"The King...Invisible"

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15)

King Jesus is, "Eternal, immortal, invisible,..alone...wise."  He does and will have, "honor and glory forever and ever."  This great "worship session" came just after Paul said, "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."  If he is, "chief," what does that make me (rhetorical)?  No matter; "Jesus Christ came...to save sinners."  We're all included in this, "so great a salvation."

We may think we understand the, "Eternal, immortal," but do we appreciate, "....The King... invisible"?  If Jesus were "visible," He would not be there with you and here with me at the same time.  John 16:7 tells us, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth.  It is to your advantage (for your good, expedient) that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper/Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you."  This time/space language is necessary for us time/space people.  Now, in the Holy Spirit, if we are walking in, trusting in, depending upon Jesus Christ, the Living Triune God is there with and in you and here, with and in me.  It is necessary for the Church; it is necessary for the world; it is necessary for you and me that, "the King eternal, immortal," be, "invisible."  Now do not let some of those "presence" people make you think they have a corner on "presence."  The Presence of the Living God is not dependent on location, on "anointing," on spirituality, on "He-is-here-because-we-are-better."  Right now, no matter where you may be reading this, or here as I write, Jesus Is.  You there, me here may feed on His Presence, Who Alone is, "the Bread of the Presence"------------ "The King...invisible."       

I am feasting right now; are you?  You may and can because of, "the Helper/Comforter," His Blessed Majesty, the Holy Spirit.  In a car?  in an office?  in a kitchen?  in the midst of confusion, bewilderment, conflict?--  no matter.  Rest assured; Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit is in that situation, that place with and in you, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If a man loves me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with (literally, 'in the presence of') him."  Do you see, "....We will...make our home in the presence of him"?!?  That includes you and me, my friend.  For you and me right now, in the midst of whatever, is, "The Bread of His Presence," Jesus Christ.  The Blessed Trinity loves us, Father in Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit is reassuring us today of the greatest Truth in the Universe, "We...make Our home in the presence of," all who follow and trust Him.

Father, in Jesus' Name, what more can I say?  "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen."
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*The truth about so many in modern American Culture: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com
*Please pray for me this coming Saturday, January 19 as I go to Washington, DC

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

"Faithful"

"Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]....May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and showing] the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ and in waiting for His return." (2 Thessalonians 3:3 & 5, Amplified Bible)

Our text speaks of, "....The Lord is faithful,...the love of God and...the steadfastness and patience of Christ...."  To think on these "attributes will give great comfort and peace in any situation.  But I just want to focus now on, "Yet the Lord is faithful....

" Faithfulness," is written throughout the Scriptures.  "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God....You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness....Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.... Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator....Yet if we are faithless He always remains faithful.  He cannot deny His own nature....Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He Who sat on him was called Faithful and True...."  What a marvelous, awe-inspiring sight for John, Jesus, Lamb of God on, "a white horse," judging and making war, and in all His doings, "Faithful and True."  History, global and personal, testifies to this.

No matter what language theologians use, no matter what one may say in worship, no matter the myriad of attempts of humanity to describe the Living Triune God, the One of Whom Moses declared, "You shall not be terrified of them (the enemy); for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you", This G0d, Who Alone Is God, well, my friend, I can only say with David, "His greatness is unsearchable." 

I posted on Facebook a version of the hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy."  The words of that great hymn lead me in worship as no other can.  It was an attempt to declare, "His greatness is unsearchable," and so His faithfulness, His love, His forgiveness.  I cannot think of anything more to say about Our Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit than what Paul declared to the Romans, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out."

Father, in Jesus' Name, my understanding, comprehension, ability to speak of You and yes, even to You is so frighteningly limited.  Thank You that Your Faithfulness overcomes all that.  Amen.
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Schedule:
    January 19:                   Irritant to the anti-Israel-anti-Semitic rally in DC, 16:00-18:30.  They are having a                                                 candlelight march to the White House
    February 13 or 14:       Waiting to receive confirmation for the date of the Indian Affairs Committe to                                                                     schedule the mission which will include a visit to the Holocaust Museum.  If you                                                                 would like to go, let me know.
    March 26-April 6:       Mission to NK.  I will be asking for any who would like to participate in a 24/7 prayer
                                            vigil during this time.        

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

"It's Only Weird If It Doesn't Work"

"Truly God is good to Israel....But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled....Whom have I in heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You."  (Psalm 73)

As I was reading our text this morning, all of a sudden a wave of attack came at me.  "What are you doing here that is of any consequence?  You are sitting in the comfort of your home, writing a little devotional and not knowing who all may be reading it.  You pray from here for the nations, but what good is it really doing?  You are living like some cloistered monk.  You should be out there engaging people, doing something which others value, not some eccentric, weird religious stuff.  The people who are really doing something are the ones Christians affirm, are successful, worthy of support."  Then, on an online station came one of the greatest hymns of all time, "Fairest Lord Jesus."  My love for Him overwhelmed me, tears, worship, thanksgiving, such appreciation.  Isn't it amazing what a little focus on Jesus will do?!?!  Some may have seen that beer commercial where the guys turn the labels on the bottles toward the football field to help their team make a key play.  The scene ends with the words, "It's only weird if it doesn't work."  Well, when this barrage came at me I just turned the Bible toward the Enemy, and the latter part of our text burst forth, "And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You." 

There is always going to come to us a, "but as for me."  What do you do in that hour, doubt your call, your salvation, or are you going to do what the psalmist records in verse 17, "----Until I went into the sanctuary of God"?  It is in Jesus Christ and only in Jesus Christ, Who is our Sanctuary, where the conflict is won.  Jesus won that battle in His Blood and Cross and Resurrection and Ascension and Soon Return.  These "events" are all in the Eternal realm, not just the time/space world in which we so limit ourselves and to which we too often look.  Life is a battle between these two realms.  Defeat is in one, victory in the other, "Whom have I in Heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire but You." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your constant "response," Your "touch," which is really all I need.  Amen.

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January 25:                Washington, DC

February 13 or 14:     Washington, DC, Prayer and Holocaust Museum.  If you will participate, let me                                           know--12 people maximum
March 26-April 6:     N. K. Mission
November:                 Berlin, Jerusalem   

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