"Jesus Appeared To Them In A Dream"

"I know your works.  See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name."
(Revelation 3:8, from today's reading)

"March 8/ Iraq:  Please pray for the increased number of seekers and secret believers in Iraq.  Many report that Jesus appeared to them in a dream.  Many experience extraordinary signs and wonders." (From Open Doors Prayer Force)

So I guess for any who have thought God does not seem to be at work anymore should just look beyond what their natural eyes can see.  We all know at times the feeling of Elisha, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?"  Well, He is apparently still, "the Lord God of Elijah," in Iraq, still at work in the world.  You and I need to hear such testimonies, especially when it seems as though the miraculous is in the past.  It is not------------ because He is not.

Our text is an encouragement to a Church who was battling for its very existence.  This has been true of most of the Church throughout history.  In verse 10, Jesus says to this Church in Philadelphia, "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."  What a key word to those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," i.e., all who follow Jesus.  This is true in North Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, and, my friend right there in your country.  Our enemy is not, "flesh and blood," and neither is the Holy Spirit, the Indwelling Christ.  He is with and in me here, and with and in you there.  You and I right now have just as great a "Presence," I repeat, right now, as in any glorious meeting in any "glorious" church, convention, seminar, worship gathering, etc.  And what glorious Presence those faithful Followers of Jesus Christ are right now experiencing in Iraq.  Psalm 29:10 says, "The Lord Jesus Christ sat as King at the Flood; yes, The Lord Jesus Christ sits as King forever"-------- over America, over your country, and over Iraq, over, well, you know where!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for such great testimonies, and for Your continual daily miracles in my life.  Amen.
*****************
00:00-01:00 now filled

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

There Is Only One "Blessed" Nation

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)

Only those nations on the Planet who are submitted to Jesus Christ are, "Blessed."  Remember, "Blessed," means, "happy, to be envied."  I would not envy any nation whose God is not the Lord." 

America is loosing its, "Blessed is the nation," status; and how many other nations does this apply to?  A "new thing" occurred to me this morning.  If, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord," then only the People of Jesus Christ are a, "Blessed...nation;" and we are a nation.  I think it is something like, "Repent, for the Kingdom (the Government, the Rule) of Heaven is at hand."  "Kingdom," is a more ancient word for what developed into nation-states.  Now this "revelation" is not replacement theology.  This is, however, Biblical theology.  That God is doing, and has been doing "something" in Israel and with the Jews historically is unmistakable.  But the Jews and Israel do not have carte blanche when it comes to life behavior.  There are many a, "Woe," in the Bible for Jews and Israel when they insisted on disobedience, going their own way.  A caution to world Jewry and Israel: I would not push my "most favored nation" status.

But those of us who are American Citizens do not have to "go down with the ship."  Even though the majority of Americans do not ascribe to, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord," those of us, no matter what earthly nation we may find ourselves citizens of, those of us who refuse to march lockstep with the debauchery of this present world system are nonetheless and still, "Blessed."  According to the Amplified Bible, the Greek word for , "Blessed," means, "happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous-- with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions."  This is any and everyone who is totally surrendered to Jesus Christ and His Words. 

Do not gauge favor or blessing on surface issues.  If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, if your life's attitude is, "We have no King but Jesus," and, "But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await the [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ," then favor and blessing is yours.  You are of the, "Happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous-- with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of [your] outward conditions."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You Alone are my blessing.  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

"Happy Are Those Who Hear It Read"

"Happy is the man who reads this prophecy and happy are those who hear it read and pay attention to its message; for the time is near." (Revelation 1:3, J. B. Phillips)

The word, "happy," here is translated, "Blessed," in most translations.  It means, "supremely blessed, happy, to be envied."  The NIV says, "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophesy...."  I highly recommend this.  It is a sort of what the Book of Hebrews says, "Hold fast the profession of our faith." 

I want to say to any spiritual superstars that God apparently has no problem in offering His People happiness.  That's what the Biblical word, "blessed," means, and you find it throughout Scriptures.  Of course it is not some giddy emotion which passes almost as soon as in comes to us.  The, "happy/ blessed," of our text is the deep, "God-Breathed," life-sustaining Happiness. 

"....and happy are those who hear it read...."  There are some who just have an anointing in reading aloud the Scriptures.  When I hear that, I am happy.  When I read through the Bible in a little over a month back in 1970 just after our son died, I experienced happiness, but not a "happiness" which many think of as "happiness."  It was the happiness of a powerless life infused with the power in God's Words, a power to sustain, to build up, an "injection" of the very life of the Godhead.  I guess any attempt to describe it further would not succeed.  But His Words are "happiness injection," a happiness which humanity can only know in Jesus Christ, Who Is, "The Word of God."  Jesus spoke much of this happiness while He walked The Land in the first century.  It is sad that so many people reject Jesus and His Words when He so often said that following and obeying Him brings what everyone in life desires so much---------------- happiness.  

".... and happy are those who hear it read...."  Humanity listens to so much "reading," wh ether it be the reading of lines in a motion picture, soap opera, news anchors or pundits, sermons, Christian television, etc., etc.  What kind of happiness does such "readings" bring you?  What makes you "happy" when you hear it read?  The Words of God do that.  Could we even say that they are intended to do that?   All are, "God-Breathed," and all are intended to release the life of Jesus Christ in us-------- happiness!

If you have not yet read a Bible passage today, just take one, anyone and read it allowed or have someone read a passage to you.  There, the happiness you have been seeking has just been released.

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is no happiness apart from You.  In You, there is nothing but happiness.  Amen.
********** **********
Prayer for Father's Will in:
Funds, visa issues
Prayer Watch Times
(Filled so far):
    05:00-06:00
    06:00-07:00
    07:00-08:00
    08:00-09:00
    11:00-12:00
    13:00-14:00
    16:00-16:30
    21:00-22:00
    23:00-00:00 

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

"Broken" Or "[Ground] to Powder"

"Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." (Luke 20:18)

" Broken," can be put back together; "grind to powder," literally, "crushed to powder," cannot.  It is total annihilation, nothing left to deal with.  The origin is the word for "winnowing fan."  There may be other interpretations, but I believe Jesus is teaching us here that we can either fall on Him in repentance from self-will, and be what Chambers referred to as "broken bread and poured out wine," or, Jesus can fall on us and, "grind him (her) to powder."  This is frightening, and perhaps is intended to be.

But there is a brokenness here which is not only desirable, but absolutely necessary to our walk in Jesus Christ.  Biblical Theology teaches this from Genesis to Revelation.  When I "fall" on Jesus, I am sort of "throwing myself on the mercy of the Court," Whose, "mercy is everlasting."  This is fundamental Gospel.  Jesus then takes the broken, repentant life and puts us together, not back together.  What good would that accomplish?!?  Jesus rather converts us into new persons in Him.   "If anyone be in Christ," we do not become as Colson referred to many professing Christians, "Christianized version of what they already were."  Rather, Our Living Triune God in Jesus Christ calls us, saves us from ourselves/sin, "to be conformed to the image of His Son..."  I repeat what a great Presbyterian preacher said so many years ago, "God the Father loved Jesus the Son so much that He wanted a whole family with many children just like Jesus."    

Self will is the fundamental malady of the human race.  Even the most timid among us have this problem/sin.  But when you and I fall on Jesus Christ and are broken, a brokenness of, " godly sorrow [which] produces repentance leading to salvation...," we are put "back together," not the "back together" of our old sin-life, but the "back together" of what God intended for us in the Garden.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for putting me "back" in Jesus Christ.  Amen.
********************
* I started today a 21 day Daniel fast, i.e., the fast recorded in Daniel 10.  Please pray for a spiritual "awakening," a deepening openness to, "hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches."  Please pray also Colossians 1:9-11. 
* Still need slots filled for the 24/7 prayer vigil, March 26, 06:00 to April 6, 23:00 (11:00PM)

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

"Is That All There Is?"

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.'" (Psalm 16:2, NIV)

The refrain in the song which I sent to you is, "Is that all there is, if that's all there is, my friend, then let's keep dancing, let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is."  There are more people who have this life attitude than do not.  This is a very sad, depressing song, yet was number on the charts in America in 1970. There was another song about the emptiness of life which came out a few years later and was also number one on the American charts, "Alone Again, Naturally."  It speaks of one depressing tragedy after another.  The first came out in the late 1960s, and we all know what that decade gave the world.  Though the song which I sent to you was made popular by one who was not of that generation, both songs reflect the period, the abandonment of Jesus Christ and His Church by a generation of "Imagine[s]," who chose and embraced the likes of John Lennon over God Himself. 

You and I have had disappointments in our lives; some of us have suffered tragic loss.  We were married in 1964.  In 1965 we had our first child.  In 1970 we lost our first child.  I could have written a number one song.  But the only number one song which kept me going, and keeps me going to this day is the song of the Redeemed in Revelation 14, " and they sang a new song before the Throne."  We are told in Revelation 14 that this is the song which is sung by those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," not just 144,000, but anyone, now, or whoever lived and lives life in Jesus.  This is the solid Rock Foundation of those who are in Jesus Christ and He in them.  The old hymn says, "Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?  Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.  Are you grieving over joys departed?  Tell it to Jesus alone."  The hymn writer was not just spouting off some religious cliche of others.  He was telling us what he did to find the strength in life to face whatever would come his way. 

I don't know the lives of the writers or singers of the songs mentioned at the beginning of this devotional, but I know my life.  I know I could be a similar depressed cynic if it were not for the grace of the Living Triune God, Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  Rather, life's Sustenance Himself enables me to declare, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing."  In Him, however, I have nothing but--------------------- "good thing."  Dear Traveler in life's journey, "Are you weary, are you heavy hearted, tell it to Jesus, tell is to Jesus----- He is a Friend that's well known."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I dare not dwell on where and what I would be, "apart from You."  I prefer to dwell on, "You are my Lord."  Amen.
***************
If you are and will be praying for my upcoming mission, please include Psalm 140 in your prayers.  Thanks.
 

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