"Many In The Chamber Began To Laugh"

"Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone." (Hosea 4:17)

This is my fourth quarter reading in the "Minor Prophets."  Every time I read our text I think there is nothing more to fear than when the Lord Jesus says to a person or nation, "leave him alone."  To me, the implication is that they have, "joined to idols," so long, so persistently that, as Esau, they could no longer find repentance.  There are idols many in the nations of the world today.

Frederick Taylor in his book, The Berlin Wall: A World Divided, August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989, writes a brief history of Berlin.  He shares a moment in the German Reichstag just before World War I.  One of the less popular members of the body, who had withstood mocking for over 30 years on his predictions of coming disaster for Germany, stood and said, "'There will be a catastrophe...sixteen to eighteen million men, the flower of different nations, will march against each other, equipped with lethal weapons.  But I am convinced that this great march will be followed by the great collapse (at this moment many in the chamber began to laugh)-- all right, you have laughed about this before; but it will come....What will be the result?  After this war we shall have mass bankruptcy, mass misery mass unemployment and great famine.'  The record states that his words were drowned out by mocking laughter."  History shows just how the German People paid for, "at this moment many in the chamber began to laugh."  Germany for them was invincible.  Yet the industrial, scientific might, and attitude of German supremacy among men and nations was the German's Achilles idol.  I know of another nation so inclined.

Mockers are those who have, "....joined to idols."  You probably know mockers, those at the water coolers, family gatherings, even in pulpits who have mocked Jesus Christ and His Words, mocked the prophetic warnings of yesteryear and today.  The prophetic has been replaced by the "friendly" in many congregations.  They are like those who probably mocked Noah, Lot and the the Prophets, people who spoke warnings but were never heeded.  I pray for you and me that we not succumb in the slightest way to those who mock the "God-Breathed," Words, weather in or outside Christendom.  This, "....joined to idols," rules in the United States today.  It rules in the earth.  It is exactly what Satan did with Eve in the Garden.  I heard Geraldo Rivera on Fox some time ago mock Ben Carson for believing in the "myth of creationism" rather than the "enlightened scientific" fact of evolution-- what not only absolute stupidity, but absolute idolatrous mockery.  This is the world we live in.  The media, cable television, schools, and many politicians are ruled by mockery of the Word of God. 

Yes, I say it again and again.  You and I have a choice, a daily choice as to whose words we will believe.  Is it Darwin or the Bible?  Is it CNN, MSNBC, FOX, or the Bible?  Is it religious pundits or the Bible?  You and I have not only the privilege, but also the obligation to read, accept and obey The Word of God for ourselves.  When I stand before, "the judgment seat of Christ," no one else will be accountable for my life but me.  The practicality and awesome life-saving words of Jesus, "Abide in Me, and My Words abide in you," is our salvation in the midst of an ever-growing darkness.  Yet the promise of our Lord Jesus is as life-changing and powerful today as ever, "I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  Whom and what are you following today?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that I am just as susceptible to the subtle deception of this world system as anyone.  Thank You, Jesus, that You are my,"....Light of Life."  Amen.
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Truth as to what is going on in Israel today:   jhs58.blogspot.com

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

It Is Not Church Building Vs. House Groups

"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart....And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." (Acts 2:46; 5:42)

"Bhutan: Since the government shut down institutional churches in 1999, believers can only meet in their homes" (Open Doors Prayer Force, October 15, 20015).  No problem: This is how the Church "started."  And after the Romans destroyed the Temple, they had no choice----- houses only. 

Now for some, it is a church-building-vs.-house-groups debate.  Our text reveals, however, that the Early Church met in both, "the Temple," and, "from house to house."  Moreover, the Book of Acts reveals that the Followers of Jesus traveled throughout the Empire going to "church buildings" first, then to houses.  Maybe there was something like, "Okay, let's go to the synagogues first and find out those who are interested; then take them to someone's house."  Regardless, the "place" is not as important as the heart after Jesus.
 
"The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.  Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; they set up their banners for signs....They have set fire to Your sanctuary....They said in their hearts, 'Let us destroy them altogether.'  They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.'" (Psalm 74)  This has been being fulfilled throughout history all over the globe.  Most notably, Germany in the 1930s, e.g., Kristallknacht.  But I can also show you photos of the swastika over altars in the Evangelical church buildings all throughout Germany in the 1930s and 40s.  The Enemy does not seem to change tactics.  Destruction of the Church of Jesus Christ is His attempt, buildings, people, notwithstanding.

But I say to the "principalities and powers of the air," Go ahead; shut down our church buildings.  Confiscate our church properties, schools, seminaries.  We'll just "head for home."  I have shared with you before the experience which Sarah and I had a couple of years ago during a snow storm.  We couldn't get the car out of the garage, so we read from John 6 and had communion.  I cannot remember when I enjoyed "church" so much, no hype, no big-name-awe, no performance, just, "....gladness and simplicity of heart." 

Churches don't have to be big to be churches.  Churches don't have to have a building to be churches.  Just a note: Derek Prince once said that 10 tithing families could support a pastor.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for Your Church to manifest, "....gladness and simplicity of heart," no matter where we meet.  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

"Deliverances From Death"

"Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belongs deliverances from death." (Psalm 68:20, ESV)

The word translated, "salvation," is translated in the Interlinear, "deliverances, saving acts."  This is Jesus, "God of salvation."  This is Jesus throughout history, Jesus, the Eternal One.  If you need, "deliverances, saving acts," Jesus is, quite literally, "Your Man."

Violence is wreaking Israel----- again.  Farrakhan keeps spouting racial hatred.  And the Democrat Party was on display last evening as the candidates proved again to be some of the best apologists for humanistic socialism.  But I can tell you that socialists and communists have prevailed in cultures throughout history because kings, czars, corporations and the wealthy continually take more and more and give so little to others.  This injustice, evil greed as well as the hatred, murderous spirit has destroyed civilizations and has attempted to destroy the Church.  Yet regardless of this, Jesus' People have had great peace and security in walking in our text, for Jesus is quite good at, "deliverances, saving acts."  Jesus' Blood of His Cross and Resurrection guaranteed this.  Yes, I pray for governments.  I pray for nations.  But whatever the response of men and nations to the Reign of Jesus Christ, whatever political party runs America, or whatever form of government rules in the nations of the earth, "His Truth abideth still."  Jesus is now and forever, "King of kings, and Lord of lords." 

The great declaration of our text is universal in its application.  Notice, "....and to God, the Lord...."  This is Jesus, the only Lord, and to Jesus, "the Lord, belongs deliverances from death."  There is no other deliverance.  Yes, Followers of Jesus have died throughout history, i.e., their hearts stopped beating.  But if we are believers in Jesus, those who not only quote the Bible but actually believe the Bible, then we have great peace and hope today in Jesus and His Words to us in the Bible, "Dread not, neither be afraid of them....Fear not, neither be afraid: have not I told you from that time, and have declared it?...Be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words....I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die....Let not your hearts be troubled."      

Father, in Jesus' Name, I believe, because not believing would be the end of me.  I thank You that You are my, "beginning and ending."  Amen.
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* We are asking our faithful intercessors to pray with us about our Berlin Mission in 2016.  We are also still making plans to be in Wittenberg on October 31, 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
* I am attempting to share with you prophetic events as they happen around the globe at: jhs58.blogspot.com

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

"Report" Devotional

"Then he said to me, 'Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words....Then he said, 'Do you know why I have come to you?  And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.'"  (Daniel 10:12 & 20)

Derek Prince once said of our text, "The angel did not get Daniel through; Daniel got the angel through."  Sounds pretty heady, but the passage is clear on the primacy of, "humble yourself before God," intercession.  Instead of a self-promoting, hence, false  humility, the Church needs, "set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself...."

On October 10, while praying in Washington, DC., I was reading Daniel 10.  There were shouts of, "Death to America," being hurled into the air from a nearby rally.  That rally was sponsored by the assigned prince of America.  As I was looking at the Washington Monument, I read our text.  Every nation/people group, my friend, has a "the prince of the kingdom," assigned to it.  Moreover, I do not believe that "warfare" is always what we think it to be, nor do I always know what it should be.  But there is warfare.  We do, "....wrestle...against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this age (literally, 'the cosmic powers of the darkness'), against spiritual hosts of wickedness ('evil') in the heavenly realm."  Every day, every moment we are under attack, whether we realize it nor not.  We can say of the Luther's "Prince of Darkness grim," he will not give up in the battle until chained in darkness forever.  The Princes of the nations and their forces are on duty 24/7/365, no break, no weekends, no vacations, just endless, untiring pursuit of humanity to keep us from our intended purpose in Jesus Christ, and the Biblically stated "purpose" of Father for the Son, Jesus, "Rule in the midst of Your enemies."  This decree of the Godhead was issued, "from days of eternity," in time/space terms, from before, "He laid the foundations of the earth." 

Jesus told Jeremiah, "A noise will come to the ends of the earth-- for the Lord has a controversy with the nations; He will plead His case with all flesh."  And the Living Triune God always wins the, "controversy with the nations;...His case...."  The current political "season" in the United States reveals a confused, frustrated people, desperately looking for anything, anyone to make the citizenry happy and content; won't happen.  I read the words of Jesus this past Sunday, "Come to Me, all you who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest"; as Augustine said, "....our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee," and America as well as the nations of the earth are characterized by "restless."  I have no doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ is allowing all of this chaotic restlessness in order to give Americans another chance to give up on their selfish pursuit of "the American dream," and pursue, "The Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."  It is in seeking, "first ('before all, primacy') the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of Him," who is Jesus Christ, and not "the American dream," that all for which man longs, all he needs is only then, and only then, "added to you."

This has been a tiring yet refreshing 5 days in DC.  All kinds of people showed up in the Tent and around it, a literal "sea of humanity."  I want to determine to be a pray-er in the "spirit" of Daniel, "....set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God...."  Could it be then, dear lover of Jesus, that we could "get the angel through?"

Father, in Jesus'  Name, I pray for a, "from the first day," thinking, and a, "heart to understand, and to humble [my] self before [my] God...."  Amen.
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Thanks for all the prayers and to those who made the DC Mission financially possible.

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