"We Ate And Drank In Your Presence"-- So, Why?

"We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets." (Luke 13:26)

This time through Luke, I have been trying more to measure myself by its content. Our text is a shocked response to the judgment of, "the Master of the house," upon His return.  What the people were saying could perhaps be interpreted as, "You were in our meetings and things seemed to be going so well, everybody caught up in worship, church growing, my business and family doing so well-------- 'in Your presence.'  What could possibly have gone wrong?"  

Earlier in the chapter is the account of those who witnessed or heard of political and natural disaster and thought it was judgment on those, "worse," than they.  "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish," was Jesus' response.  Jesus then gave a parable of, "a certain man," continually waiting for fruit from, "his vineyard," and when after years of fruitlessness he commanded , "the keeper," to, "cut it down."  The response of, "the keeper," was, "let it alone this year also, until," in essence, "I give it another chance.  "And if it bears fruit, well.  But if not, after that you can cut it down."  

There is a version of American Christianity which is on some sort of "book tour," an attempt to promote a new kind of Christianity, a religion of no- consequence-to-sin/disobedience.  Father and Son have been watching this and (could we dare say such theological heresy) are "pondering" what to do with this particular fruitless vine.  This should not cause the doubt of our salvation---------- just the rejection of "presumptuous" salvation.     

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for keeping a close watch over Your Vineyard.  Amen.

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See Canada Standing Up To Obama 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

The Gospels-- The Forgotten Books?

"Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops." (Luke 12:3)

Jesus is warning against the duplicity of behavior which is a plague of humanity.  And of one thing we can be sure, "The dark," and the, "inner rooms," of life, "will be proclaimed on the housetops"--- somewhere------- sometime.  

People don't like to hear too much from the Gospels because our Lord Jesus puts too much emphasis on works, and works demand so much more of me than....  Of course the Bible declares, "we are saved through faith," and, one could say, kept through faith.  And while "Justification through faith" is central to the Gospels also, Jesus teaches us that life in the Kingdom is only for, "not everyone who says.., but he who does...."  This is Biblical faith.  The saying, "Talk is cheap" is certainly true if the talk is not synonymous with the doing.  So much glowing talk of the Bible, prayer, "Love thy neighbor", etc.  But the battleground of life is not there; it is, "in the dark...in inner rooms."

The blessing, external or internal, is not to those who talk, but to those who do.  If I do not "do" love to the checkout clerk as I do to my friends in Eastern Europe, "I have become sounding brass, or a clanging symbol";  I am just a show where show works.  But religious show in the meetings does not work in the world, the world into which our Lord Jesus sends us to, "make disciples."  It is there that the "fruits" carry equal weight with the "gifts."

One chapter per day in the Gospels takes me through the Gospels every three months.  The only way I can live the Words of Jesus Christ is to know the Words of Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I am still so thankful for the day You spoke to my heart, "You say nice things about Me and I appreciate that; but tell people what I said."  I pray I always do that.  Amen.

* DC Prayer Mission, June 15

* New Articles @:  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

"Lord, Teach Us to Pray"

"Lord, teach us to pray...." (Luke 11:1)

Our text is perhaps one of the most quoted Biblical references in evangelical Christianity.  Yet how many of us really do what our Lord Jesus commands, yes, commands.  The Words of Jesus are not suggestions, yes, they are invitations, but to the disciple they are more than that.  They command us that if we want to "succeed" as a Follower of Jesus Christ, this is what we must do.  So I took that command today and did our text.  Here is every definition I could find for the words in our text:

"Ask"-- "I ask, request, beg, petition, demand.

"Seek"--"I seek, search for, desire, require, demand."

"Knock"-- I knock, beat a door with a stick, to gain admittance."

If you have never prayed this way, I recommend a start today.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have been far too passive in my communion with You.  Thank You for commanding a different "approach."  Amen.

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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

Repetition Is For Those Who Really Want Truth

"In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.  THERE I WILL ENTER INTO JUDGEMENT AGAINST THEM CONCERNING MY INHERITANCE, MY PEOPLE ISRAEL, FOR THEY SCATTERED MY PEOPLE AMONG THE NATIONS AND DIVIDED MY LAND."

(Joel 3:1, 2-- NIV)

I have just watched and listened to Prime Minister Netanyahu speak to the US Congress.  It was an answer to prayer.  I have never heard any Israeli PM in my life time speak with such clarity and boldness.  Perhaps one of the greatest statements he uttered was that Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria was not that of a foreign occupier.  Now understand this, my friend.  This will change absolutely nothing with the Arabs and Jew haters around the world, including those in the US Government.  But Netanyahu's speech was the closest thing to a "prophetic" speech ever spoken by an Israeli Prime Minister.  It is the world hatred of the Jews, and make absolutely no mistake about this, it is not the State of Israel which is the problem, it is the existence of what the world sees as the number one global pariah, the Jew, which is the problem, and it is this hatred, which knows no rational thought, that will continue to drive the Middle East conundrum and, yes, the global march to Armageddon.

You will note that I capitalized some of our text, and some say that to capitalize is to shout.  Well, I am SHOUTING.  Our text, which is just religious cliche to far too many people, is what is now being shouting from the precipice of Heaven.  It is a shout which is a warning to the nations, no matter how large or how small, how self confident or struggling, it does not matter.  The Word, Jesus Christ, and His Words which are, "forever settled in Heaven," does not change with the centuries or the rise of democracy or super powers or people's emotions.  I sense a real "gathering storm" over the earth, and only those who live in, "the fear of the Lord Jesus Christ," will emerge from this storm victorious.  

Victory is only promised to those who are absolutely surrendered to Him Who is called, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ, to those who are absolutely surrendered to His Written Words, the Bible.  If you are not in this camp, you are of the condemned.  If you are in this camp, you are of the justified, the delivered, the redeemed, the victorious!

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You today for an answered prayer.  Amen.

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New Article about PM's Speech 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

What Have You, "Come To"?

"You have not come to...darkness, gloom and storm....You have come to...Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood...."  (From Hebrews 12:18 &24, NIV)

In other words, You have come to My world out of yours.  Mine is much better, isn't it?  Before we surrendered to Jesus Christ, "darkness, gloom and storm," was the description of our lives.  Then we responded to the great Invitation, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door," and Jesus, Who claims, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life," came in to, "dine with him and he with Me."  The old song became our song,

"I saw the light, I saw the light 

no more in darkness, no more at night."    

Yet , "darkness, gloom and storm," can still arise at any time.  The reason we have days when, "darkness, gloom and storm," come, is that we have reverted to our old world.  It is a battle of the Follower of Jesus which the enemy wages every day, not just once in a while, and victory depends on what, "you have come to."  If I resort to the list following, "you have not come to," defeat is surely mine.  If my continual resort is what follows, "you have come to," I experience the power and comfort of, "Mount Zion,..the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God,..angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven," and, of course the focal point of all, "to [the Living Triune] God."

Later on there is a, "See to it."  This is the call to you and me every day, "See to it."  If we do, the day will be full of overcoming power and victory----- no matter what the day hands us. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I come to You--- out of mine.  Amen.

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Netanyahu to speak to AIPAC tonight

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