"The Philistines Are Upon You, Samson (America)" (A "Prophetic" Devotional)

"Then the glorious Lord All-Powerful ordered me to say to the nations that had raided and robbed Zion: Zion is as precious to the Lord as are his eyes.  Whatever you do to Zion, you do to him." (Zechariah 2:8, CEV)

Obama, Kerry, and some of the Democrats in the US Congress are descending more and more into abandoning Israel.  After this Fall's elections, The United States of America could be heading into uncharted waters.  With the midterms over, no more elections to hinder him, Obama will come out of the closet, and the naive, no, stupid, American public which voted for him will see just what they got.  So what will happen to the United States of America if it continues to threaten Israel, allies itself with Israel's enemies, and refuses to remain Israel's most loyal ally?  Read our text again. 

America is the "new kid on the block" when it comes to historic world powers.  We may have the greatest military potential of any nation in history, we may be the most prosperous, the most "free," but if the US continues on its present course, it will go the way of all empires/super powers which have attempted to fight the purposes of Jesus Christ.  From Babel on, there are just no exceptions.

What can those of us who are US citizens do?  We give ourselves in absolute obedience to, and continually recommit ourselves to the Bible; we pray; we vote.  Now some relegate the latter to an unspiritual entity.  There is no doubt in my mind, however, that if every person who named the Name of Jesus would vote according to Biblical principles and vote consistently on those principles in every election, the Church in America would control America.  And if you say that is not the objective, I say, you need to read the "Great Commission" again.  The Church took this Great Commission/Command so seriously that in just 3 centuries they took over the Roman Empire.  Those of us who are American citizens, who confess faith in Jesus Christ could do the same.  It is not prayer which is hindering this; it is a do nothing "church."  There have been in every election in recent years so many "christians" who did not vote, that we have lost the United States of America to the pagans.

"Whatever  you do to Zion, you do to [Jesus Christ]."  This is not just the leaders of a nation.  This includes those who approve/vote for those leaders, and those who allowed those leaders to come to power by doing exactly what the unjust steward did in Matthew 25----- nothing.  Arise, Church.  May Jesus in the Holy Spirit convict us all of, "sin, righteousness, and judgment."  Passivity in the "secular" realm will lead to judgment.  Besides, there is nothing "secular" in the Kingdom of Heaven; all is under the reign of Jesus Christ, "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof."  If you know of any who profess Jesus as Savior and do not vote, this could be one of your greatest services to the Church in America, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for the Church in the United States of America and in every nation to arise and come into all You have for us, not just want religious leaders want for us.  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

What Would Life Be Like, "If You Knew the Gift of God"?

"Jesus answered and said, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink," 'you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.'"  (John 4:10)

Because the woman did not recognize, "the gift of God," she almost missed the, "Living Water."

The problem with most people is that they don't know, "the gift of God, and who it is who," invites them to Himself.  This is what Jesus is saying in our text.  Jesus was telling all of us that He is, "the gift of God," and all our need, metaphorically referred to here as, "living water," is in Himself.  Everywhere Jesus was during those 33 years in The Land, He was, as the Proverb says of the Word of God, "life to those who found [Him]."  His Presence, His very Person was/is, "living water."  The problem is stated earlier in John's Gospel, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."  Today I wondered, "I am, 'His own.'  Do I know, 'the Gift,' I have?"

What is it today that you and I do not "know" about our Gift, Jesus?  What impoverishment is mine just because I don't, "know the gift of God"?  We cannot arrogantly say that it was only the Jews who were, "His own, and...did not receive Him."  I suggest that there are perhaps more times than we would care to admit that Jesus comes, "to His own," i.e., you and Me, "and His own did not receive Him," we do not recognize our need in that moment, or we are too focused on the problem and engulfed in the situation to such a degree that we just do not, "know the gift of God"; hence, we walked away from, "the gift of God," and in that moment we find ourselves very "thirsty."  

I can hear Jesus saying of those times, "O, 'If you [only] knew the gift of God,..(how I am always with and in you, but you at times do not realize it) you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.'"  May our Lord help us in these days to recognize Jesus, "[our] living water," in situations where we have failed in the past to recognize, "the Gift of God."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I know there have been too many times when I did not recognize, "the gift of God," in a particular situation.  Holy Spirit, keep me ever mindful.  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

This Is How God Loved The World-- He GAVE

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  (John 3:16)

Most persons' idea of John 3:16 is, "For God sooooooooooooo loved the world...."  Is that really the heart of this verse?  How can one put a degree or magnitude on the love of God, just add another "o" to the, "so"?  When someone says, "God loves us so much," it reflects a feeling rather than an act.  But God's love, manifested supremely in Jesus Christ, is an action word.  The concept of love as feeling is the reason the "love" of so many love songs and Hollywood movies is empty and very temporary.  There is no limit or expansion when speaking of God's love.  The great song, "The Love of God," expresses this so well, "how measureless and strong.  It shall forevermore endure."

I have shared before the wonderful discovery of many years ago.  According to Strong's, the word translated, "so," means, "thus, so, in this manner."  This accurate translation also reveals the Greek word in the passage for, "loved."  The word for, "loved," in our text is the verb form of, "agape."  Love is something I do, not something I feel.  And neither is love something you describe in the amount.  Biblical love, the love of Jesus, is always described in the demonstration, in action.  1 Corinthians 13 does not speak of love in volume.  It speaks of love as action.  "Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything" (J. B. Phillips.).  "Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting" (CEV).  Such description reveals action, enduring commitment.  This is the love of John 3:16, "Thus, in this manner God loved the world, that He gave His only...Son"----- and keeps giving and giving.  Giving is the supreme definition of God's love. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to ever be mindful that Your Love is giving, not taking.  Amen.
**************
* Berlin/Bosnia Mission:  May 1-20
* Read of what is currently happening in the land of the Seven Churches of Revelation:  jhs58.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

From Where/Whom Comes Your "Knowledge"?

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds...."  (2 Corinthians 10:4)

I divide my New Testament reading into three sections, Gospels, Acts-Ephesians, and Philippians-Revelation.  Today's text is from the Acts-Ephesians section. 

Where are these, "strongholds," of which Paul speaks?  They are in our minds.  The battle for humanity is not unrelated "spiritual warfare."  We do not "take authority" over demons and say, "I cast out strongholds; I rebuke arguments," etc.  The battle with Satan is in our minds, "Did God say?"  Verse 5 tells us that the battle is against Satanic, "arguments," and, "knowledge."  This warfare is not as "spooky" as some would lead us to believe.  Receive Christ's, "arguments," and, "knowledge," and we will be delivered from the Enemy's.

I know I sound like the proverbial "broken record," and people may look at my devotionals and look for signs of the "same old thing," and say, "O no; there he goes again."  But the reality is that the battle in our daily living is in our minds, "pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity of Christ...."  And nothing, my friend can do this, but the Bible, the Scriptures, the "God-Breathed" Words.  If a person neglects the Word of God in his/her daily life, don't go to a deliverance session and expect whatever happens to last very long.

We just do not "cast out" sin.  We stop sinning.  We do not "cast out" wrong living, i.e., a life style which is in conflict with Jesus Christ and His Kingdom of Heaven.  We fill ourselves with the Scriptures and thereby, as verse 5 says, "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."  This includes the way I deal with finances, treat my family, neighbors, the way I vote in political elections, etc., etc.  People live wrong because they are taught wrong.  Their knowledge is a knowledge, "against the knowledge of God."  My Mother once told me that they taught the Bible in her grammar school.  America "grew up" and cast out the Bible.  Look around, and tell me such "maturing" has paid off. 

All humanity can do before the Word of God is either as the "rich, young ruler," walk away, or surrender before the Word of God and say to Him as Paul did on that road, "Lord, what will you have me to do?"  Press in, my friend, and do not let anything, I repeat anything keep you from the only source of, "the knowledge of God."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for all the giving me Your, "knowledge."  Amen.
********************
May Mission to Berlin/Bosnia, May 1-20.

News, Commentary:   jhs58.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

"I Have No Answer"

"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades?  Can you loosen Orion's belt?  Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons...?  Do you know the laws of the heavens?"  (From Job 38:32-33, NIV)

Obviously, Job could not and did not. 

Our text is the response of the Living Triune God to Job after what could have been days of speculation, questions, and arguing with his friends.  Every quarter I go through Job I am amazed with how nothing has changed in the human heart ever since this "seminar" called The Book of Job took place.  Fundamentally, the issue before Job and company was questions.  Through all the theologizing, accusations, justifications, it was questions which stumped them all.  Not one of the four accusers in this "seminar," however, ever took the attitude of Snoopy, when he said that the perfect title for a book on theology would be, "Has It Ever Occurred to You That You May Be Wrong?"  Each one was a classic "know-it-all."  They would have eagerly volunteered for the program, "Ask the pastor."

The reason people allow "questions" to stand between them and Jesus Christ, is that they don't really want answers.  Furthermore, people don't "believe in God" because they don't want to believe in God.  Once when disciples began to leave Jesus, He said to them, "Will you also go away?"  Now why did the people, "go away"?  Simple.  "This is a hard saying; who can understand it."  Many today are also such.  If life goes beyond their comprehension, or their scientific "knowledge," or their ambitions, they want nothing to do with it.  Then, as now, people want a "god" whom they can "understand," which is just code for, one whom they can control, one who won't radically change what they want from life. 

You and I know that life is full of unanswerables.  How we react to them, will determine victory or defeat.  When God challenged Job with His questions, Job revealed who he really was, "I am unworthy-- how can I reply to You?  I put my hand over my mouth.  I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice but I will say no more."  Sometimes it's good to just do as David did, "sat before the Lord."

Father, in Jesus' Name, again I say as the song writer, "I need no other argument."  I need only You.  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