"Rock Of Unyielding Strength."

"With God (The Living Triune God revealed solely in Jesus) rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God!"  (From today's Psalm reading in the Amplified Bible-- Psalm 62:7)

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

"Do You Believe This?"

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?'" (John 11:25, 26)

"Jesus said to her," and He continually says the same to you and me.  The question still remains, however, "Do you believe this?"

It was 45 years ago today.  Nothing has changed in me.  The sorrow and loss are still the same as that moment 45 years ago when Stephen Paul left us, indeed, for "a better place," but a void in me never to be filled in this life, only when "The Trumpet Sounds"!

As I stood at the graveside ceremony a couple days later, there in the midst of grave stones almost as far as the eye could see, and at that point in our family there was only the grave marker of my Grandpa Barnette just a few yards away, the Word of Jesus in our text rang deep and powerful and sustaining, just as He does today.  Ironically, I was a day behind in my reading, and it was this very day, June 12, 2015, that I read our text.  There is just nothing else one can say. 

On this historic day for Sarah and me, I pray that you too find in Jesus and His Words what we find continually.  There is no other life, indeed, there is no life at all apart from Jesus, Who is, "....the Life."

Father, in Jesus' Name, understanding is not what I can receive, just You and Your Words---- and thank You so much for You.  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

None Other

"This is how God loved the world: He gave [us Jesus]...."  (John 3:16)

I am in the first 11 chapters of John today.  If most were to hear someone today claim what Jesus claimed, they would accuse him of lunacy, egocentricity, and/or certifiably insane.  Indeed, many in the First Century said, "He has lost His senses"(NASB).  Someone once said, "We cannot be neutral about the claims of Christ, and here are some of them:  "....All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father....If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me....Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you have no life in you....Before Abraham was, I Am....I and the Father are one....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."

Some have asked over the years why I speak and write so much of Jesus.  The answer is really quite simple.  Jesus has saved me, is saving me, and will continue to save me.  I was lost; if Paul said, "that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief," there then must be a ranking above "chief" for me.  Tomorrow will be the 45th anniversary of our son, Stephen's passing.  I could not go on having lost him without the sustaining love, presence, power, and peace, Who is Jesus.  So, you see, Jesus saves, is saving, and will continue to save.

If the "modern" Church does not write about, preach about, sing about Jesus, " you have no life in you."  Christendom is losing adherents daily at an alarming rate.  There may be many reasons for this.  Perhaps one of the worst is that we have presented religious formulae to the world rather than, "....no one comes to the Father, but by Me." 

I tell you most assuredly, my friend, no one on Planet Earth or in the Universe knows or even begins to understand God apart from Jesus Christ.  I again share what Pascal wrote, " We know God only by Jesus Christ.  Without this mediator all communion with God is taken away....Not only do we know God by Jesus Christ alone, but we know ourselves only by Jesus Christ.  We know life and death only through Jesus Christ.  Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves."  Pascal, as with those referred to in Revelation 12, overcame, "....by the Word to which (he) bore witness," and that Word is Jesus Christ. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me ever in Your purposes.  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

How To Avoid The Issue

"They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant."  (Mark 9:10, NASB)

The Amplified says, "So they carefully and faithfully kept the matter to themselves, questioning and disputing with one another...."  Notice that the disciples were not listening to the "subject," the theme, if you will, of what Jesus was talking about.  When people are so inclined, they take the posture of the disciples, "....they  seized upon that statement," viz., "that statement," which seems most removed from me at the moment, lest some sort of conviction or some sort of "word" I don't like get a hold of me.  People have to take such an approach, otherwise their own little religious agenda, their own interests will be exposed.  Mostly, it is just an attempt to avoid what Jesus is saying to us at that that moment.  Such is the case of our text.

Why is it that so many tend to, "....seize[] upon that statement," viz., a statement which is not the subject of what was said?  In the case of our text, three of them had just witnessed one of the, if we could say it, greatest revelations in history.  They witnessed Jesus with Moses and Elijah speaking of the coming Cross, something which perhaps should have brought some deep moments of reflection.  But no; they did not focus on Jesus' Resurrection.  They just discussed, "what rising from the dead meant."  It seemed to just turn into some vague, philosophical discussion.  Beware!

I should take more time to develop this, but I am usually too wordy anyway.  Suffice it to say that you and I must be people of the Book, people full of the Holy Spirit, "Looking unto Jesus," if we are to stay away from the tributaries of life's journey.  We do want, do we not, to stay in the main stream of Jesus' purposes, not just for us individually, or for the Church, but also the Kingdom.  Distraction with "good things" is always the enemy of what Jesus is saying to you and me, to the Church, yes, even the World.  It is so necessary for us to seek Jesus on what He is "doing," on what Revelation 2:7 says literally, "The one having an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me from getting lost in the tributaries.  Amen.
***************
Please remember to pray for provision for the David's Tent, September 18-22.  I am halfway there.

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

A Prayer Followed By A Chuckle

"....for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate."  (Isaiah 28:5, 6)

The context says, "In that day."  Yet I believe praying people in every "day" are, "those who turn back the battle at the gate."  Praying people, however, as with all, have weaknesses, lapses which may confuse some, but only those who have an inflated opinion of themselves.

Every day I pray for the requests on the Open Doors With Brother Andrew Site.  This morning there was a request which was like many others, but today a chuckle just came out of me.  My first reaction was embarrassment, an embarrassment that may have revealed something deeper in me.  Do I believe our Lord Jesus Christ for the impossible----- really? 

During the communist era in Eastern Europe I was praying one day for the Soviet Union, the Church, the government.  I had just read about Israel's crossing of the Red Sea, and Jesus spoke to my heart very clearly.  "You think you believe that I did this.  Do you believe I can deal with ICBMs?"  Maybe our Lord does not speak rhetorically, but I did sense that in the question.  It was a very searching question.

You may be engaged in some particular "battle."  We all are.  But let's overcome that "chuckle," that doubt, that "Can-He-really-do-this?"  Jesus is Himself, "for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, may there be no more chuckles.  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

"To Him Be Glory In The Church and In Christ Jesus"

"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-- to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever...."  (Ephesians 3:20, 21--Amplified Bible)

Many times when I hear the first part of our text quoted, it is, "....to Him be glory in the Church."  "....and in Christ Jesus," is usually left out.  It may seem subtle, but to me it is a master stroke of the Enemy to confuse humanity as to the purpose of the Living Triune God. 

The Gospel is Jesus Christ.  It is not a "plan of salvation," not a how-to-get-to-Heaven, not an escape from judgment.  Though the aforementioned is certainly included in The Gospel, they are not central, fundamental.  When a "plan" is emphasized, when a get-you-somewhere, when an escape-from-something are emphasized, it is a diversion which confuses humanity as to just what the purpose really is of life, "Abide in Me."  Does this not thrill you?  Isn't is far more wonderful that, "the faith of Jesus," is the faith of relationship with and in a Person, not a formula?!?

The Church and Jesus Christ are synonymous.  We are, as the Scriptures say, "The Body of Christ."  We are not the body of worship, or prayer, or projects; therefore, worship, prayer, and missions, feeding the poor, service of any kind is the Church, "in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever."  And, "....forever and ever," tells me that this will be the case in Eternity.  The Blessed Trinity does not break up "when we all get to Heaven."  Only Jesus "defines" Father to us.  Only to Jesus is the One Whom the Holy testifies.  Only through the Blood of Jesus is the forgiveness of sin.  Only through and in the Blood of Jesus are we going to Heaven.  Only in and through the Blood of Jesus are we preserved and kept safe in the Living Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and eternally.

It follows, then, that no person who ever comes among the "Church Gathered" should ever leave not knowing why we were gathered.  Jesus' Name should fill the air in worship, prayers, sermons.  It is Biblically correct to say, "To Him (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) be glory in the Church...in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.  Amen."

Father, in Jesus' Name, in a world which is so confused as to just what You have intended for us all, "let Jesus Christ be praised."  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