Relationship Trumps Disappointment

"O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.  But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel."  (Psalm 22:2, 3)

How does a person who says God does not hear him, then go on to worship?  He is a person of faith, of love, of surrender to his God.

Look at David's life; it was not all giant-slaying, harp playing, and military conquests.  There was adultery, then murder to cover it up.  His was a life filled with familial dysfunction, betrayal and heartache.  Sort of sounds like the majority of humanity throughout the ages, doesn't it?  David survived his sin, the resulting chaos, and all life could throw at him by, "But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel."

Relationship trumps disappointment.  If I am in Jesus Christ and Jesus in me, if I walk in and enjoy, "Thou preparest a table before me," which I take to be fellowship, then I have the power to live an overcoming life also.  Unanswered prayer will not keep you and me from, "But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel....I will extol Thee, my God, O King; and I will bless Your Name forever and ever.  Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever and ever."

The next time you are tempted to lament over unanswered prayer, pick up Psalm 145 and pray it, confess it, affirm it.  Fight sorrow, fear, frustration with praise.  "Hey, God did not answer your prayers for your son."  Okay, but the Living Triune God is, "enthroned in the praises of [His People]," and I have chosen that course rather than the one many others have chosen in similar sadness.  Rather than my disappointments, heartaches, frustrations, I choose to enthrone Jesus Christ.  I will not "enthrone" my sorrows and miss out on the enthronement celebration.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Praises are my deliverance and sustenance.  Amen.
*******************************
We are still in need of gifts for this Fall's Mission.  If you would like details of the expenses, we can send them to you.

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

"Declaration of Independence" Trumped by Declaration of Dependence

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  (Jesus)

All the declarations in history cannot make nations or people free who are apart from Jesus Christ.  Only those who, "know the truth," Who is Jesus Christ, can ever be free. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

July 4th in the United States of America is "Independence Day."  But the document which was signed on that day in 1776 was only a declaration; independence was still 7 more years and a continuation of a brutal, very costly war.  It wasn't until 1783 that the Americans won their independence from England.  And remember, the British once again tried the American will in 1812, and another two and a half year war.  Declarations are only the beginning. 

Today in the USA we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.  237 years and at least 11 wars later the nation is still "independent" and "free"------ but it is only a political "freedom," a freedom which can lead to spiritual bondage, if the nation and people do not, "know the Truth."  On this "Declaration of Independence Day," I make an additional declaration, a Declaration of Dependence on and in Jesus Christ, absolute, nothing held back, dependence.  If any join me in this declaration, "you shall be free indeed."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank you for my earthly country, the United States of America.  But I thank You more that my, "citizenship is in Heaven, from which [I] also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ...."  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

Antipas Prayer Force Devotionals:Fairest Lord Jesus - Diane Bish & The Bellevue Baptist Choir

"How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?  How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?"  (Psalm 13:2)

This is the cry of a very deeply troubled soul.  Most people do not think of David like this because religious people have to have flawless heroes.  I have news perhaps for many; there are none, just those who try to impress with their flawless spirituality.  Read the Bible and let the Bible read you.  There is hope and strength without measure in The Word of God, Jesus, and in His Words.

One of the most sad statements is, "I take counsel in my soul."  The word means just that, "counsel, advice."  It is the sad place of a soul who concludes abandonment, a soul who has to talk to himself and advise himself because all have forsaken him; no one is listening-------------------- not even his God.  

Leonard Ravenhill once said, "One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it.  Then the rest of us will be embarrassed."  The reason for the embarrassment most likely will be the realization of the real comfort, that the delivering, keeping, sustaining power of Jesus is in us, because He, our Comforter, our Deliverer, is in us and we in Him.  My friend, it is eternal life we have in Jesus, not coming and going life.  "The Presence" is not in a building or a meeting.  "The Presence" is Jesus Christ, the One Who claimed, "I Am the Good Shepherd," the One Who affirms by His Words, "....though [you] walk through the valley of the shadow of death,..[I Am] with [thee]." 

"Some simple soul will...read it, and believe it."  That soul will realize the deeply intimate and personal Presence we have in Jesus, all the time, everywhere, in all of life's battles-------- not just where the cliched say "the Presence" is!  I pray you and I be that "simple soul" today who does not have to, "take counsel in my soul," but in Jesus Himself.  We will then realize and affirm what David declared by faith in the last two verses of the psalm, "I have trusted in Thy mercy;...I will sing unto the Lord...." 

The song on the link below is one of the greatest worship songs in Church History, bar none.  I heard it this morning and had great, "counsel in my soul."  I highly recommend listening to it.  It tells you and me Who we have in Jesus.  Better yet, Who has us.  

Link: http://apfdevotionals.blogspot.com/2013/07/fairest-lord-jesus-diane-bish-bellevue.html

Fairest Lord Jesus - Diane Bish & The Bellevue Baptist Choir

"Ministry"

"....to take part in this ministry...."  (Acts 1:17)

The word for, "ministry," in our text is the Greek word which is also translated "deacon."  I wonder how many of us think of ourselves as deacons.  Yet the word goes around Christian circles so much.  Every time someone says, "my ministry," or, "I ministered there/to them," I wonder if they realize they are doing the work of deacons.  I also wonder if apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, the bishops, the leaders see all their efforts ("ministries") as the work of a deacon, i.e., a servant.  The word can mean, "service, mission, relief, support."  Strong's says that the special meaning is, "those who do the commands of others."  Do you and I really see ourselves as "those who do the commands of others," The Other, Jesus Christ?  If you and I speak of ministering, if we are speaking of accurate Biblical ministry, then we are speaking of serving, mission, relief and support of others.  All of this is at "the commands of" Jesus.

When I came to realize this many years ago, it changed my attitude towards the appreciation and response of people, the "results."  A servant does not think of such things; he just serves.  And if we serve our Lord Jesus in this attitude, we will never stop serving.  We will keep serving regardless of how or if we are received at all because we love Jesus Christ, serving because we, as the Ecclesiastes writer says, "Fear God and keep His commandments."  I also wonder what the church would be like if more aspired to the office of deacon than bishop, or the "platform."

"Just do it" is a popular promotional phrase by a prominent company.  Perhaps it is good advice for you and me.  You and I will "just do it" if we "just walk" in Jesus, abide in Jesus and His Words, keep, "Looking unto Jesus."  If we walk in any other attitude, looking to any other or anything other, we will be in danger of doing what so many have done throughout Church History, quit.  Ephesians 4:12 says that Jesus equips us, "for the work of the ministry," literally, "work (and it is work) of service," more literally, "waiting at table"!  My heart and attitude is to be as our Lord Jesus, "I am among you as One Who serves." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me Holy Spirit to a greater manifestation of a deacon.  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