"Go On, Woody!" (Please Excuse a Very Personal Illustration)

"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?  The LORD is for me among those who help me...." (Psalm 118:6, 7a)

And may we never forget, "among those who help me."  As I was reading our text today, I thought of a personal experience which was for me a great illustration of our text.  When we moved from Somerset to Johnstown in the summer of 1956, I was about to enter the eighth grade.  That early September, I entered the locker room of Cochran Jr. High School to join the football team.  I didn't know any of the other guys.  The head coach, Rudy Shingler, became a great influence and friend in my life.  (Tragically, Coach Shingler died a year later of a heart attack; it was the biggest shock of my life to that point.)  During the middle of the season we were playing one of our cross-town rivals.  Our quarterback was injured and could not run very well, so coach Shingler devised a play which switched me from halfback to quarterback; in football terms it's called a "student body left" play; basically everyone on the team, including the other backs would lead the way blocking.  We were just a few minutes into the game at a packed stadium when Coach called that play.  It worked better than the chalk board version.  As I turned the corner with the goal line 80 yards away and was running down the sidelines, practically right on the chalk line, kids in the grandstands yelling, I ran right past Coach Shingler and heard him yell, "Go on Woody!"  That was the greatest cheer of the day.  There is just nothing like someone in authority, someone whom you admire and love telling you, "Go on, Woody!" 

Weary traveler, this is exactly the reality of our text today for you too.  "The LORD, Jesus Christ, is on my side (takes my part)....The LORD, Jesus Christ, is for (supports) me."  Metamorphically, Jesus Himself, right now is "standing on the sidelines" of life, dare I say it, yelling your name, "Go on___!"  Remember too, there are others pulling for you.  The Message paraphrase says, "Do you see what this means-- all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?  It means we'd better get on with it.  Strip down, start running-- and never quit!"  

In Jesus Christ we have the Great Coach, the, "Friend Who sticks closer than a brother," the One, "for me among those who help me," saying, "start running--- and never quit!"  If you have received Jesus Christ, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus, He lives in you, and from within, in the Holy Spirit, can you not hear Him?-------------------  "Go on______" 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I hear Your, "Go on, Woody" today.  How could I ever thank You enough?  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

"Whoever Is Wise Will...."

"Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD." (Psalm 107:43)

The wise "observe these things, and...will understand."  The NASB says the wise, "give heed to these things and consider (literally, "discern")."  Fools, on the other hand, "observe these things," they even may, "discern," them, but instead choose Evolution, Communism, Biblical Higher Criticism, New Age, and justification for all manner of disobedience over what they have observed---------------- and live in hopelessness and despair.

There have been for generations now, especially in America, even among Christians, those who deep down believe that all the smart people, "the wise," are the agnostics, the atheists, the humanists, CNN, MSNBC, BBC pundits, the ones who seem to be able to best express themselves.  Our text and the rest of the "God-Breathed" Word say otherwise.  Biblical intelligence is in the obedient ones, the ones who, "observe, consider, give heed to (obey) these things."  These intelligent ones have come to surrendered obedience to Jesus Christ, love Jesus Christ, are those whose lives are totally given to Jesus Christ, His Kingdom, and the Eternal Purpose of, "The Godhead."

Yesterday I had a most moving experience--- "Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep."  I wept.  To the fool, this is nonsense; to me, it was the very, "power of God," Himself.  The power, the absolute power of Jesus' Words, simple, short, direct.  "The Gospel is the power of God," because the Gospel is, "The Word of God," Himself, Jesus.  Now Fools also, "observe these things," the same things as you and I (Romans 1).  The difference?  You and I, "observe, consider, understand, give heed to (obey) these things."  

1. Open my eyes, that I may see 

glimpses of truth thou hast for me;

place in my hands the wonderful key 

that shall unclasp and set me free. 

2. Open my ears, that I may hear

voices of truth thou sendest clear; 

and while the wavenotes fall on my ear, 

everything false will disappear.

	 3.	Open my mouth, and let me bear  	gladly the warm truth everywhere;  	open my heart and let me prepare  	love with thy children thus to share.  	

		(Chorus after each verse):  Silently now I wait for thee,  	ready, my God, thy will to see.  	Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

  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

"Lazarus Is Dead....But I Go...."

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest thou this?" (John 11:25, 26-KJV)

Believe our text and the rest of our life will be victorious, full of peace, and we will always, "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."  We will be undefeatable.

The chapters of one of my Bibles have "titles."  As I was going through the Gospels this quarter, the John 11 title gripped me----- "The Death of Lazarus."  Now Christians love to say, "He went to be with the Lord," or, "She passed away."  All true, but when Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep," the disciples, "thought He was speaking about taking rest in sleep--------- Then said Jesus unto them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead.'"  Our Lord never denied reality or camouflaged the truth.  In the eternal realm, Lazarus was indeed sleeping; in this time/space world, however------ "Lazarus is dead."  This realization of life, the realization that someone close to us, "is dead," is the saddest moment in life.  And, the realization that unless we are alive, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels," it will be said of us some day, "_______ is dead." 

But rejoice, you who loves Jesus, "....but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep"!  What glory!  What release!  What peace!  What victory!  Someday, disciple, some day in time, this too will be the triumphant shout of our Lord Jesus Christ to the universe, yes, the Universe, the saints of old, those who, "are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord," to the Devil and his angels, every creature, "....BUT I GO, THAT I MAY AWAKE HIM (our son, Stephen, that child of yours, that parent) OUT OF SLEEP."

"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.  And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.  Even so, Amen."  But the, "Even so, Amen," for you and me will be: "Alleluia!  For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come..."  Sorry, but just one more time?----"BUT I GO, THAT I MAY AWAKE HIM OUT OF SLEEP."  Okay, I'm all right now.

Father, in Jesus' Name, such love, such power, such fresh liberation in Your Word.    

Thank You.  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

Of Pelicans, Owls, and Sparrows

"I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert.  I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop." (Psalm 102:6, 7)

I read an article by Billy Graham back in the 1960's.  He wrote of how he preached from our text in a London Crusade in the 1950's.  There was a very wealthy businessman in the meeting that night who gave his heart to Jesus.  Psalm 102:6 & 7 spoke to the heart of this very wealthy, yet very lonely man.  My Bible prefaces Psalm 102 with the words, "A Prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD."  If you have ever been in such a "place," this psalm is for you.  

Most religious people, especially those who consider themselves to be "mature," don't like to admit that such passages touch a sensitive place in their hearts.  It shows not only a vulnerability, but also a weakness, perhaps an immature sort of faithless existence.  But I can say honestly that there have been times in my life where this monthly reading described me.  It happened most vividly that lonely summer of 1970 after the passing of our son, Stephen.  "Wilderness....I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop."  A twenty-seven-year-old is not supposed to feel like this.  Life is still new, full of hope, dreams waiting to be fulfilled.  "Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble...."--------------- and He didn't.

Today, you may be feeling some of this, though no one around you knows.  "My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass."  Loneliness can do this.  Yet notice what brought deliverance to this struggling creature, "But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations.  You will arise and have mercy on Zion....So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your glory."  That, "pelican of the wilderness," that, "owl of the desert," that, "sparrow alone on the housetop," got out of himself by realizing he was a part of something much bigger than a lonely, "housetop." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that I don't have to go anywhere for Your Presence.  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

"....Your Eyes Shall...See"

"Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked." (Psalm 91:8)

As I sat alone in a room at the Leningrad Airport, awaiting police questioning, I was thankful for our text committed to memory.  Now I know there are many "words" in the life of one who Follows Jesus Christ which don't seem to be answered or fulfilled---------------------- yet.  But this one was.

Prior to our text for today, we read, "He is my refuge and fortress....He shall deliver you from the snare (trap) of the fowler (trapper)....Under His wings you shall take refuge....You shall not be afraid of"------ well, basically, anything.  I was not.  Yet my, "not...afraid of," was not of my own doing; I was not even cognizant of the Words.  The only thing they had to do with me was Jesus Christ and His Words in me.  And, just a few years later, in 1989, I witnessed, "the reward of the wicked," the destruction of that, "wicked Haman," communism.  As we keep our eyes open today, we just may discover other fulfilled words all around us.   

Every day you and I are in a world full of traps and trappers----- but we are also in a world of, "He Who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."  Now, as did the psalmist, "say of the Lord" Jesus Christ all of these Psalm 91 promises, say them until you believe them--- then you will keep saying them and living in them, whether you face, "the terror by night," or, "the arrow that flies by day," or, "the pestilence that walks in darkness," or, "the destruction that lays waste at noonday."  And because You and I are in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ in us, I can say assuredly to you, "a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you."   

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that too many times I overlook Your fulfilled Words in my daily life.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your fresh "breeze" as I read Your Words.  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