What Did I Receive From Today's Reading?---- Him

"I urge you in the sight of God,..and Christ Jesus Who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.  Amen." (1 Tim. 6:13-16; I deliberately left out italicized words)

God the Father is He Whom, "no man hath seen, nor can see...." (sorry Joe Smith).  God the Son Jesus, is, "the only Begotten (one-and-only) God," Who, "became flesh and dwelt among us," as, "the only Begotten (one-and-only) God," of the Godhead Whom men have seen-------- and will see again!  Our text declares that it was God the Son, Jesus, "Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession," openly, seen, testified to by history, "who 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" (3:16).  Let me be extremely, very clear here:  It is only Trinitarian Theology which separates Christianity and all, repeat, all religions of the world.  And, it is only Trinitarian Theology which separates, "the faith of Jesus," from all deceptive cults, claiming the Christian Faith as theirs.  Listen for it; read it;  judge by it, yes, judge.  If we don't, the great deception warned of in Sacred Writ will overtake us. 

These are God's, "words;...life to those who find them, and health (medicine) to all their flesh."  It is; He Is.  This was "just" from my quarterly, latter New Testament reading, waiting for me today.  "What did you get from that?"
What did I get?-------- Him.  That is all I read the Bible for.  If any "ideas," principles, etc., come, that's good.  But the Bible is not for you and me to receive great ideas, sermons/teaching, be a better parent, spouse.  The Bible has the same purpose as Peter said of our Lord Jesus Christ, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but make alive by the Spirit."

I leave you with a weekend blessing from Father, "to" Whom the Word of God, our Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit brought me today--- "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."  Jesus will, "....keep you.., present you...."  That is really all I need to know today.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for keeping me and presenting me; I cannot do that myself.  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

"The Fire...Ever...Burning"

"The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." (Leviticus 6:13, KJV)

I am in Leviticus, and this time I was once again struck by our text, "ever be burning." This was the theme verse of the great Unitas Fratrum (Unity of Brethren, Moravian) revival of the 18th Century, a movement which came out of the great English and Bohemian/Czech Reformers, John Wycliffe and Jan Hus.  If I understand Biblical Theology, the only key to revival is the, "fire... ever... burning."  The Moravians believed this, "fire," alone can bring, "repentance from dead works and...faith toward God," which is total surrender to Jesus Christ.  For them, "the fire...ever...burning," was "The Lord's Watch," 24/7 continuous prayer. 

I do not recall a true Biblical revival in my life time.  I was just a boy during the post war "Latter Rain" revival of the late 1940's, which most historians date from 1948 to 1952, and was an early participator in the "Charismatic Renewal," for me, circa 1964.  As far as I can tell, neither "revival" came about by, "the fire...ever...burning upon the altar...."  They came about by hunger.  The only problem with a "hunger" revival is, What happens when the hunger wears off?!?  Now one may ask, "How can hunger 'wear off?  With food, hunger only wears off when the previous meal wears off"------- Exactly.  What happened to the "Charismatic Renewal/Revival" particularly is that other things entered to satisfy that hunger.  People began to eat from another "tree," easy street to Heaven, no discipleship, anti-Kingdom preaching/teaching/books/mtgs.  

Maybe the word "transformation" is a better word than revival.  The word "transform" means "to change in form, appearance, or structure, to change in condition, nature, or character; convert, to change into another substance."   Revival thinking is usually confined to the church community.  Transformation, the nature of Biblical Revival, transforms communities and nations.  This is why I go to DC., Berlin, and Jerusalem, to be a "bearer" of, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven"-------- a transformation which will bring as many lost souls as "impossible," surrendered to Jesus Christ, into the Kingdom of Heaven before King Jesus, "shall... appear the second time." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, write, "the fires shall every be burning, " on my heart--------------- and Your Church.  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

"God...Has Shone in Our Hearts to Give the Light...Of Jesus Christ"

If You Want to be "Light" in the World, Get Ready for a Little Pounding

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us....For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us...."  (2 Corinthians 4:7, 17)

"....Our light affliction...is working for us"--------------------- not against us.

Things grow old and so do people, "our outward man is perishing."  Our car has over 111,000 miles on it and is showing age, but, hey, no payment, and it still runs well.  As for my, "outward man," no more two or three steps at a time, not that I couldn't, you understand; it's just if I want to breathe at the top, well............

This chapter is concise Biblical Theology.  It reminds us that these old, "earthen vessels," may be battered by the storms of life, but never, "crushed--forsaken--destroyed."  They are,  "delivered to death for Jesus' sake so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."  Yes, this speaks of persecution, but also the Bible Theological truth, "My strength is made perfect in weakness," or, "Our light affliction...is working for us...."

Twice in the chapter Paul says, "We do not lose heart," first, because, "we have received mercy;" secondly, "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."  And it is in the verse following where the Holy Spirit says to you and me, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...."  

My weary traveler, "Fix your eyes on Jesus," our, "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory....Do not look at the things which are seen, but the things which are unseen,..the things which are...eternal."  Then whatever the storm, "....the rain descended the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the Rock."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me today to live in the reality that my, "light affliction...is working for us."  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

Cartoon

"A CAIR-Approved Police Lineup After Any Islamist Terror Attack"

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

When They Find Out Who You Are

"But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians!'" (Acts 19:34)

The World Jewish Congress reported a few months ago that an Orthodox Jew was riding a bicycle in Antwerp and "was punched in the face....When he asked the attacker why he hit him, the assailant said, 'Because you're a Jew.'"     

This is also the reason the world hates you and me, simply because we are bearers of Father's Presence, Followers of Jesus Christ, Baptized in the Holy Spirit.  True, we may give them "other" reasons, viz., our own sin brought about by our disobedience, but fundamentally, it is just because of who we are, not what we do; never forget this.  

The Book of Acts records the "acts" of the First Century Church, growth, expansion to the, "uttermost parts."  But it also records the accompanying persecution--------------and believe me, when the Church expands, "invades" a culture, it is a certainty that persecution will follow.  You see, we have, as they say, "two strikes against us" as Followers of Jesus.  First, "the faith of Jesus," is not a replacement of "Judaism;" it is a fulfillment of Judaism, that ancient and very hated people group.  "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Later, Paul reveals the fulfillment of such sonship, "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.  Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule--- to the Israel of God" (Gal. 3:7, KJV; 6:15,16-NIV). 

Our Lord Jesus is very clear that it is only, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake," who are citizens of, "the kingdom of heaven."  Again, "....For righteousness sake," not for my, "sake" or any counterfeit righteousness of mankind.  It is persecution for the righteousness which is Jesus Christ alone.  When anyone is so persecuted, "theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"!!  As with Alexander of our text, when they find out who you are, they will cry out, "Great is Diana of the[..........]" 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I just pray they find out whose I am.  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

"For the Last Twelve Years, Harry Potter Has Been My Life"

"And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 11:16, NASB)

A teenaged girl said in an interview over the weekend at an event commemorating the deeply occulted Harry Potter series, "For the last twelve years, Harry Potter has been my life" (See another teenager's "my life" quote below).  Such a life style today is just further evidence of the need for a "power Gospel" in the Twenty-First Century.

"He used to say," means Jesus said it more than once, perhaps many, many times.  In our text, his fellow Followers of Jesus were challenging Peter concerning his visit to the house of a Roman soldier.  Peter's response was the powerful evidence and confirmation that those Gentiles were now genuine Covenant People, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.  And I remembered...."

"How He used to say,..but You will be baptized in the Holy Spirit," was a reminder then as it is today of an in-filling and indwelling which no one on the planet could ever know apart from Jesus Christ.  Maybe our Lord, "used to say," frequently something like this: "Never, ever forget that, I am going to send to you the promise of My Father,' and, 'you will be clothed with power from on High.'  Only then can you, 'be witnesses to Me.'  This will be your power for living, a power which knows no equal.  Some will marginalize the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, but only to their own delusion and ultimate demise.  My Gospel is, 'the power of God to save.'  Everything I have said to you, everything promised of, 'and greater works than these shall you do,' in short, power for living, will come only in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Over the centuries there will arise those who will do miracles, as did Pharaoh's priests, which seem to match stride for stride with the genuine miracles of the Holy Spirit.  But ultimately, as with those false prophets, 'their folly will be obvious to all.'"  But not you; As I have told you many times, "You will be Baptized in the Holy Spirit." 

Dwight Moody, one of the "patron saints" of the Fundamentalist movement of the last century, told R. A. Torrey, "Torrey, you have two sermons which you must preached everywhere you go, "Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible to Be the Word of God," and, "The Need for the Baptism in the Holy Ghost."  These sermons could never be needed more than today.  Which will it be for modern churchgoers today, "Harry Potter has been my life," or, "Jesus Christ has been my life?"  

Father, in Jesus' Name, if You, "used to say," whatever, may I continue to say and live the same.  Amen.

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New Articles at:     apf327.blogspot 

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