"Then Jesus Came"

"Remember how your words have guided and encouraged many in need.  But now you feel discouraged when struck by trouble."  (Job 4:3-5, CEV)

Job's friends said some good things; our text is one of them.  At the end of the book, however, God rebukes Job's three friends for not rightly representing Him, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has."  Thoughts on this could be for another time.  But there is a "word" in our text for you and me. 
 
Of our text, we probably all could say, "Been there, done that."  Speaking encouraging words is easier than receiving encouraging words.  I guess the short of it is, "It's easier said than done."  The summer Stephen "went to be with the Lord," found me in our text.  I'm not so sure "discouraged" was the dominate mood as was absolute numbness.  I was as the one described in the old hymn,
    "One sat alone beside the highway begging,
    His eyes were blind, the light he could not see;
    He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows,
    Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee."
When Jesus "came," He brought back to me the, "guided and encouraged many in need."

Today and every day, I suppose, there are at least attempts of the Enemy to make us, "feel discouraged when struck by trouble."  But when it happens, remember my friend, "Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee."  He has, and He will.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You so much for the times, "Then Jesus came."  Amen.
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Attached is a photo of the Indian Affairs Committee hearing which I attended this week.  You can see some of the Native Americans in the photo.  Some committee members do not refer to "reservations"; they use the term "Indian Country." (Click on the photo for a better view; sorry for the angle.) 

      Sent from my iPhone  

Devotional/Report

"Now hear this,..rulers of...Israel, who abhor justice and twist everything that is straight....Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price and her prophets divine for money." (Micah 3, NASB)

I am obviously in Micah.  Notice to whom the Word of God came, rulers, priests and prophets, and they were all engaged in perversion of The Word of God, "abhor justice and twist everything that is straight,..judg[e] for a bribe,..instruct for a price and...[prophesy] for money."  Obviously, no good can come from this.  Notice the Word is to the "religious" community and to the government.  It is a great disservice to limit the Bible to "church."  Anyway, no one can do that, try a he/she may.  There is no limit, no restriction of God's words.  All throughout the Bible Jesus, "The Word of God," is speaking to every person on the Planet, male and female, young and old, preachers and parishioners, management and worker, governors and the governed.

Yesterday I was in Washington, DC.  Our text is way too descriptive of not only the American Government, but also the American "church."  Everywhere I went I had a Bible audio program playing.  The "God-Breathed" Word was read allowed in the Supreme Court Building, the Capitol Building, the Hart and Dirksen Senate Office Buildings, during the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing, and the streets of Washington, DC.  Why not?  The very Words of God saved my life during my deepest misery.  Why should I not believe He can do the same for others and for world governments?  "Spirituality" does not motivate this; testimony, i.e., experience, does.  "They over came him by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word to which they bore witness" (Literal translation of Revelation 12:11)  I have been overcoming in life, not primarily by "my testimony," but by, "the Word to which I [bear] witness."  Witness to anything/anyone other than the Words of God and the Word of God, Jesus, is a fruitless witness.

I was able to spend some time with Dick Simmons whose wife, Barb, passed away just a few weeks ago.  We both affirmed that the only way to change men and nations is not primarily teaching and preaching and talking, but to pray the change.  It is difficult many times to "see" prayer results, especially when one is praying for national and global issues.  Yet such praying affects world missions, government policies, et. al.  I would suggest that for every minute of verbal witness, every minute of committee meetings, church planning sessions, government and corporate meetings we should have ten minutes of prayer.  Prayer is like an artillery barrage before a military attack; such softens up the enemy.  

You know as well as I do that this day was far easier to start with just "get-to-it" rather than praying.  Why?  The enemy of man does not want our most effective, "weapons of our warfare," in the battle.  He would rather just face our efforts than Jesus Christ's.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is ever interceding for us.  Maybe we should learn the lesson.

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I continually learn.  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

"He Comes Down and Treads on the Heights of the Earth"

"Look!  The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.  The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope." (Micah 1:3, 4-- NIV)

This can be a frightening "scene."  Of course the Lord God is already, "on the heights of the earth."  But when the Bible speaks this way, it is an indication that something may be coming which man has not seen for some time.  Verse 5 says that, "All this is because of Jacob's transgression, because of the sins of the people,...."  The Prophet then asks, "What is Jacob's transgressions?"  And the answer follows.

I am going to Washington, DC, today, and I believe that our text, which I read yesterday, applies to current events.  We could equally ask, "What is [America's] transgression?"  Things which are being revealed about the Executive Branch of the American Government, the conviction of the murderous Dr. Kermit Gosnell are just a few events which are revealing America's transgressions.  And I believe these revelations are a result of prayers of bygone days, and I don't mean just in our life time, but I also do not exclude our life time.  I have continued to pray prayers which I prayed with others when I was going to DC every week.  I believe also that prayers of those who have gone before us are still "lingering," if you will, still before the "Throne," and if we remember prayers of years and generations past, prayers which said exactly what we are longing for, prayers consistent with the, "God-Breathed," Words, the very purposes of Jesus Christ, then we should not be surprised when we see them answered------------ even if it has been years since they were first prayed.

Things which are being revealed, not just in America, but around the world all indicate that, "The Lord Jesus Christ is coming from His dwelling place; He comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.  The mountains melt beneath Him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope."  And, "All this because...."  We all very much need the prayers of the Church just for our daily living.  Today, however, I especially ask for your prayers as I enter an atmosphere of growing confrontation.  In just about a month's time, I have been in the Capitols of North Korea, China, and the United States, and planning to be in the Capitol of Germany and Israel this Fall.  Capitols are not just government seats of power; they are the seat of the assigned Princes of those nations (Daniel 10).  This warfare described in Daniel 10 and elsewhere will only get more intense as the close of the Age draws nigh.  Again, the call of the old hymn is before us, "Rise Up, O Men (and women) of God!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, enable me/us to, "be ready in the day of Your power."  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

"You Have Not Come to...Darkness....You Have Come to Jesus"

"For you have not come to...darkness and gloom....But you have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel."  (From Hebrews 12:18-24, NASB)

Everything a person comes to in this world apart from Jesus Christ is ultimately, "darkness and gloom."  Can you remember those days before Jesus?  And are we aware that even now, "darkness and gloom," can overtake us when we, "lean...to our own understanding"?  

Over my life time when I dwelt in my own thoughts, reasonings, longings, those of the sinful nature, and did not, "Abide in Me, and My Words abide in you,..the darkness and gloom," was too much for.  Depression and aloneness could only dominate me.  And you know as well as I do that every day brings the temptation to slip a little back into that, "darkness and gloom," existence.  It may not be very long, but even just the glimpse of it is enough to keep me in the fear of the Lord.  "But you have come to Jesus...."  Ours is not a "coming to" or "going from" relationship in Jesus; we are forever, eternally in Jesus Christ and He in us.  Our minds however, can bring us into that kind of coming and going bondage.  When they do, "....you have...come to...darkness and gloom." 

"You haven't come to a mountain that can be touched.  You haven't come to a mountain that is burning with fire.  You haven't come to darkness, gloom and storm.  You haven't come to a blast from God's trumpet.  You haven't come to a voice speaking to you.  When people heard that voice long ago, they begged it not to say anything more to them.  What God commanded was too much for them.  He said, 'If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be killed with stones.'  The sight was terrifying.  Moses said, 'I am trembling with fear' (NIV, Reader's Version).  No, my friend, in contrast to this, "You (and I) have come to Jesus."  Every threatening mountain, fire, darkness, gloom, storm which life can through at us must bow in submission to the one great Reality of the Universe, a breakthrough and breakout Truth.  All humanity is invited to, "come to Jesus."  When we do, "darkness and gloom," turn to that which the hymn declares:

"O day of rest and gladness,

O day of joy and light,

O balm of care and sadness, 

Most beautiful, most bright:

On Thee, the high and lowly,

Through ages joined in tune,

Sing holy, holy, holy,

To the great God Triune."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for showing and confirming to me, by Your Words and life's journey, the Truth.  Amen.

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* We now have 35 you have said they will be at the North Korean Briefing, May 20.  Feel free to invite others, but I would need to know by Thursday, May 16.

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