"Then You Shall Know...."

"Then you shall know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 7:4c)

When I read the whole chapter, viz., the context of our text, and similar declarations of the Word of God throughout Scripture, I experience a healthy, "fear of the Lord."

April 15 & 16 was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance.  The origin was in 1953 and was to be held on April 19, in honor of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising on that date in 1943 (just a couple of months before I was born).  Over the years variations on the dates and observances have changed for various reasons, but it is a crucial observance, and it is indeed a "Remembrance."  It is not just a remembrance of the past atrocities against Jews, but a remembrance of those who have perished in our life time and are still perishing at the hands of Anti-Christ forces in the earth.  We cannot control, "Never Again," but we can control what we do.  There is a very real philosophical sense that "remembrance" is not just of the past.  The same murderous spirit of the 1930s and '40s is still in the earth.

"Then you shall know that I am the Lord."  This occurs several places in Scriptures, and testifies to the fulfilled prophecies and declarations of the Living Triune God.  The exact words of our text occurs at least 27 times just in Ezekiel.  The history of the Jews as well as the Gentile nations attests to the reality of our text as well as a fundamental truth of human existence, "God is not mocked."  Jesus forgave sin and destroyed the power of the Enemy, "in His Cross."  Jesus did not, however, destroy the consequences of sin.  As someone once said, "I cannot sow my wild oats and pray for a crop failure."  This "theology" is a serious and "deadly" flaw in Christendom, and is increasing in its deception in this generation.

"Then you shall know that I am the Lord," when the consequences about which Jesus warns us is fulfilled.  And, "Then you shall know that I am the Lord," when Jesus brings us, "up out of a horrible pit," when Jesus demonstrates over and over that He is our Shepherd, and because Jesus is our Shepherd, "[We] have no lack."  And Jesus tells us, "In My Father's house.., I go to prepare a place for you."  In that day, my friend, perhaps as we can never know in this present age, "Then you shall know that I am the Lord."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I think I "know" that now, but not as I will.  Thank You.  Amen.

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MARCH OF REMEMBRANCE, PITTSBURGH:  April 19 at 15:00hrs.  We will meet at the corner of Forbes and Murray in Squirrel Hill.  See us on FaceBook.

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

Pass On His Compassion And Comfort

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4--NIV)

I think it necessary to always remember that God does not "use us" in the way many might think of such religious talk.  When I hear people say, "I just want God to use me," I many times shutter at the resemblance of slavery, viz., use me for a purpose other than me.  Our Lord Jesus does not do this.  Such "theology" leads to a thinking that one is not worth all that much as an individual, rather, only to the degree they can be "used."  Away with such perverted thinking.

The "reason" Jesus does all for us is that He loves us, cares for us, even if we are unable to do or say anything, go and preach, go on many missions, etc.  "For God loved the world this way: He gave...."---- and gives and gives and gives.  Jesus' love is a giving love, not a using love.  Our Living Triune God, Father, Son Jesus and Holy Spirit, does, however, want you and me to remember that His, "compassion and...comfort[]," extend beyond you and me to the suffering of the world.  It is a sort of, "Look what I have done for him/her.  Now allow me to do and Be the same for you?"

Our God is, "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us.., so that we can comfort those in any trouble."  Verse 5 then tells us, "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ."  And every day will provide ample opportunities to be such to others.

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me ever mindful and open to those who need, "comfort...in any trouble with comfort [I myself have] receive[ed] from [You]."  Amen.
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You can watch the live broadcast of my interview on CTVN tomorrow at 09:00 on your computer.  Go to CTVN and click on-- CTVN Player.

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-- It Is Not As It May Seem

"Save me, O God!  For the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.  I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God."  (Psalm 69:1-3)

Many people have been here at one time or another in their life.  Consider carefully the wording of David's prayer.  I simply cannot imagine a prayer which expresses deep, deep sorrow and pain any more precisely than our text.  45 years ago, I was there.

When you cannot find words to say, as the hymn writer said, "in seasons of distress and grief," pray our text.  And pray knowing that our Lord Jesus does not leave us destitute.  The dictionary describes destitute as, "lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished."  No matter how deep the pain, physical, emotional, mental, you and I are never "lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished."  We may be close to that, but notwithstanding, "The Lord Jesus is my Shepherd, I lack nothing."

You and I today have the "resources.., the means of subsistence."  We are not "completely impoverished."  We, "lack nothing," i.e., nothing which sustains us, keeps us, and enables us to be triumphant in the most desperate of human conditions.   Jesus again reminds you and me today that when Psalm 69:1-3 seems to be the "theme" of life, Jesus Himself has triumphed over that theme of destruction and hopelessness and made Psalm 40:1-3 our theme.  "I waited patiently for the Lord Jesus; and He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."  Even when it appears not so, it is so.  Open your eyes today, and see Jesus.  We then realize that there is no, "deep waters," no, "floods overflow me," no, "slimy pit," no, "mud and mire," no dryness in life which can "dehydrate" us into oblivion.  Remember?  "We are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You always triumph over the destructive forces.  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

"When My Heart Is Overwhelmed," My Rock Is Not

"From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever."  (Psalm 61)

"The rock...is higher than I," and, "higher than," everyone else who lives or ever lived on Planet Earth, higher than any philosophy/religion/theology of man which has attempted to usurp Jesus Christ.  If all the "high and mighty" people, viz., people who think they know best, can run their lives best, do not need anything or anyone other than their own stubborn pride to get them through this life would realize what this powerful "shepherd/king" of Israel realized, their lives would be full of The Peace, "which (Who) passes all understanding," and the Very "Cure" for when, "my heart is overwhelmed...."

We learned today that a daughter of some old friends of ours lost her baby.  We don't know how far along the pregnancy was, but when the daughter went for a routine sonogram, they discovered that the baby had been dead for three weeks. 

There are no words. 

There is, however, as I discovered and continue to discover every day, every moment of every day, the reality of our text.  Life will overwhelm every heart which is not rooted in Jesus.  The attempts of humanity to do life on its own would be laughable, if not so pathetically sad.  In such times, we all need, "The Rock [Who] Is Higher than I."

"Their rock is not like our Rock," Moses reminded the Jews.  Those, "God-Breathed," Words are still breathing on/in you and me today.  Daily, as you and I face the day, we have the very Breath of Jesus, His Blessed Majesty, The Holy Spirit, moved and "overseen" by, "Our Father," comforting our, "heart...overwhelmed."  Now in Jesus, Father does not just, "lead me to the rock that is higher than I"; the Living Triune God in Jesus Is My Rock, overwhelming that which would overwhelm my heart, that which would discourage me, defeat me.  Jesus, My Rock, living, dwelling in me and I in Him, is my, "strong tower from the enemy." 

Today, you and I have the great promise that no matter what may come our way, Jesus Is our, "strong tower from the enemy."  And because He Is, "I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings", Lord Jesus--------------------- "forever"!

Father, in Jesus' Name, no one or nothing can comfort, "overwhelmed," hearts as You.  Amen.
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Please pray for the interview on CTV this coming Thursday at 09:00

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