"I Follow"--------------

"One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.'" (1 Corinthians 1:12, NIV)

And somehow the latter can be the most dangerous, always going "one-up" on the less "spiritual."

The reason so many have gone astray over the centuries is not false teaching; it's false following.  This is why millions pray to Mary.  This is why people paid indulgences.  This is why there is "replacement theology."  This is why so many worship mega churches and in mega churches, and disdain house churches or anything small.  This is why there are homosexual "churches."  False following is the reason the evangelical church is declining, "God is not mocked."  Regardless of what people say about Martin Luther, he "followed" The Word of God.

So many person's theology is just parroting pop leaders' cliches.  They won't think for themselves, because the word of man has replaced, "The Word of God."  They believe, not what the Bible teaches, but only what televangelists, pastors, teachers, bishops, popes, etc. tell them to believe.  I can tell you the main reason American Politics is in such turmoil is that "me and mine" rule.  We took the Bible out of the state school system; Darwin replaced "The Word of God."  As a result, America has "evolved" from affirmation of the Bible to affirmation of self------ Germany, 1932.

The best thing that can happen to Global Christianity is, as Jerry Falwell once said, "Every Believer should read every word in the Bible at least once a year."  Small group Bible studies and prayer meetings, led by people with no personal agenda other than the glory, exaltation, and worship of the Living Triune God, revealed in Jesus Christ, and not building personal empires, should take priority over any other "church program."  Yes, of course, we still need the "fivefold services," aka "ministries," the Pauls, the Apollos, etc.  I believe, however, there would be far fewer "burn-outs," far few "disillusioned," far fewer discouraged at unfulfilled "dreams," if our "dreams" were shaped by the Words of Jesus. 

Only, "The Word of God," Jesus and His Words, are, "a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path."  There are no blind paths in Jesus.  There are no unfulfilled dreams in Jesus, because Jesus has fulfilled all the "reality" dreams.  If we are going to be "mindless" followers of anybody in these days, then it is best that we surrender our minds to our Lord Jesus Christ, viz, "we have the mind of Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, for your continual gift of discernment I pray.  Keep me in You and in, "Your... Path."  Amen.
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Please pray for "David's Tent" which begins on September, 11, 2015, and goes through the 2016 US Election.  I will be there this Fall from September 18-22.  It would be great to have some join me while I am 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

"....The God Who Gives Endurance And Encouragement"

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings (doubt, hesitation) of the weak and not to please ourselves." (Romans 15:1, NIV)

Because we never know when we may be, "of the weak."  And, "the failings, doubts, hesitations," have assailed us all at times.  Beware any superiority attitude; it can happen to anyone.

The Holy Spirit continues, "Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.  For even Christ did not please Himself but, as it is written: 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on Me.'  The word translated, "please," here is literally, 'serve', with the idea of willing service rendered to others.  One Greek scholar says it can almost be, "I serve."  This is so consistent with our Lord Jesus Christ.  Then further in chapter 15 we read, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."  And it is consistent to say, Be sure to, "serve," that, "encouragement (and) hope," to others. 

It is not cliche to say that our Lord Jesus Christ was/is, indeed, not a, but THE "Man for others."  In the Gospels we see Him always going "out of His way" to encounter the marginalized of the culture.  Do I?  Too many "ministries" exist for themselves.  They appear to "serve" others, but in reality are serving themselves.  Many have become quite wealthy in raising funds to help, "the weak."  I once heard a man say, "I have to preach."  My thought was, Why?  I had the sense that preaching was more important to him than serving, "the weak."  Moreover, you have heard the statement, "It's such a good feeling to help others."  The emphasis here is "good feelings."  I can tell you, my friend, that I have been in many situations of service that did not give me "good feelings," after the fact perhaps, but during was another matter.  "Then why do such things?" some may ask.  The answer is in Jesus' Word to us, "Wherever I am, there My servant will be also."  It matters not the "feelings;" only the "location."  If we have "good feelings" about our work, that is not, of course, a "bad" thing.  The "main thing," however, is to, "be about My Father's business....wherever I (Jesus) am."

Romans 15 is a good "attitude" check.  Our attitude is to be, "....bear with the failings of the weak and not ourselves....May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other."  This is Church Theology 101.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Scriptures do so provide me with, "encouragement," and, "hope."  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

"In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear.  What can flesh do to me?"  (Psalm 56:4)

....In the s0-called "natural," apparently, a lot.  They can rob us, ostracize us, kill us; history attests to this.  What man cannot do, however, is destroy us, "The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still."

Notice, "The body they may kill...."  They can, and they have.  Millions of Followers of Jesus have been brutally tortured, lost property, finances and murdered throughout the centuries.  It is said that when they attempted to burn Polycarp at the stake, his body would not burn.  Failing to burn him after three attempts, they then stabbed him.  He is to have said while the flames were raging but powerless to kill him, something like, "I will not die until the Lord Jesus allows."  Polycarp demonstrated, "In God (I will praise His Word)...."

"I will not fear.  What can flesh do to me?"  Can we not also say, "What can his Satanic majesty do to me?"  Can we not also say this to disease, pestilence, societal and global collapse?  Fear of the uncertain and unknown is prevalent in humanity, and there are many who profit by such fear mongering.  Don't listen to them.  Don't allow their humanistic reasoning and life-philosophy control you.  Let this rule: "In God (I will praise His Word), in God (Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit) I have put my trust; I will not fear."

Notice David's reasoning for, "What can flesh do to me?"  He committed himself to, "In God (I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust...."  David is in faith's "hall of fame" in Hebrews.  All of these were, "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than...treasures...; for [they were] looking to the reward.  By faith...[they] endured, as seeing Him Who is unseen."  There it is, my friend.  You and I endure in this life, "seeing Him Who is unseen..., looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the same, and has sat down...."

You and I can "sit down" today in perfect peace because as Isaiah 26 declares, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Himself, is the Rock Eternal." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I readily confess that I only have, "perfect peace," when my mind is steadfastly on You.  Amen.
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Join me at David's Tent in DC any time from the afternoon of September 18 to the afternoon of September 22

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

The "Spirit" And "Heart" God "Will Not Despise"

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)

The word for, "broken," means, "broken in pieces, break down."  The word for, "contrite," means, "crushed."  The state of, "broken in pieces, break down," and, "crushed," is a very severe state, indeed, but it is the, "spirit... and ...heart," which our Lord Jesus Christ, "....will not despise." 

In recent years there has been a lot of talk about "brokenness."  People say, "O, that person is so broken."  But according to our text, that's good.  Maybe behind that "poor self image," that defeated countenance is a prospect for, "a broken and a contrite heart," a heart which walks in repentance.  Since this is the person Jesus, "will not despise," then brokenness and contrition is good.

I once met a member of the German Government who was also a member of the EU Parliament, and was a friend of Ex German Chancellor Gerard Schroder.  Both men were born during the last days of WW 2.  He said, "We were the generation who grew up and asked, "What have you done?!?"------ what chilling words.  Too many Germans are not, however, "broken," nor do they have a, "crushed heart," as our text expresses.  They were a people group which was "found out."  Now let me say that no American has any right to disparage them.  Post WW 1 Germany was beyond horrendous.  They had no history of democratic government, violence, murder, conspiracy ruled the streets.  Yet generations of militarism and anti Semitism finally caught up with them, along with the ego appeal of Hitler that the German was the "master race."  They bought it, elected it, went along with it.  Then, as they walked through their devastated cities and countryside, despair, discouragement, embarrassment, and anger ruled in most hearts------- and is still too prevalent today.  This is not Biblical, "a broken spirit and a contrite heart," nor repentance.  I recently heard a young German say, "Sometimes it's embarrassing to say I'm German."  I pray for her and the German People.

I wonder what would have happened to David if he had not been caught.  This is true with most.  They believe that saving their own reputation is more important than, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight...."  Regardless, Nathan was Jesus' gift to David.  His, "Good Shepherd," confronted him in his sin and David's, "....broken and...contrite heart," which is another way of describing repentance, set him up for forgiveness and restoration.  When life does not turn out the way you wanted and/or expected, when our sin "catches up" with us, there are two ways to deal with it: Live in resentment and blame, or have a, "broken in pieces, crushed heart."  The reward has no equal: "These, O God, You will not despise."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for a continual, "broken and a contrite heart."  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

Hebrews 11 Time

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not make out of what was visible."  (Hebrews 11:3a, NIV)

Biblically, another word for, "faith," is, "obedience."  Hence, "By obedience we understand."

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed",  not by Carl Sagan or Charles Darwin.  Understanding is receiving, not mental comprehension.  Comprehend, if you will, that you are right now traveling at the speed of 67,000 mph.  Comprehend life and death, Salvation, indeed, the "mysteries of life."  Or, "Before the beginning began, the Word already was."  The word for, "understand," here means to "consider, to apprehend."  Could it be, "Consider, then believe and receive what I'm telling you?"  And when we speak of a criminal being apprehended, we are saying that he was taken into custody.  Maybe that is what faith is, taking into custody, "the words of God." 

"By faith we understand...."  Right now, the 40 year old Mother of Shelly's step children is near death's door.  I woke up last night praying for this young mother.  I prayed for healing; I prayed for peace; I prayed for Shelly, Ray, the children; I prayed for all of us.  I don't know what is going to happen.  The televangelists do, but I don't.  Maybe that's why they're on television and I'm not.  Yet, "By faith we understand," or, "By faith we consider," and, "apprehend."

Right after Stephen died, a local church had a series of "revival meetings."  The preacher would read a complete chapter in the Bible before he would preach.  Sometimes what he preached about had little to do with the text he read; but people came to Jesus.  "Signs and wonders" follow the Word, not me.  I think Jesus was confirming to me the absolute necessity of reading, meditating on and obeying His Words, the Bible.  If you have been reading these devotionals for any length of time, I'm sure you recall that the Early Church would read Scripture for two hours.  Then the president of the assembly would basically say, "Now you want to do what we have just read."  If, "faith comes by hearing...the Word of God," then what I need to be about is, "consider," and "take into custody," said Word.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I hope I really want to, "understand."  Amen.
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The Mother of Shelly's step children is about ready to leave this life.  This is and is going to be a difficult time for all.  Please say a prayer for us all.

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