Next Devotional--Probably March 10

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Luke 21:33, NIV)

This is my quarterly "stop" in Luke 21.  It contains, in my opinion, one of the most significant prophetic passages of my generation, "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."  Some do not believe that has happened; I do.  Israel controls all of Jerusalem, yes, even the Temple Mount, home of the pagan, "Dome of the Rock."  I have been there, and even though there is some restricted access to the site by the Arabs, I saw that there is no doubt who really controls it.  One time the Arabs were not going to allow us to enter the area, but Israeli soldiers went to them, spoke some words, and voila, we were allowed.

When I saw Israeli soldiers praying at the Western Wall of the Second Temple in June of 1967, when Jerusalem was in control of the Jews, both "East" and "West," for the first time in over 2500 years, I thought, "Dear Lord Jesus, has the 'time' come.'"  Now I don't want to take up too much of your time today in going on about what I "saw," but in 1970, my Dad and I were in a conference where Morris Cerello prophesied the same thing.  He even went on to say, however, that "Jesus Christ is coming in 'our day.'"  Regardless, I encourage you today and remind you that our text is, "The way and the truth and the life," because it is Words of Him Who is the "God-Breathed" Word, the Incarnation of, "the words of God," even Jesus Christ.  You and I are watching Biblical Prophesy being fulfilled at a more rapid rate than I think even Van Impe realizes.  

v. 8: "Watch out that you are not deceived." 
v. 9: "These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." 
v. 12: "But before all this...." 
v. 17: "Everyone will hate you because of Me." 
v. 27: "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 
v. 34: "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down...." 
v. 36: "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may stand before the Son of Man."

The above texts were what "stood out" to me today.  I pray that they will be comfort, caution, warning, confidence-builders in your day today.  I do so encourage you to regular read, "the Words of God," for in those Words is, "The Word of God," Jesus, teaching, warning, comforting, empowering.  You and I are at the center of prophetic, historic happenings, and our Lord Jesus Christ tells you and me, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your hears, because your redemption is drawing near."

Father, in Jesus' Name, fulfill all these Words in me, and write them in my heart.  Amen.
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March 9-31 Mission, in obedience to and revelation of Jesus' Words in Luke 21--
ALL PRAYERS GREATLY APPRECIATED.  Please put a sticky note on your frig to remind 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

"....I Myself Will Be a Wall of Fire Around It...."

"I asked, 'Where are you going?'  He answered me, 'To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is....And I Myself will be a wall of fire around it....''"  (Zechariah 2:2 & 5, NIV)

I tell you; reading the morning Bible is like reading the morning newspaper.  Our text is from today's "Minor Prophets" reading.  This is going on right now.  Read the paper, watch/listen to the news.  "He is risen."

You must read the whole chapter to get the "whole picture;" it's very short.  It's quite interesting that the, "man," in verse 1 becomes, "the angel," in verse 3.  I don't want to get into "angel theology," but too many times the word implies for too many people some strange being with wings.  The main thing is that they are messengers to us from the Lord of Heaven and Earth; here, the word comes from, "a man."  Many times it is a reference to Jesus Himself.  The message reveals a preparation for the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it.  Come!  Come!  Flee from the land of the north' (France, England, Germany, Russia?) declares the Lord, 'for I ("let the reader understand") have scattered you to the four winds (America, Australia, Argentina?) of heaven'...."  Zechariah 2 is quite clear.  The Lord of Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, "scattered," the Jews throughout the earth; man did not.  Now, He declares that it is time to "come home."

Notice the promise to Jerusalem and to those who love Jerusalem in verse 5, "And I Myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the Lord, 'and I will be its glory within.'"  This is what we could call unfolding prophesy.  This is happening as I write and as you read.  This is the Word of God, Who/Which is, "forever settled in the heavens."  This is the spoken and written word of Him Who Alone is, "The Word of God," Jesus.  This is Certain Word, Final Word, Sure-to-come-to pass Word.  And, my friend, this is Jesus' Word to you and me.  Yes, it is to the Jews.  Yes, it speaks to Jerusalem, Israel.  But also, yes, it speaks to all of us, "who follow the Lamb wherever He goes," to those whose hope, trust, obedience and love is Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  It is security-guarantee word, because Jesus is our Security-Guarantee Word.

I can say with absolutely certainty that while the global events spoken of in our text are now being fulfilled concerning Jerusalem and the Jews, and so too is the "gathering" of the Church and the, "wall of fire," around the Church, of which I'm sure you are aware, includes conclusively you and me.  You and I need not worry today, not fret, not live in fear, but rather in the reality that Jesus Himself is our, "wall of fire," impenetrable by any force of Hell, any, "prince of Persia," or, "prince of Greece," or, "prince of," any kingdom, nation, or people group on Planet Earth.  Whatever we face today we can face securely within the, "wall of fire," of the Blessed Trinity.  Maybe it's just another take on, "He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and with fire"!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that so many times I'm just speechless before Your unfathomable Word.  Amen.
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2015 Mission to Berlin, March 9-31
March 17-19:    Prague, Czech Republic
March 19, 20:  Tubingen, Germany

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 NOT Arrogance

"They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us...."  (1 John 4)

I recently finished 1 John, and have made a commitment to embrace fully our text.  Many believe our text to be arrogance, pride, presumption.  It just happens, however, to be, "the Words of God."  If you and I cannot get past the humble-bumble attitude of the "flesh," we will not survive, nor overcome in this life.  There is a truth here which we must embrace, live and sustain in us if we are to live the life of Jesus Christ.

I listened to PM Netanyahu's speech before the America Congress today, and noted the White House's response to that speech.  The current American Administration reacted like kids in a playground brawl, like a street agitator, "community organizer."  There is no doubt that the current American President is way beyond his pay grade.  I think PM Netanyahu summed it up when he said (and I paraphrase here) many think in 10 year terms.  Jews think in 4000 year terms.  Most Americans, including those in the Executive and Legislative Branches of their government, think short term, what will keep them "elected" and satisfy their lust and pleasure.  Netanyahu's speech today to the American Congress revealed a man of a very ancient People Group, a man who realizes that a person or nation who does not think in the scope of human history, is a person and nation that will "perish from the earth."  I think there is a very real sense that what the Israeli PM said today and Obama's reaction to it is a living example of our text, yes, I do.

This same dilemma dominates modern Christendom.  You may wonder why I use the term "Christendom."  I use it because I am saying that not all in Christendom, e.g., church-goers, christianeze talkers, etc., are Followers of Jesus.  Far too many in Christendom are acculturated "christians," people who think, speak and act more like their culture than the Covenant People described in the Bible; hence, "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world."  This is true of the world's media, e.g., BBC, CNN, MSNBC, even too many on FOX.  Certainly this is true of many Believer's family group, fellow workers, etc.

I repeat; what we read in our text seems most arrogant to the world, "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us."  I have wrestled with this all my life.  But away with such false humility.  If you and I are going to survive and overcome in what Jesus calls, "a perverse generation," we will not run from our text, but rather embrace it and walk in it/Him.  "We are from God," because we are from The Son Jesus and Holy Spirit.  And arrogance of arrogance, at least to, "the viewpoint of the world," we must affirm the truth that follows our text, "This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."  Like it or not, accept it or not, if Jesus Christ lives, rules and abides in you and me, "....whoever knows God listens to us...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to walk in You in such an attitude.  Amen.
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* Please say some prayers for our upcoming, Berlin, Prague, Tubingen mission
* It's not too late to invest in this 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

"Real Food And...Real Drink"

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.... Whoever eats my flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."  (John 6)

Fewer words in human history have precipitated such controversy, such error and such misunderstanding.  I am not saying that I can "clear this up," but I do so appreciate Jesus' invitation to you and me.  It is classic, "Come and dine."  And I can tell you also that nothing has so "puzzled" me and yet, at the same time, thrilled my soul as the Words of our text, "God-Breathed," Words, Words as Micah says, "from days of eternity."  They are "beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life."

We "sat" with Jesus at His Table yesterday in our church gathering.  That Last Passover Jesus spent with His friends must have been something of historic/eternal beauty.  But you and I need not "long" for something as in "what would Jesus do?"  Every time you and I participate in the Table of the Lord Jesus, aka, communion, we are "doing" what Jesus does, now, "wherever two or three are gathered together in [Jesus'] Name," that Passover meal with/in Jesus, table prepared, fellowship and celebration of the Lord God's great deliverance from Egypt, from all attempts at Israel's destruction, and most notably, "....I shall give...My flesh...for the life of the world," everyone whoever lived and shall live.  Only in the flesh and blood of Jesus is the deliverance from the power of sin, and the the great promise, "and I will raise him up at the last day,"  the glorious, peace and happiness and comfort of the forgiveness of sin, "in His Cross."

People recoiled at the first time they heard the words, "eat my flesh and drink my blood."  They still do, even some "believers."  Over the years, I have come more and more to appreciate the invitation, the command.  We sometimes exhort one another to "feed on Jesus," and other such attempts to describe the mostly unimaginable.  Such intimacy, such love, such "family," such wondrous love in the Blessed Trinity to invite us to, "eat My flesh...and drink [My] blood."  Gorge yourself today, my friend.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I receive.  Amen.
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Prime Minster, Benjamin Netanyahu is to address the United States of America Congress tomorrow, March, 3, at 11:00.  Coverage on some networks will begin earlier.  I prayed in the spirit the whole time he spoke at AIPAC.  I plan to do the same tomorrow.  He did a great job today, in spite of the vicious attacks of the Administration and cronies, and the Media.  Senator Feinstein said, "He's arrogant."  Others are saying it was all political.  It was not political.  Netanyahu said, "America is concerned about its security.  Israel is concerned about its survival."  Great line, Bibi.
 

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