"When They Feel Secure, He Will Destroy Many...."

"He will cause deceit to prosper, and will consider himself superior.  When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.  Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power."  (Daniel 8:25, NIV)

Yesterday's Minor Prophets reading gives great insight as to what is currently going on in the world, the stupidity of the US State Department, President, and most Western European nations, "....He will destroy many while they are at ease" NASB).  Several French citizens who were interviewed about the recent Arab attacks in the country said, "I am shocked.  How could this happen in my country?"  The French and the English have paid a horrific price for their smug, "at ease," political correctness-------- and so has the USA.  Stayed tuned; there is more to come, much more.

Note the warning from our text to the nations of history, "When they feel secure, he will destroy many...."  This is not just referring to the "last times."  It is a principle of life that when a nation or individuals do not face truth, face the reality which stares them in the face, "he will destroy many," e.g., September 11, 2001, and the pilots whom Americans trained to fly jets into our buildings.  This is not "political correctness."  This is political stupidity.  I say again, This is not primarily a battle with Islam.  I have never heard any pundits, even they from the conservative network, Fox, speak of the real global war on terror.  This is not a handful of "radical Muslims."  This is, at its root, the Arab people group against the West and the Jews.  Islam was just a late-comer.  It developed from an Arab who wanted world domination.  THIS IS NOT A RELIGIOUS WAR.  THIS IS AN ETHNIC WAR.  The root of all so-called "religious wars" is ethnic and people group rule.  Do not be deceived.  If Israel, America and Western European nations do not elect leaders who see this, what we have seen go down in France is just a continuation of what is still to come.

Now I know that there are many who are going through very difficult times right now, physical, emotional, and spiritual, and I speak the comfort of Jesus to you.  Every entity which is out to destroy you has been destroyed in the Blood of Jesus, in the Cross of Jesus, in the Resurrection of Jesus, yes, "We are MORE than conquerors."  This and the multitude of the other promises of Jesus in His Words will keep you and me as we run our race.  When other's, "hearts [are] failing them from fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth," yours and mine will be strengthen in, "The Word of God," Jesus, "The Lord [Who] Is the Strength of my life."  But please always keep in mind that our personal state is not isolated from the community around us, local, national, or international.  The Enemy would like to keep us so caught up in our personal battles, our local churches, families, etc., to make us forget that we are a part of the global community.  There may just be some truth in the phrase, "One for all, all for one."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Glory to Your Name for Your Words which keep me in Your Truth.  Amen.
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We are almost half way there in our funds for the March Mission  

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

KTBTIB Nottingham sent you a video: "Webcam video from January 8, 2015 09:18 AM"

Some don't view the videos; some do.  Here is today's devotional for those who do.  If I do more, I promise to attempt to make them better quality.

KTBTIB Nottingham has shared a video with you on YouTube Why are we not able to receive what Jesus is so willing to give?

Some Things We Understand-Some Things We Don't

"....And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:7)

This was from my first quarter's latter New Testament reading.  I have read this passage more times than I can count.  It is one of the most familiar verses in all Christendom, especially among evangelicals, charismatics.  This time, however, something really stood out as never before, "....surpasses all understanding."  Now the Word of God tells us, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding", i.e., unless it is that understanding, "which surpasses all understanding."  Apparently our text seems to be in the category of eliminating, "all understanding," no matter how smart the preacher, your "spiritual hero," great men and women of the faith, you and me.  You and I and all the rest do not, will not, perhaps even will never understand the, "....peace of God...." 

The only thing left to do is accept/receive, "the peace of God."  I have said before that if you and I could understand, "the peace of God," then it would not have the kind of keeping/guarding power which, "your hearts and minds," need.  I confess that there is, in a very real sense, very little "understanding" I have of the Cross, "this present age," or, "the age to come," Heaven.  In fact, the longer I live (and I don't mean to attempt profundity here) how little I understand, period.  This one thing, however, I do understand: The person who believes/receives/builds his or her life upon what Jesus says, is the person who walks in the peace which is our Lord Jesus Christ, "For He is our peace...."  That is really all I need to know about, "the peace of God."

"Thy way, O God! is in the sea,
Thy paths I cannot trace;
Nor comprehend the mystery
Of Thine unbounded grace.
2. 'Tis but in part I know Thy will;
I bless Thee for the sight;
When will Thy love the rest reveal,
In glory's clearer light?
3. Here the dark veils of flesh and sense
My captive soul surround;
Mysterious deeps of providence
My wondering thoughts confound.
4. As through a glass I dimly see
The wonders of Thy love;
How little do I know of Thee,
Or of the joys above!
5. With rapture I shall soon survey
Thy providence and grace;
And spend as everlasting day
In wonder, love, and praise."   (John Fawdett, 1782)
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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

So You Want To Learn How To Pray

"Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications!  The Lord [Jesus] is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him [Jesus], and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.  The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.  Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, and bear them up forever." (Psalm 28:6-9)

Our text is both petition and profession/confession, as in, "hold fast the profession/confession of your faith."  You will find no greater petition, no greater, "profession of your faith," and comfort today than our text, e.g., "I am helped."  The Word of God's promise to you and me is quite clear; only failure to receive Jesus' Words furthers despair.

There is a 1952 jazz classic, "That's All."  I thought this after I read our texts/prayers this morning.  But one need be careful by what one means by "That's All."  As I was praying my "prayer list" this morning, at one point I prayed our text and thought, "Well, that's all I can do." Then it occurred to me what that statement can be saying,  It can be a sort of fatalism, "If I could do more, I would, but, alas, I cannot."  It can be code for unbelief.  But how can one do "more" than pray?  What does such a statement say about a possible latent attitude towards prayer?  If you say that it reveals some "doubt," possibly.  But to be "belief" is not what I "understand," or can grasp of Jesus' Purposes, or even begin to conceive of the greatness of His Person and the vastness of His Universe, His Words, but acceptance of what Jesus, "The Word of God," says.  To me faith is, "Whatever You say, Lord Jesus," not, "O, yes, I comprehend all You say."  Faith is not a mental process.  Faith is an obedience process.

The prayer requests which I receive, let alone the global need, is at times so overwhelming, so beyond comprehension that it does not take much for me to feel so very, very small, like sort of attempting to get a jumbo jet off the ground by picking it up and hurling it into the sky.  Silly, yes, but not much different from man's attempt to solve, or even help man in his deepest needs.  Just praying today for some situations, pains, and struggles makes me feel so small.  Now don't get "spiritual" on me and say, "Well, you should feel small."  Humility "small" is not what I am talking about.  It is a powerless-small.

But enter, our text:  What power, what guarantee from the Godhead, Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, what comfort, what peace to know that He Who formed the Universe, "by the Word of His power," formed you and me, sustains you and me, keeps you and me, now, tomorrow, eternally.  Read our text again; accept His Words for what they are, Jesus' Words.  Then,
"Sing them over again to me, Wonderful Words of Life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty. 
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that your are my, "saving refuge"; You, "save Your people, and...Shepherd them also."  Amen.
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March Mission:  March 10-31   

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

In Response To Several Reports and Requests

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.  Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins."  (Psalm 25:16-18, NIV)

I recently read a statistic from Gallup that 40,000,000 Americans suffer from some form of depression; they are not alone.  David knew depression, as well as so many other "great" people of the Bible and history.  So if you suffer from depression today, you are in good company.  It is nothing to be embarrassed about, nothing to go into deeper depression about, nothing about which you need allow the Enemy to condemn you.  The answer to depression is the same as anything else which afflicts mankind: How do I handle this?

Notice some of David's symptoms of depression, "....lonely and afflicted....the troubles of my heart...anguish....distress...all my sins."  Sound familiar?  Again, I challenge you to read the Bible with "truth glasses" rather than "I-already-know-all-that" glasses.  Never read the Bible with an attitude of familiarity; that is the utmost in presumption and irreverence.  There is a very real sense in which we need to heed the words of Brother Charles Simpson many years ago, "Beware of following the Ark too closely."  If we keep coming daily to, "the Words of God," with an attitude of awe and reverence, open to, "The Word of God," Who is Jesus Christ, then victory over, "lonely and afflicted....the troubles of my heart...anguish...distress...all my sins", is ours in Jesus, He Who promises, "I will never, no positively never, leave you, nor forsake you." 

"We wrestle not against flesh and blood," but we do wrestle, perhaps we could say not only with, "principalities and powers," but with life itself.  We understand so little of this earthly existence and sojourn.  Beware of "the Bible answer man," that personage who never says, "I don't know," because of life's most perplexing issues he/she does not.  When Stephen died, many people said, "Why?"  I did not, again, not because of some "spirituality," but perhaps I was just too stunned to ask anything.  Maybe also I realized then, as I do now, that in the final scheme of things, God's purposes are still a mystery; Eternity is a mystery; how Jesus works the universe and the affairs of men is a mystery.  

Our text reveals, as do so many other Biblical texts (Job, for instance) that those who have gone before us were not any different from us when it comes to the basic issues of life.  Away with such religious propaganda which offers answers and methods for every form of human suffering.  Away with, "Just do this, and everything will work out the way you want it to."  The Bible and Kingdom/Church History do not substantiate this thinking.

I encourage you to do what David did when faced with loneliness, affliction, troubles, anguish, distress, worries, sadness, misery, "all my sins."  He confessed his present state and prayed for deliverance, "Show that you care and have pity on me.  My awful worries keep growing.  Rescue me from sadness.  See my troubles and misery and forgive my sins" (CEV).  Jesus does this.  More importantly, Jesus Is this.  "Jesus is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear.  Jesus is the strength of my life, of whom/what shall I be afraid."  Confess this/Him continually.  Fill your mind with Jesus and His words, not "Days of Our Lives," or CNN or Fox News, not with whatever one fills their mind but neglects, "The Word of God."  There are so many who claim to have life's answers, but it is only Jesus Who can say to humanity with the Authority of the Godhead, "I am the Lord Thy God Who heals you ....I will take sickness out of the midst of you....I will restore health to you....Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest....You will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  This is Truth, not what a depressed mind might want to defeat a person with.  My choice and your choice today is:  Whom do we believe?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for all those who read this, and all who have requested prayer for depression, that they will allow You and Your Words to rule.  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