me and I started to get up, at that moment I felt a physical surge of strength in my body.  I shared for less than five minutes, bringing greetings from the Church in the United States of America and Morocco, telling them of the love and prayers for them of many Believers in America.  I don't remember much more, but I do remember my last words.  "Jesus Christ lives; Jesus Christ reigns; Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ."  The gathering erupted in praise and applause and came to their feet, giving glory to the King of Nations.  With communists, police, and government officials scattered throughout the audience, I bore witness to King Jesus and His Kingdom.  I thought, No matter what happens, this is worth it.  I shall never forget that moment.  In weakness, I was made strong.  Jesus, "brought [me] out to a place of abundance"!!

Over 25 years have come and gone, and I went on to more and more Bible smuggling, teaching in an underground seminary program, took Bibles into Iran, and many more forays into "enemy territory."  In my life time, I have been in, "the net;" I have had the, "crushing burden on [my] back[];" He has, "let men ride over [my] head;" I have been, "through fire and through water; yet...."-- Oh, the blessed, "yet," of The Living Triune God.  My dear Fellow Believer in Jesus Christ, if you are in the, "net," if there is, "a crushing burden on [your] back[]," if you are in, "fire," and, "water"------------ God's, "yet," is awaiting you.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You beyond words for Your faithful, "yet."  Amen.
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Two New Great Articles 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