"Call To Me"---- You Will Learn Some Things You Don't Know

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3, NASB)

Most have used this for a personal application from the "promise box."  The context, however, reveals that it is far beyond that.  It is a word to the prophet for the nation.  

Too many today in Christendom do not think nationally, let alone globally.  Yet the Bible is a national, global book.  People criticize the Medieval Church, but at least it realized that it was more than just a local organization to bless its members.  The Church up through the nineteenth century was a national-global-vision Church.  When modern evangelicalism became more powerful, it seems as though much of the Christian Community turned more to an individualistic gospel.  Now this is not an individual-verses-corporate-global dissertation.  It is a call for the Evangelical, Charismatic Church to realize the great promise of our text, "I will tell you great and mighty things you do not know"--------------------- concerning the nations.

Have you heard anything recently which are, "things you do not know"? 

This is not a call to itching ears for some "new thing."  It is a, "Call to Me," of our Lord Jesus Christ as in Revelation to, "hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  But it is not a call to only "hear what the Spirit says" for planning the next year's schedule for a local church.  It is a, "Call to Me," for the, "great and mighty things"----------- far beyond the local church.  

We Listen, read, watch news with the discernment of the Holy Spirit and the "God-Breathed" Word.  Otherwise we will be defiled with the prejudice and deception of an unregenerate press.  Listen, read, and watch with the promise of Jeremiah 33:2, 3-Amplified), "Thus says the LORD Who made [the earth], the Lord Who formed it to establish it-- the Lord is His name: Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand)."  I guess the implication is, "When you do, 'Call to Me,' then you will, "know (distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand)"  !!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I embrace Your command to, "Call to Me."  I pray that what I do with what you, "show," will be what You are doing in the earth. Amen.

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Read of "Christian Genocide in Somalia" 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 Salvation That Is Ready To Be Revealed"

Woody, "To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, (and throughout the earth) who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Pet. 1:1-5, NIV)

Now, if this does not bless your day, beware of what does.

There are phrases used in our text today which are quite familiar to the Redeemed.  The first is, "new birth;" the second is, "salvation."  The, "new birth," is a one time act, as was our physical birth.  The second, however, is a life time process.  "Salvation," became so colloquial and provincial over the decades that few really understand the breadth of the term.  To most, the phrase means that which is confined to the New Birth.  If it is, then our text becomes quite problematic.  But the word translated, "salvation," in our text is the same Greek word used to speak of, "so great a salvation," in Hebrews 2.  There is just never a moment in my life when, "the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time," is not continually being, "revealed," in this time.  

There is something in the phrase, "until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time," which inspires, encourages, and fills with anticipation all the Faithful Followers of Jesus Christ.  In the midst of human suffering, our text is a promise of unimaginable beauty.  Cynics scoff at such "by and by" theology.  Adieu, such people.  The sad reality is that much of the church community today embraces the cynical approach of relegating, "ready to be revealed," to nefarious, escapist theology.  

This morning I prayed from the Open Doors "Prayer Force" for August 18: "Ten [Christian] workers in Afghanistan were killed on their way back from giving medical care in a remote region of the country."  The grieving families are not finding solace in the cynic's theology.  Those who, "serve the Lord Christ," are finding comfort in the promise of, "the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."  And, fellow disciple, this includes you and me today.  We have, "so great a salvation," working in us today, in this moment, in the coming hours remaining in this 24 hour time span, the coming weeks, months, and years you and I may have.  "The Lord [Jesus Christ] Is my Light and my Salvation, whom (what) shall I fear.   

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for, "the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."  Amen.

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See two 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

"I Removed the Burden From Their Shoulders"

"When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph.  I heard an unknown voice say: 'I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket." (Psalm 81:5, 6-NIV) 

"God went out against Egypt," on behalf of His Covenant People.  In Psalm 83:12, I read of nations who said, "Let us take possession of the pasture lands of God."  Won't work.  "When God went out against Egypt," He was demonstrating a Kingdom Principle.  In Daniel we read that Heaven's Messenger said to the young prime minister, "Do you know why I have come to you?  Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia (modern Iran), and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.  No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince."

What we have here is the Declaration of, "the Great God and Savior," the, "King of kings, and Lord of lords," the very, "Word of God," Our Warrior /Shepherd/Savior/King Jesus, to the nations of humanity that no matter the Empire, Egypt, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, Byzantine, Ottoman, Russia, Germany, the United States of America, "I am He who, 'went out against Egypt,' and I have been going, 'out against,' all who attempt to usurp My Rule in the Earth."

As Bunyan described, you and I are Pilgrims in progress.  We are on a short journey here, a journey under the Reign of King Jesus.  We are a part of His Eternal Kingdom, now a Kingdom in war, but some day soon, "The kingdom of this world will become of our Lord and of His Christ" (literal translation).  It will all be over for evil empires, and the Dawn of Eternity will arise------- and you and I with Him.  Whatever you see around you today shrinks into insignificance in comparison with, "In Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it," literally, "seize tight hold of, arrest, catch, capture appropriate, overtake"----------- and never will.  Jesus reigns!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I rejoice today with my fellow pilgrim.  Amen.
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Please pray, as the Holy Spirit leads you, for the son of a friend in Romania

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

"He Will Baptize You In the Holy Spirit---- His Winnowing Fan"

"John answered, saying, 'I indeed baptized you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.'" (Luke 3:16, 17)

I read an article this morning about a woman who was sterilize under the eugenic laws in North Carolina, laws which were in effect from 1929 to 1974.  It was like reading something out of Germany in the 1930's.  I knew about this years ago from the Nuremberg Trials transcripts (yes, I have indeed read some of them).  In a historic- novel film of the early 1960's, one of the defending jurists referred to such laws in the US to show that Germany did not invent such barbarity.  While this film is referred to as "a fictionalized version of the trials," much of it is based on actual facts and personages.

Man today keeps looking for good people and bad people.  He has to do this so that he can excuse and justify himself in his denial of the Preeminence and Supremacy of Jesus Christ, "the (only) way, the (only) truth, and the (only) life."  He just will not accept, "There is none righteous, no, not one."  Listen particularly to the religious and political so-call "left," their constant agitating of class warfare and people group warfare in our own nation as well as the nations of the world.  It is all motivated by the need to find blame for the chaos of the human condition and perhaps worse, self justification.  Our Gospel reading for today reveals just how Jesus will deal with all of this; it is a "side" of Jesus which most never mention or discuss. 

During the Charismatic Renewal of the mid twentieth century, the first part of our text was widely used in meetings.  Verse 17, however, was very rarely, if at all, mentioned, typical of religionists (in the pulpit and the pew!).  The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for relationship in the Blessed Trinity, to equip us to, "disciple the nations," to pray the will of God, to do, "works of service."  But by the "wind" of the Holy Spirit, our Lord Jesus will also, "thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."  I embrace this gift of the Holy Spirit.

Father, in Jesus' Name, my consolation today is what Peter said, "the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation."  Amen.
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www.apf327.blogspot.com

"Looking unto Jesus"

"Then I Said, 'Here I Am'" (Jesus)

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered?  For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are and annual reminder of sins.  It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  Therefore when Christ came into the world, he said:  'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. Then I said,' "Here I am...."'"  (Hebrews 10:1-7a, NIV)

Some people think that going to church services Sunday after Sunday, "year after year," can, "make perfect those who draw near to worship," and remove the guilt of sin; it can't.  Only Jesus Christ can do that.  In contrast to man's, "Here I am," Jesus said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will'" (v.9).  Only Jesus Christ can, "....do [Father's] will."  I cannot.  The only way I can, "do Your will," is to live in Jesus Christ and He in me. 

The world's religions offer no, "once for all."  They only offer, "year after year."  The beauty of, "the faith of Jesus," is Jesus Himself, "Then I said, 'Here I am--- it is written about Me in the scroll-- I have come to do Your will....'"  Jesus came, "to do," for me so that I can stop trying, "to do," for myself.  He "did" the judgment for our sin, and the, "make perfect," for all who surrender their lives to Him.  The theme of the human race is, "Then I said, 'Here I am"------------ alone, trying to appease, trying to be good, maybe even "holy," alone, searching for answers, that awful searching but never finding.  That all ends in Him Who Is, "I AM THAT I AM....and...Here I am...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You Are, "Here I Am."  Amen.

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New Insightful Article 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