There Are Spectators and Then There Are Performers

"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.'" (1 Kings 18:21)

The difference between people who must see to believe and those who believe and then see is that the former are just spectators in life, the latter are the risk- takers, performers.  This is true especially when it comes to entrepreneurship.  The evil of communism and socialism and leftist political science is that while risk-takers provide the money in a culture, others want somebody to take it from the risk-takers and give it to the spectators.  Whether you work for a small company or large corporation, go back far enough, somebody took a risk--------
and you now have a job.  And, this applies no less to the People of God.

What a sad picture of the Covenant People in our text.  Elijah demanded that they declare publicly who was their Lord and King-------- they gave no answer.  They were thinking something to the effect, "Well, we know all of that stuff our fathers have passed on to us about, creation, the Ark, Abraham, the Passover and Deliverance from the Egyptians, but, well, it sometimes just seems too fantastic to really believe."  And then there was Elijah, of whom the Bible says, "....was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not....for three years and six months."!  Elijah was one of those risk-takers in life, alone on that mountain top when no one else believed, when no one else could see the Glory of the Living Triune God.  He was such a man of faith that he did something which made absolutely no sense; He had them pour gallons and gallons of water on the altar before he set fire to it.  Now someone may say, "Hold on there; Elijah didn't set the fire, God did."  But, would God have done it if a man of faith had not taken the "risk" and asked for it?  The title in my Bible of 1 Kings 18:20-40 is, "Elijah's Mount Carmel Victory."  Now to the giddy religious person, this is an affront; Biblical Theology, however, affirms this.  Nothing was "happening" on that mountain until Elijah put his faith "on the line."  It was that risk of faith which released in the people, "The LORD, He is the God; the LORD, He is the God." 

I say this today from the bottom of my heart: The only response I desire from my witness to Jesus Christ is, "The LORD Jesus Christ, He is the God; The LORD Jesus Christ, He is The God."

Father, in Jesus' Name, too many times I have been a spectator in life.  I want to be a risk-taker, which brings forth, "The Living Triune God, revealed solely in Jesus Christ------------------------------ HE IS THE GOD."  Amen.

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Veil Is Taken Away In Christ"

"But their minds were blinded.  For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ." 
(2 Corinthians 3:14)

Here is the "secret," the answer to the world's darkness, "the veil is taken away in Christ."  Many are so very frustrated about relatives, friends, coworkers, etc., who look at them with glassy eyes when they hear of Jesus Christ and one's faith.  But they can look at them in no other way, "because the veil is taken away (only) in Christ."

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is, "foolishness," and a, "stumbling block," to the, "wise."  Now some might say, "Oh, no.  It's the, "preaching of the cross."  Really?  There were a lot of crosses in the ancient world.  Some may have written about justice or sympathy, but only one was, "foolishness," and a, "stumbling block," the Cross of Jesus.  "No man has seen God at any time," and the Creeds reveal that the Father is not the problem.  Neither has any man seen the Holy Spirit, "at any time," so we can say that the Holy Spirit is not the problem.  But, thousands upon thousands have seen Jesus; "over five hundred," were eye witnesses of His Resurrection.  You see a god which cannot be seen can be anyone or anything.  God, "the only revealed God," Jesus Christ, is He to Whom John bears witness, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life..."  For most of the, "wise," of the world, this is just too "up close and personal."

Paul declares, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God 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."  As our text declares, the vast majority of Jews, "until this day," still cannot understand the Old Covenant because they have rejected Jesus Christ and the reality of which Paul speaks.  So too with the world and any church-goer who insists on something "new," who lives a life of dependency on anything or anyone other than Jesus Himself.  Remember, if the veil is lifted in our lives, it is only because it was, "taken away in Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me ever mindful that if I see anything of You, it is only, "because the veil is taken away in Christ."  Amen.

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Fragrance of Christ"

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.  And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

I had this literally manifest many years ago when I came into a room where people were praying for a demon possessed man.  When I walked in, he said, "See that?  When he walked, in, I smelled death."  That'll get your attention.  But immediately the Holy Spirit brought our text to mind.

"We are to God the fragrance of Christ...."  The Bible tells us that, "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us," and it is often said in the Old Covenant, when the sacrifice was offered it was, "a sweet aroma," to our Father.  Jesus Christ is our Sacrifice of, "a sweet aroma."  Sometimes I look at my life and wonder, "Is this really what/who I am to Father?"  Our text affirms with a resound, "Yes."  Jesus Christ, living and reigning in me is, "the fragrance."  If it were I alone-------- well, what that must be to our Father.  "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere (ESV)."

The reality of our text leads me to do what Paul admonishes us in 2 Cor., "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!  Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you--- unless indeed you fail the test."  This is the, "test," of faith: "Jesus Christ is in you," reigning, leading, setting the "agenda" for the day, moment by moment.

Do not let the world's opinion of you determine your day, e.g., "See that?  When he walked in I smelled death."  Indeed they will, because the Bible says they will.  But look for those who say in their hearts at least, "See that?  When he/she walked in I 'smelled' life."  There, my friend, is either a Follower of Jesus, or one who is, "not far from the Kingdom."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't even want to imagine what fragrance follows me apart from You.  But help me today to experience, "the fragrance of Christ," in Your People.  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

"To...All the Kingdoms of the World...."

"For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: 'Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send you, to drink it...; and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth.'" (Jer. 25)

When I read our text earlier this month, I realized the scope of the call of Jesus Christ to the Church.  Jeremiah was not just sent to Israel, the Covenant People.  If you read the whole of chapter 25, you will see that the command to Jeremiah is the same as the Great Command of Jesus Christ to you and me, "all the kings of the north, far and near; and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth."  

Jeremiah was not sent only to Israel, and you and I are not sent only to the Church or our local municipalities.  Our Lord Jesus sends us to, "the nations" (Mt 28), to, "Go into all the world" (Mk 16), "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all the nations" (Lk 24), and to, "feed My lambs.... Tend My sheep....Feed My sheep," no geography is prioritized.  None of the foregoing is separate from, "all the kings...far and near; and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth."  One of the greatest hinderances to the fulfillment of this command is that most fivefold ministries work as isolated services.  This is not Biblical.  According to the Bible, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, rather than exclusive individualists, are called to be a synergism in the Church which manifests, "the salt of the earth," and, "the light of the world," far, far more powerfully than individuals.

I have been in over 20 countries in my life.  I have felt as though I was, "sent," and in that sending I never felt as though I was just fulfilling some "unique call."  I was one representative among many of the Church of Jesus Christ, serving Jesus Christ, "into all the world."  Now you may be sitting there and thinking, "What have I done; where have I gone; what is my commission?"--------------- the same.  Manifestations of our service to Jesus, His Church, His Kingdom and the nations will vary, but right there, right around you is a "starting" point.  Jesus is calling you and me with the same words found in Acts 13:47, "For so the Lord has charged us, saying, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles (Greek, ethnos, people groups) that you may bring [eternal] salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that you see no "separation of church and state" or anything, for that matter.  May my eyes be the same.  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

"Positive Aggressiveness"

"The law and the prophets were until John.  Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it." (Luke 16:16)

There are two kingdom principles which the Lord Jesus Christ is teaching us here.  First, He is not saying that the, "kingdom of God," message is a replacement of, "the law and the prophets."  Rather, "The law and the prophets," point us to, bring us to, "the kingdom of God."  Put another way, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is [now] at hand," a fulfillment of, "the law and the prophets."  The reality of the, "kingdom of God," is that, "the law and the prophets," reveal that kingdom before the first appearing of Jesus Christ.  Take off the "Sunday School" glasses and read the Bible again.  You will see that it speaks of the establishment of a family, out of which God established a Kingdom, a nation.  Modern Christendom speaks practically nothing of this.  Jesus is the King of, "the Kingdom of God," or, "The Kingdom of Heaven."  Just as in the "type" and "foreshadow" kingdom of the Old Testament, Christ's Kingdom has everything which is contingent in nations, governments of the world.  The difference is that there is eternal salvation in this Kingdom; we have, "all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him...."

Second, "everyone is pressing into it," i.e., "the kingdom of God."  Really?  I pray so for you and me.  The Greek word which is translated here, "pressing into it," is the same word used in the very familiar and oft quoted passage, "....the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."  The misconception which I have heard over the years is that somehow I can "force" my way into the things of God-- ridiculous.  According to The Greek Study Bible, the word means, "laying hold of something with positive aggressiveness."  Okay, now I can do that.  "Laying hold of" Jesus Christ and His Kingdom "with positive aggressiveness" is the call of the "God-Breathed" Word.  There is no greater call, no greater ambition, no greater "ministry."  If I fulfill this call of God, I will fulfill all other "calls."

"The Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ," is among us, is here.  History is headed toward the day when, "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." 

All we now do in our personal life, our corporate life is "preparing," is bringing us closer to, "That Day."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I can bring as many people as I can with me into Your Kingdom, into You------- before, "That Day."  Amen.

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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