"....The Devil Prowls Around...Looking For Someone...."

"Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

This was in my regular quarterly reading schedule this morning.  I don't have to look for "proof texts."  I just have to read the Bible to pass on an up-to-date devotional thought.  The reality for America in our text is that this is being played out right now in Ferguson, MO.

You have heard me say (probably ad nauseam) that America has not won nor finished a war since the Second World War.  We became a nation of quitters.  In 1962 we quit on the prayer of Jesus in the State Schools, then in 1963 we quit on the Word of God in the State Schools.  We quit on the defense of the unborn in 1973.  Now Americans have elected a quitter president, who, as one report said, "wants to reduce America's foot print in the world."  The problem with such a mentality is that there are Satanic forces loose in the earth who are not quitters, who also want to "reduce America's footprint," and more.  They want to destroy America and all freedom loving people.  

The simple reality of life is that when one quits, the other wins.  This same principle also applies to us as individuals.  "He Who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps."  And he who opposes "Israel" and the Church and us neither "slumbers nor sleeps."  This battle is cosmic.  This battle is 24/7/365, knows no boundaries, no rules, no political correctness.  In case you may doubt this, just read the Book of Revelation.  Jesus "takes no prisoners."

We should be thankful, however, that Jesus "takes" all who come to Him, all who are truly repentant, all who surrender their lives to Him, His Church, His Kingdom.  "The devil prowls around," for no other reason that to destroy those who would follow Jesus.  Yet you and I are not the problem.  Jesus is Satan's problem.  He attempted to "finish" Jesus at the cross.  Instead Jesus finished Satan at the cross.  "It is finished," not only declared the finished work of our salvation, it declared the finish of Satan, his demons, his kingdom.  No matter what has happened to Followers of Jesus throughout history, no matter what happens to you and me today, there is absolutely nothing Satan can do to destroy us.  Yes, "the body they may kill," but "God's truth abideth still," the truth contained in the admonition of Jesus in John 6 and in the words following our text, empowering, comforting words.  "I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats this bread will live forever.  This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world....Resist [the devil], standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your Eternal keeping power.  Amen
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* Read of Holder's agenda in Ferguson:  jhs58.blogspot.com
* Please pray for the DC Mission, September 17-21
* Please pray for two preaching engagements I have in September, 14 & 28

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

"....No Longer...The Lusts of Men, But...The Will of God"

"....that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."  (1Peter 4:2)

Everybody wants their own way.  This is the natural way, the way of man from The Fall til this moment.  Finney used to say that the number one hindrance to revival is selfishness.  Selfishness is the reason for the vast majority of divorces; this is the reason for injustices in the earth; this is the reason for war; this is the reason churches split; this is the reason...........................

"Jesus, lover of  my soul, let me to thy bosom fly," more and more I pray.  I really don't think this is an escapist prayer.  It's a prayer in the face of the deterioration of the human race.  Winston Churchill's statement still "haunts" me, "Man has improved himself every way except morally."  This is man living the opposite of our text.  This is man living, " the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men," their own will rather than, "the will of God."

In the face of, " evil men will go from bad to worse," you and I have our Savior, Jesus, our Savior into Whose Bosom you and I can "fly."  Think of it today: You and I are in the Bosom of Jesus, we in Him and He in us.  There is no greater joy, no greater peace, no greater security.  Jesus said that in the last days we will see, "....people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.  For the powers of the heavens will be shaken."  In Jesus' Bosom, however, fear becomes peace, unforgiveness becomes forgiveness, hate becomes love, selfishness becomes selflessness.  Jesus replaces, as a Harvard University psychiatrist once said, "fear, bitterness, and despair with love, joy and unspeakable comfort."  As Tolstoy said after surrendering his life to Jesus, "What was good and bad changed places."  Such a life style is only possible when we, "....no longer...live...in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."

"The lusts of men," bring no good.  "The will of God," brings nothing but good.  The choice is really quite simple.  I know humanists do not like "simple."  They like "gray;" they like complicated, they love many religions, many opinions, because then in such uncertainty they have excuse for continuation in, "the lusts of men."  For us, though, "the will of God," is our refuge.  The "Bosom" of "Jesus, Lover of my soul," our home.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Let me to Thy Bosom fly."  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

"Jesus, Lover of My Soul, Let Me To Thy Bosom Fly"

"Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy." (Psalm 99:9)

We are living in a world which manifests the result of the Fall.  God said; Satan said God didn't really mean it; man believed Satan rather than God.  Okay, now the world, including America, which so many of the gullible think is safe from beheadings, violent barbarism, etc., is in a race war.  Relatively recently a gang of 400 black men attacked two white couples in a McDonald's in College Station, Texas.  The result?-- two white people dead.  The politically correct press, as well as the nation, basically ignored it.  America elected a black person in an attempt to show the world we are not racists, truly repentant for slavery, etc.  It was a philosophical version of Johnson's "Great Society," and was supposed to fix, among other things, the race problems in America.  It was a misguided motive for which we and the world have paid, and will pay dearly.  You just don't right a wrong with humanist motives and agenda (Some have accused me of racism in the past for saying such things).  In the midst of the reports of the beheading of an American Citizen by barbarous Arab/Islamists, the same Muslims who have beheaded little babies, and have threatened of more beheadings, I read this morning Ps. 96-100.   It was a reminder to always run this race, "Looking unto Jesus." 

Psalms 96-100 are basically all praise to the Living God.  I needed this "praise enhancer" today.  I get very angry with what is going on in the United States of America, the world.  Yet it is as though our Lord Jesus reminded me today that this has been going on all throughout history------- and will continue, yes, accept it reluctantly as we may, it will continue.  You and I cannot change this.  As the Bible says, "In the last days evil men will go from bad to worse."  Now this was and is not some "head in the sand" life-style word.  It is a reminder of what was going on in "eternity past" long before the creation of Earth, and will go on in "eternity future" long after Earth, "Exalt the Lord our God,..worship at His holy hill...."   

At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I had tears in my eyes for all that is going on in America and the world.  This song came to me, a song from my childhood, a song from another century, but a song of praise and prayer:
        "Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
        While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
        Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life it past;
        Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

        Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
        Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
        All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
        Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
    
        ....Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more  than all in Thee I find;
        Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
        Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
        False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace."  (Charles Wesley)

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

"It Was A Dark And Stormy Night"

"When my anxious thoughts multiply ('are many') within me, Your consolations (comforts) delight my soul." (Psalm 94:19, NASB)

"It was a dark and stormy night"---- well, at least it was a dark night.  I had crossed into East Germany at Check Point Alpha and drove through East Germany to the Check Point Bravo crossing from East Germany into West Berlin.  My car had been giving me some trouble, and as I was cleared through the check point, it wouldn't start.  An East German border guard helped me push it to a point where there was a little grade.  I coasted it for a short distance; it finally started.  They told me at a repair shop in West Berlin that it would take about a week to repair.  I had planned to stay a couple of days in West Berlin, but not a whole week.  Moreover, I was supposed to be in Krakow, Poland in a couple of days.  This all occurred before I ever had a cell phone or computer.  Besides, it would not have done any good.  My friend in Poland also had neither.  Now what?

After a week went by, and as I was driving across East Germany to the Polish Border, I read our text (I know, not a good idea, but I used to also read maps while driving-- don't tell anybody).  Now I didn't know what my friend would be thinking; had I forgotten our plans; had I had a change in plans; what?  There were some, "anxious thoughts."  But then I thought of, "Your consolations," I thought of the time at the Leningrad Airport earlier that year when they caught me with Bibles, the two hours held in a room by myself before any officer came, not knowing if they would let me go, or perhaps make an example of me and send me to Siberia.  It may all sound silly to some, but it is not a silly thought when the KGB had you.  In that room, as I thought of my family back home, Jesus, our Peace, was my Peace; His, "comforts delight[ed] my soul."

What, "anxious thoughts multiply within," you today?  There are no, "consolations," as is Jesus Christ, His Very Presence within us, His Words, "breathed," in and through us.  And remember also His much faithfulness to you over the years, the times you thought there was no way through or out of peril.  When we dwell on the many, "consolations," of our Lord Jesus Christ, nothing but, "delight my soul," can follow.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I think that eternity will not suffice to give You the thanks I owe and You deserve.  Amen.
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Why not plan to meet up with me in DC on Saturday, September 20, to participate in "David's Tent"?

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

Listen And Respond

"They turned their backs to Me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline." (Jeremiah 32:33, NIV)

If you look just at the United States of America, you can understand the condition of America.  The call of our Lord Jesus Christ is always to humanity, "Come to Me...."  Why do a poor, helpless, confused, no-answers-race prefer to turn, "their backs to [Jesus]." 

From the Garden, man has always preferred to "handle" life by himself rather than turn to Jesus.  I will do it.  I decide.  I know what is best.  Of course this is a stupid life style.  I did not create me; Jesus created me.  I cannot guarantee fulfillment of my desires, plans for my life.  Only our Lord Jesus Christ can do that.

Today, my friend, I encourage you and myself to, "Come to Me, all who are weary...."  What a few words, yet what wonderful, loving, empowering words.  In the Blood of Jesus, not my repentance, nor my "well-I'm-going-to-change," not a "Twelve Step Program," as good as it may be, only in the Blood of Jesus is power to change, keep, this very fragile life. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that I have You, keeping me, sustaining me.  Amen.
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DC Mission:  September 17-21

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