"Men of Goodwill"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14, KJV)

The Bible declares Jesus, "is our peace."  Any other "peace" is war disguised, deception, counterfeit "peace."

Open Doors' prayer point for today reads as follows:  "If the Muslim Brotherhood stays in control, Egypt is moving towards a future of suppression and intensified persecution of Christians.  Please ask God to expose the secret plans of the Muslim Brotherhood as a lot of people are being suppressed by the group."  I also ask Jesus to "expose secret plans" everywhere, to expose deception "peace," that man may see the One Who Himself, "is our Peace," Jesus Christ.  There is no, "good will toward men," who are liars, murderers, anti Christ.  The dictionary defines "goodwill" as "friendly disposition; benevolence; kindness." In commerce, "an intangible, salable asset arising from the reputation of a business and its relations with its customers distinct from the value of its stock and other tangible assets."  Perhaps the key phrase here is, "relations with its customers."  Could we say, "Peace on earth among those who have good "relations with...customers"?!?   

The KJV translation of our text is the version with which many of us grew up.  This always sounded to me when I was younger like a sort of unconditional, blanket blessing upon mankind, " goodwill toward men," all men, no matter who or what they are.  Later, as more and more translations became available, the reality appeared.  Yes, there are unconditional "graces" of God upon mankind.  The Bible also teaches, however, that you and I have responsibility, that the, "goodwill," spoken of is not God's, but mine.  The Amplified Bible says, "Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor]."  The NASB says, "....and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."  The whole of Scripture declares that God is only, "pleased," with, "men of goodwill."

Understand that the angels were not announcing a blanket of goodwill on the earth.  They were announcing, "....on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased," i.e., "men of good will."  I want to be found pleasing to Him, and my prayer for all during this Christmas Season is for more, "men of good will," in the earth.

Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me, "goodwill."  Amen.
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Read more about what is going on with the "Muslim Brotherhood" in Egypt:
www.jerusalemberlinwashington.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

Visit Our Facebook Page to "Meet The Harmonica Man"

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

This is a familiar Advent text.  The "main" emphasis of, "Savior," has been always, "for He will save His people from their sins," and, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."  This reality is fundamental, preeminent.  Yet, as you know, the word for "Savior" and "Salvation" mean salvation of the total life, literally, to "save, heal, preserve, rescue."  At this Christmas Season, a person like the man in the video below manifests a little at least of these characteristics.  He should be an inspiration to us all. 

Complaining is an open wound for some; the proud keep it to themselves, so as not to reveal their weaknesses.  Some people won't do much unless it is something "great" or praiseworthy, as in praise-to-me.  "Harmonic Man" reveals what desperation can do, yes, desperation.  All the surgeries, all the medicines, then, "Hey, enough of this; I'm going to give myself away."  I should be more like this.  I am in better physical shape than "Harmonica Man."  I am the same age as "Harmonica Man."  Yet I don't live in a motor home; I have not had nine heart operations, and do not take 15 different medicines.  What is my excuse?  What about you?

I call you and me to a "review" of our lives during this Christmas Season.  You and I are important, vitally important to Jesus Christ, otherwise He would not have died for you and me.  The angel told Joseph to name Him Jesus, which means, Savior.  He saves; He keeps.  There should be and is something of His saving "nature" in us.  There should be in me the heart of the Savior, the desire to save people, deliver people, preserve people, comfort people, encourage people.  This is the Jesus we see as He walked the Galilee.  The world should see Him in you and me as we walk our "Galilee."  Yes, as the Four Spiritual Laws says, He does have a plan for your life.  Are we realizing His Plan for us?
 
May this Christmas season see you and me fulfilling the call to, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men," yes, but something more.  "'Follow Me, and I will make you,' well, like Me."  Maybe He even makes people a little like "Harmonica Man." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to have something of "Harmonica Man" in me.  Amen.

A Great Prayer For You and Me and the Nations

"O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again!  You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; heal its breaches, for it is shaking.  You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion." (Psalm 60:1-3)

I prayed this fervently this morning.  This is what appears to be on the Earth.  The first five verses of this Psalm are a most powerful and appropriate prayer for the nations-------- and ourselves.

Some people believe that God does not "leave" people or nations.  But they don't get that from the Bible; read Ezekiel 9-11.  Now of course it is not a geographical "leaving," but what is just as alarming, it is an "approval" leaving, a leaving of fellowship, intimacy.  Now God does not do this because of Who He Is, but because of man's insistence on his own way, the offense of the Holy Spirit.

The great cry of David here is, "O, restore us."  Thank Him that restoration is possible.  "Heal its breaches, for it totters."  Again, the condition of Planet Earth--------- and so many people's lives, and a prayer of restoration and healing is still possible to the repentant, surrendered life to Jesus Christ. 

I thought of that great Land of a great People Group today, Germany.  Look at the last 100 years of its history, brutality, wars, concentration camps, the attempt of "The Final Solution of the Jewish Question."  Yes, they have seen great economic "restoration" over the decades, but spiritually they are little better than before the wars.  Look at the Arab world, a People Group which once produced some of the most powerful and influencial men in Church History, only to later embrace the lie of Islam centuries ago.  Tell me it is not, "cast off,..broken...down,..broken."  And what of America?

Today I prayed Psalm 60 for myself, America, Germany, the Arab Islamic World-------------- and Christendom.  Jesus Christ brought forgiveness, healing, deliverance, preservation, restoration, "in His Cross," and, "in His Blood."  Because of Jesus, you and I can and may pray very large today.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Oh, restore us again!...Heal...broken,..shaking," America, Germany, Middle East, Christendom, and anything in me of the same.  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

"Thou Hast Destroyed Thyself; But in Me is Thine Help"

"O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is from Me."  (Hosea 13:9)

From what I can understand of the Hebrew, this is one of those difficult passages to translate.  The KJV says, "O Israel, thou has destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."  The NASB says, "It is your destruction, O Israel, that you are against Me, against your help."  A consideration of history will reveal that when a people group is, "against Me, against your help," they, "destroyed thyself."  It was not God at all.  America is in grave danger.

A lot of people blame God for their lives.  But our text says there is another possibility; " thyself."  One of the most common complaints against God is, "Why didn't you stop me?" or, "You could have prevented that."  It's sort of like Cosby's take on Noah when God tells Noah, "You gotta take one of those hippos out and bring in another one."  Noah says, "What for?"  To which God replies, "Cause you got two males down there and you need to bring in a female." Noah responds, "I'm not bringin' nothing in; you change one of em."  God replies, "Come on, you know I don't work like that."  That is what so many of us need to hear daily, "....You know I don't work like that." 

The only way I can know how God "works" is in the Bible.  Reasoning any other way just leads to either hating God and rejecting God and/or creating a false religion which both deceives and sets people up for further disillusionment.  But notice, even though Israel's destruction was self imposed, God's response is, ".... but your help is from Me," or better, "in Me is thine help."  This is mercy: I blew it; God fixes it.  We destroy ourselves, and Father says, "Come to Me in Jesus and you will find in Me, 'thine help.'"  Now there will be "scars," there will be "fallout," but there will also be, "and you shall find rest for your souls."

Only a fool would confess to a life without mistakes, void of self destruction.  I am sure you are not a fool.  If you and I have experienced "destruction" in our lives, the call of Jesus is, " in Me is thine help....Come to Me."  This is where, "thine help," originates, coming to Jesus Christ.  I still see areas of my life in which I need help.  Yet maybe because they are so common to so many, or just through the quick sand of well-it-happens-to-most, I don't "take it to the Lord in prayer."  Do so today.  That destruction which we brought on ourselves need not defeat us today.  Please do not be as those whom I have heard say, "I'm mad at God."  No one ever arises victorious in that mentality.  Can you not hear the voice of Jesus saying to you today, "But in me is thine help"?

Father, in Jesus' Name, indeed, I have found, "in Me is thine help."  What splendid mercy and grace.  Amen.   

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

Worship's Gaze

"For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding."  (Psalm 47:7)

If I don't, "sing praises with understanding," that, "God is the King of all the earth," then I don't understand, "sing praises...."  Singing and praising without authority is just, well, singing and praising.  This is what is many times mistaken for "praise and worship."  But if my singing and praising is not under the Authority of the Word of God, it is just empty carbon dioxide rising from my body.  I'm sure I have done this.  The reason I suspect this to be true is that I have engaged in worship and singing which was just singing, and worship and singing which was under Jesus Christ and His Law-Word, and oh the difference.  One is just doing what everyone else is doing, participation, religion gone amuck; the other is, "to know Him is Life Eternal."

Our text is followed in verses 8 & 9 by the words, "God reigns over the nations; God sits on His Holy Throne.  The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham.  For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted."  This gives us the "focus" of worship, a focus which enables me to keep the perspective of the One I worship, the Eternal One, "God [Who] reigns over the nations; God [Who] sits on His Holy Throne," God Who gathers, "the princes of the people," God Who possess, "the shields of the earth," God who, "is greatly exalted." 

Have you ever noticed that when most people are in worship they look up.  I would suggest that when we worship we look in, as into the Word of God.  Just my opinion, mind you, but all worship should begin with the "God-Breathed" Word, otherwise the worship may very well be just us-breathed.
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, my worship without Your Word is my own.  I would rather have Yours.  Amen.
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You have noticed perhaps that I have not been posting many news, commentary articles lately.  Part of the reason is that I have realized more and more lately that nothing new is not only not being written, but not being done.  In my two month blitz through the Bible I have realized more and more just how up-to-date and news-revealing is the "God-Breathed" Word.

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