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Friday, February 6, 2015

It's Obvious That I Have Just Returned From DC

"At this same place, build an altar for offering sacrifices to the Lord your GodBut don't use stones that have been cut with iron tools." (Dt. 27:5, CEV-- from yesterday's reading)

In other words, "Use only what I have made.  Do not alter it in any way."  After I had preached many years ago, a young couple came to me and said that it was the best sermon they had ever heard.  That morning I just read through the whole Book of Ephesians.  "Selah."

At the Presidential Pray Breakfast Obama had the nerve to lecture Christendom on moral history, comparing ISIS to the Crusades.  Forgive me, but it has appeared to me that Barack Obama's loyalty is to his African Islamist father, not to America.  It can in reality be said of Obama and other humanists what the Bible declares of those who refuse to believe Jesus, "For they willfully overlook and forget...."  Forget the superficial moralizing of those, "who know not the truth."  They are just the cliche-people of, "If they were really Christian."  If you take the superficial reasoning to its logical conclusion of those who self-righteously attack the Crusades, then "Christians" should just have allowed Hitler, Stalin, and Mao to overrun the world.

In response to the Islamists persecution and near destruction of the Church in the Middle East, nearly 1000 years ago Pope Urban II sent out this response to a plea to free Eastern Christians from Muslim rule:  "From the confines of Jerusalem and the city of Constantinople a horrible tale has gone forth and very frequently has been brought to our ears, namely, that a race from the kingdom of the Persians…has invaded the lands of those Christians and has depopulated them by the sword, pillage and fire; it has led away a part of the captives into its own country [as slaves], and a part it has destroyed by cruel tortures; it has either entirely destroyed the churches of God or appropriated them for the rites of its own religion ….  What shall I say of the abominable rape of the women? To speak of it is worse than to be silent….On whom therefore is the labor of avenging these wrongs and of recovering this territory incumbent, if not upon you?  You, upon whom above other nations God has conferred remarkable glory in arms, great courage, bodily activity, and strength…."  If we are not led by the Holy Spirit and the Words of Jesus, if we are not submissive to Jesus and His purposes in history, we will be submissive to something and someone else--------- and they will rule us.

Lies have gone forth to mankind from the Garden.  Global television and other media are filled with outright as well as disguised lies.  These lies and deceptions are uttered by those who, "build an altar," but use tools, "that have been cut with iron tools."   There are two "weapons" which will help us continue to walk in the truth, the Bible and a knowledge of history.  I repeat a statement of Brother Charles from many years ago, "Without a sense of history the People of God cannot go on," viz., in the purposes of Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom.  Watch Obama and the other humanists in the American Government as well as those in the governments of other countries.  I pray for their conversion, but there is an alarming declaration about those who refuse to Follow Jesus, obey Jesus, and worship Jesus.  They will, "go from bad to worse." 

Be alert.  Watch.  Beware.  Keep vigilant.  Abide in Jesus, and keep His words abiding in you.  As we do this, we will be kept from the Evil One and those who serve him.  I pray for many things, but I pray primarily that I recognize what Jesus has done throughout history and what Jesus is doing in the earth today.  Only those who know Jesus and obey Jesus' Words will navigate the torrential waters of Earth's remaining days.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to not, "use stones that have been cut with iron tools."  Amen.
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The First Nations People Group (Indians) comprise 1% of the population------ and 8% of the homeless.   

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Here Is Some Good News, Rather, GREAT NEWS

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are...."  (Hebrews 4:15)

The NIV says, "Who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses...."  And the, "tempted," here is not just envy, covetousness, lust, hate, etc.  It is also the, "tempted," to discouragement, feeling abandoned by God, and what Mumford called, "GB," i.e., the Jews desire in the wilderness to "Go Back" to Egypt.  

Our text is not speaking of a "god" who sits somewhere in an isolated part of the universe and says, "Ah, I understand what you are going through, and I really feel for you.  You must know that I love you and care about you."  Now in most instances of deep human suffering that is about all most of us can say; not so, "The Word of God.., living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow," Jesus the Christ.  Too many limit this passage to a sort of "I'm-going-to-get you" theology.  Yes, there may be an accountability in these words, but there is also great comfort.  It reveals the depths of Jesus' love and power.  It reveals just how deeply Jesus in the Holy Spirit penetrates our deepest sorrows, sicknesses, pains, grief. 

Jesus does not "put yourself in my place."  Jesus took our place.  Everything you or I or anyone on Planet Earth is right now going through Jesus bore, "in His own body on the tree (Cross)."  Everything out to destroy you and me Jesus destroyed, "in His Own Body on the Cross."  Peter tells us that Jesus took that "stuff" to Hell itself.  Historic Christianity teaches that He left it there, destroyed, no more to destroy those who love and obey Jesus Christ.  That does not mean we don't go through what we may be going through, but it does mean that whatever it is, whoever it is, it/they cannot destroy you in the hour of great suffering.  "Christus Victor."  And because Jesus is "Victor," so are you and I, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die....Because I live, you shall live also."

Father, in Jesus' Name, how wonderfully pleasant and comforting are You and Your Word.  Amen.
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Two new articles at: jhs58.blogspot.com
Getting closer to our goal for both the DC and Berlin/Prague Mission.  Many thanks to those who have already contributed.  We greatly desire your on going prayers for the Missions and our daily lives/service.  I leave tomorrow, 2/4 at 08:15 and will arrive home around 17:00 on Thursday, 2/5.

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

Monday, February 2, 2015

"Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted"

"The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." (Psalm 9:9)

I received the "2015 World Watch List" today from Open Doors With Brother Andrew.  There is an event in Washington, DC, this coming Thursday sponsored by FRC at which the US President of Open Doors will be presenting more info.
  I am coordinating this month's DC Mission with this event.  I am also contemplating a local update on all of this at a spot in the Greensburg area.  If you would be interested, let me know.

N
orth Korea of course is in the number one spot of persecution of the Church.  Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan are in the numbers 2-8 category, all nations which the United States has virtually abandoned.  These countries are listed in the "Extreme Persecution" category.  It was a little surprising to me that India is listed is the next category, "Severe Persecution," but no surprise that the nation which America abandoned because of the self-centered, self absorbed "Baby Boomers," Viet Nam, was also listed as "Severe Persecution."

"
Now wait a minute," some may be saying.  I wanted a devotional that would bless me."  Well, if you are a servant of Jesus Christ, committed to obeying Jesus and living as a faithful servant of and to the Church of Jesus and His Kingdom, here it is.  "It is more blessed to give than to receive," right?!?  Yet if you peruse the "Christian Television," you get the idea that the opposite is true.

I encourage you today to take a moment to pray for the
suffering, yet triumphant, Church of Jesus Christ around the world.  As you may, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," pray for the peace of the global Church.  Pray for the Brethren languishing in prisons, Brethren with little or nothing of which those of us enjoy, cut off from family, many of whom suffering torture for the Name of Jesus.  So far, you and I have not had to go through this. 

You won
't here this on pop religion television, but it is nonetheless the truth, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  I wonder what "ours" is.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my Refuge, and, "a refuge for the oppressed."  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

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