"On This [Day]...Keep Vigil to Honor the LORD" Jesus Christ

"Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:42, NIV)

Yes, this is referring to the Passover night.  But the exact words can be used for the day of Jesus' six hours on a cross, a day to remember and, "to keep vigil to honor the Lord Jesus Christ for the generations to come."  

"Alas, and did my Savior bleed, 

and did my Sovereign die?  

Would He devote that sacred Head 

for such a worm as I?

"Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine-- 

and bathed in its own blood--

While the firm mark of wrath divine,

His Soul in anguish stood.

"Was it for crimes that I had done

He groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity! grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

"Well might the sun in darkness hide

And shut his glories in,

When Christ, the mighty Maker died,

For man the creature's sin.

"Thus might I hide my blushing face

While His dear cross appears,

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,

And melt my eyes to tears.

"But drops of grief can ne're repay

The debt of love I owe:

Here, Lord, I give my self away

'Tis all that I can do.

"At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away,

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day!"

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

Most Alarming Developments

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void...." (Isaiah 55:11a)

Some may think I have been "crying, 'Wolf'" too long, but some of the reports coming out of the Middle East are the most alarming in Israel's modern history.  One report which we have placed at:  www.apf327.blogspot.com  

reveals that Egypt and Iran have "exchanged ambassadors," the first time since the Shah of Iran took asylum in Egypt and the subsequent break in Iranian-Egyptian diplomatic relations.  The other at:   www.apfjw.blogspot.com    reveals the dogged effort of the Arabs living on Israeli Land to "unilaterally" declare an independent Arab state and seize "East" Jerusalem as its capitol.  

Furthermore, and just as predicted, the so called "revolutions" in the Middle East, which Barak Obama recently in a Passover seder compared to Israel's Deliverance from Egypt!, are revealing, not "democratic" revolutions, but the continuing march of Islam to world domination.  More and more politicians around the world, including the US, are predicting that the Arabs occupying Israeli Land ("Palestinians") will declare statehood with the approval of the United Nations and most of the world governments.  The Arab Islamists, in the Middle East and Africa particularly, believe they have a friend in the White House.  This has embolden them to do what we have not seen from Islam in centuries.

Okay, what is our position?  Pray and declare, "the words of God."  We can demonstrate, march, petition, vote, but there is a spirit loose in the earth today which will not respond to such "noble" efforts.  I have wondered why on this particular mission the Lord Jesus has led me to daily send the, "words of God," all over Berlin----"....MY WORD...SHALL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT." 

Last evening we were again with the African Congregation with whom we worked when we lived here in '98-'99.  The "sense" of the Presence was powerful.  They are a praying people, I mean praying.  Their prayer meetings are unlike anything we have in the US.  This is no criticism.  This is a call to the Church in America to, as the hymn says, "Work For the Night is Coming."

Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me health and strength to "work."  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

No Man or Nation Can Go One on One Against God----- And Win

"And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded them....Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them."  (Exodus 7:6, 22)

This has been going on since the Fall.  God sends His People to do His will; Satan sends his people to do his.  Sometimes it looks like Satan is winning, sometimes maybe a tie.  This is very dangerous roulette, and America has been playing it for quite a while.  

There is a most disturbing article in the Las Angeles Times today which I have posted to: www.apf327.blogspot.com  ; It speaks of the growing impatient of the EU, UN, Russia, and the United States of America (the "Quartet") with Israel.  The indication is that the Quartet is growing closer and closer to "endorsing a Palestinian (really Arab) State based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capitol."  This is Obama and Clinton at their despicable worst, blatantly opposing the, "words of God," blatantly imposing their will against the will, the revealed purpose of "The Eternal One" (notice Hillary's quote on America's "leadership").  So far in its brief 235 year history, America has always found a way to come out on top, whether humble or not, whether embracing the Bible and prayer of Jesus in the schools or not------------------------ so far.

Gamaliel told his colleagues to be extremely careful, "lest you even be found to fight against God."  At least four times in the early chapters of Exodus we read, "and the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments."  It looked as though the conflict was going to end in at least a stalemate.  Throughout history, the world governments have done the same, "did so with their enchantments," and, it seemed as though the kingdoms of darkness were matching God one to one.  But just as with Pharaoh, who met his defeat and end in his battle against God, so too have men and nations.  The day always comes in human history when someone may realize, as did Pharaoh's religionists, "This is the finger of God," albeit, for most it has always been too late.  What about America?  What about your nation?  

Father, in Jesus' Name, Oh, for grace to always see, "This is the finger of God."  Amen.

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

Rejoice in Passover-- The Egyptians Are Still Here

"Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are.  And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12:13)

Tomorrow evening at sunset is the "start" of Passover, although tonight begins the search for chometz.  What really matters, however, is that because of Our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, all of humanity can experience a "pass over."  My sins are under the Blood of Jesus Christ, and the same protection from the death angel which the Hebrews experienced in Egypt, you and I may now enjoy, under the Blood of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." 

The Reformation brought this reality to Europe and eventually the Americas and the world, complete salvation by faith and trust in, and obedience to Jesus Christ, the Blood Covenant of the Word of God Himself.  We are now in the land of The Reformation.  Yes, there were reformers throughout Church History, viz., Wycliffe, Hus, et al.  But it was here the gauntlet was laid.  Sarah and I hope to be able to go to Wittenburg this coming Saturday.  A pastor here really encouraged us to do it.  With all our travels in Europe over the years, we never made it there.  It is a "sacred" place.  It was there that Luther preached his response to the Papal Bull to, among other things, recant the 95 thesis.  Luther refused of course, and he responded at Worms, Germany, in a trial, 

"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the 

Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust 

either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is 

well known that they have often erred and 

contradicted themselves), I am bound by the 

Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive

to the Word of God.  I cannot and will not recant 

anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against

conscience.  May God help me.  Amen."    

I still come back to one of the great incongruity of German culture and history perhaps best expressed by William Shirer, Author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich:  "How did it happen, that an ancient and cultured people, steeped in Christianity, cultivating the arts and sciences, preeminent in modern technology, who gave us Luther and Kant, Bach and Beethoven, Goethe and Einstein, collapse into savage barbarism in the mid twentieth century?"  This is one of the great questions of history.  The answers can be quite "spiritual" and academic, but to me, the events which occurred on German soil within my life time, and with such a people as Shirer described, I take as a warning to America particularly------------- "and may God have mercy on our soul."  Amen.

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* Photo: Woody at the Wansee ("Final Solution") House