"And He Showed Me a Pure River...."

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb....There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.  And they shall reign forever and ever....'Behold I am coming quickly!  Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.'" (Revelation 22:1, 5, 7)

....a fitting end to the quarter, a fitting end to life as we only know it, for there is a life described in the Bible called, "life everlasting," and, "life eternal," a portion of which is described in our text.  This is a little of what my Granddad must have seen when his last words were, "The other side is looking better."  I pray, "The Lord grant unto [you and me] that [we] find mercy of the Lord in that day...."

Words are limited; only, "The Word of God," Who is Jesus Christ has no limitations.  This is why Christianity goes beyond, indeed, is in a different "category," a different realm than any religion.  A uniqueness of, "the faith of Jesus," is that the words of the bible, words such as our text, only make "sense" to the person who is in Jesus.  No religion asserts such intimacy with the Godhead.  Moreover, some gifted orators can perhaps bring us a little closer to "seeing" a little of what our text describes, but alas, it is still so far from our ability to comprehend.  Even Paul's, "behold, I show you a mystery," is still, "a glass darkly."  Maybe that is good.  Maybe a little wonder, a little, I-really-don't-know, is good for all of us.   Perhaps it keeps us, "Looking unto Jesus," and not "unto," well, anyone else.   

To the proud today, I say, Don't be.  You know nothing at all, that is, "compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us," which includes some of the wonder of our text.  To the sorrowful, depressed, discouraged, I say, Don't be.  That, "pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb," Jesus, is yours, surely awaiting you.  "I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (Jesus)

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for what, mostly Whom, you are preparing me.  Amen. ***********************
Please take a moment to pray for our Fall Mission to Berlin and Jerusalem, October 26 to November 26.

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

"If"

"If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I shall teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore." (Psalm 132:12)

They didn't and they haven't.  If we could just remove the "ifs" of the Bible, everyone in all generations would be walking in all the promises of God.  But it is those confounded "ifs" which mess up the whole operation.  And the Old Testament is not the only "place" of, "If."  In John's Gospel, the most "popular" among Christians, we read, "....If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever...."  What happens if I don't, "eat of this bread"?  I guess I won't, "live forever."  Again, "If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed."  So I suppose if I don't, "continue in [His] word," I am not a disciple.  In Matthew we read, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, you heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." 

There are theological movements in recent generations which have eliminated the "ifs."  They proclaim a "cheap grace," or as Mumford called it, "sloppy agape."  Neither love nor grace, however, is the issue.  That was settled by our Lord's command to love all; I simply can do no other.  Yet we can love people all we can, but people are not accepted by God because of my love or tolerance of them and their life style.  If so, they would "run the race, looking" to me rather than, "Looking unto Jesus."  They are accepted by God only in Jesus Christ, by coming to Him and walking in obedience to Him.  The same, "If," which applies to you and me, applies to all. 

The promises of the Blessed Trinity are beyond comprehension.  I can only receive them and stand in awe of Him.  And if I do, everything Jesus, "finished," at the cross is mine.  I do not doubt any promise of the Bible.  "It is finished," sealed them for us.  The only thing left for us is to be on the "right side" of the, "If."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for grace and strength to heed Your, "If."  Amen. 
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When the Attacks Never Seem to End

"Let Israel now say-- 'Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me.'" (Psalm 129:1b, 2)

Of course this is referring to the Jews as a people group, but it also applies to the Church of Jesus Christ, and to you and me as individuals.  "For all the promises of God in [Christ Jesus] are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

First, Israel:  Just look at history.  Second, The Church: Well, just look at history again.  Third, you and me:  Again, history.  Now the, "they," in our text need not necessarily be people.  "They," can be life itself, the pains, the sufferings, the sin, the mistakes, the sicknesses, etc.  Satan and his demonic forces, "have afflicted me from my youth," with any means available in the attempt to get me to throw in the towel, to give up, to be like the worn out work mule which just lays down beside the road and quits.  Well, I can say today what the psalmist goes on to say in our text, "yet they have not prevailed against me," and, I pray, "....they have not prevailed against [you]."

Now we know that the affliction which, "they," have imposed upon us is not just, "from my youth," but will continue until we depart this life or our Lord Jesus Christ appears the second time.  Yet, no fear: Just as we can say, "from my youth," we can also say with absolute confidence in the Living Triune God that to the very end of life in this "seen" world, "....YET THEY HAVE NOT PREVAILED AGAINST ME"!  And they won't, that is, as long as we believe/obey His Words, continue to abide/dwell in Jesus, continually drink from that well which flows out of our innermost being, The Holy Spirit, and, "while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen," which is another way of say, "Looking unto Jesus."  This is not some charismatic spiritual bravado.  This is as Peter says, "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us...."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your, "divine power," which is my only, "power."  Amen.
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* You know of our commitment to Berlin, Germany, and Europe in general as a very key player in the unfolding of prophecy.  I have posted a timely article of what I have been predicting for many years:    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

Another Bible Prayer

"Uphold me that I may be safe, that I may have regard for Your statutes continually." (Psalm 119:117)

It is not just safety for which the psalmist prays.  It is, "that I may have regard for your statutes...."  In other words, that I may live for You and others.  The priority here could perhaps have us reverse the text, "That I may have regard for Your statues continually, uphold me that I may be safe."

I was praying Psalm 119.  The reason I mostly pray the Bible is that I do not know how to pray as I ought.  The issues of life which are beyond me, which are most issues, leave me speechless.  I find myself many times repeating Bible prayers, the Lord's Prayer.  Now the super spiritual will say that is not "meaningful" praying, just rote praying.  These people usually are controlled by their past experience in a church where meaningless recitation of prayers were just a religious act---- Whatever.  I find "deepest" praying comes with desperation, helplessness, uncertainty, oh wait, that sounds like most of life. 

Notice in our text that the psalmist is praying for protection, praying for himself, not just for protection or carnal blessings, but that he may walk a "Kingdom" life.  Jesus prayed, "Father, save Me from this hour."  But then He said our salvation was more important.  This was the heart of the psalmist.  All through Psalm 119, his "prayer request" is centered in and based on his intent to obey. 

Someone once asked me if I ever felt guilty after visiting countries where people live in deep poverty.  I said, no, only if I do nothing with what I have.  There is nothing wrong in praying for blessings for ourselves if, with those blessings, we intend to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and thereby serve others. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for all You have given me.  I want to serve with whatever I have.  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