So You Wanna Dance

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness...." (Psalm 30:11)

This can only happen when the New Birth produces conversion, which means, "to turn to another or a particular...purpose...."  

Bob Mumford recently wrote, "Many are miserable simply because they cannot control God and make Him do what they think is reasonable....Our certitude, both religious and philosophical, forms strongholds that are mental pre-suppositions that prevent us from knowing God."  I have met many in my lifetime who reflect Mumford's statement.  One thing for us all to remember is that "reasonable" and presuppositional strongholds infect us all.  Those who walk in victory over such strongholds, however, are those who accept, "The Word of God," as their source, suppositions, reason.  Again, this can only happen through Biblical conversion.

The main result of conversion is acceptance of the Bible as our guide, and not just the saying or nodding of this.  Rather, when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we "turn to another... particular... purpose."  Tolstoy said, "I ceased desiring for what I had wished for before."  Jesus in His Words changes our life style, our purpose, direction. "Mourning" is usually the result of living a life of the "certitude [of our] mental presuppositions."  They just seem to follow us wherever we go, competing with, "the Words of God."  Whom and what we choose to obey and live by determines how we can "dance."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no qualms about agreeing with the psalmist.  My, "mourning," my, "sackcloth," were only, "put off," by 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

I Saw A River Full Of Debris--But The River Ruled

"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You, for the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations....The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 22:27, 28; 24:1)

"....the kingdom..., He rules....The earth is the Lord Jesus Christ's."  This means, Jesus reigns in the earth.  Kingdom is government, and no matter what is happening, "Jesus rules....The earth... and everything in it, the world and all who live in it."  Man just thinks he's in control.

I had sort of a vision last Sunday during our church service.  I saw a large river cluttered with debris, sort of like film we have all seen of floods or tsunamis.  What impressed me, however, was the fact that the river was still flowing, and in the same direction it had been flowing.  As the river flowed, it kept accumulating debris, but the course never changed.  The river, not the debris, was in charge.  This is human history.  Man's sin has cluttered and destroyed so much, yet the direction of history has not changed.  As Graham once put it, "History is headed toward a dramatic climax."  History is a great river, yes, with currents, eddies and backwashes, but nothing you, nor I, nor any human, nor force in history can change the course of His-story.

For most, Christianity is a very "personal thing," nothing to be shared with others, just me, my, mine, bless me, prosper me, take care of me.  Now The Blessed Trinity gave Himself for me in the Blood of His Cross, He blesses me, prospers me, takes care of me.  But while this means to so many, "I'll take it from here," the reality is that Jesus, "rules over the nations," more literally, Jesus is, "the governor among the nations."  Perhaps what frightened Pilate most is what frightens most today, "This is Jesus, King of [the nations]".  Savior, Provider is one thing, "rules over," is quite another.

The moment I surrendered my life to Jesus I became a citizen of The Kingdom of God/Heaven.  I cannot claim Jesus as my Savior if Jesus does not, "rule over," me.  If you and I stop and think about it today, our problems, failures in life occurred when we have ruled our lives.  Nothing good comes of self-will.  When Jesus rules me, however, nothing but good comes of it.  Your life, my life, the lives of all humanity, now and throughout history, have resembled the debris-filled river I saw.  We have made a mess of so much, but the river keeps flowing, because Jesus Who, "rules over the nations," rules throughout history.    

Father, in Jesus' Name, I know this, but I want You to rule "this."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Psalm 22:27, 28; 24:1; 25:14-- "Kingdom" mentioned 104 times in the Gospels and "Church" mentioned 3 times.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....Senses Exercised"

"But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14)

The only, "solid food," is the, "words of God," not my devotional, not that great preacher's words.

The only way to "have...senses exercised to discern both good and evil," is to be full of the, "solid food," which is, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ and His Words.  "....To discern both good and evil," is not a natural trait.  It is only the product of, "solid food."  A person who "operates in the gifts of the spirit" yet is not totally committed to the, "God-Breathed," Words is a false prophet.

My latter New Testament reading for today had me in Hebrews 5.  I decided, however, to read the whole book at one sitting.  My Dear Lord Jesus Christ, what a powerful experience; nothing like it.  I read the words and listened to a reading of the words at the same time, "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it...." (Revelation 1:3, NIV)  I cannot recommend it too highly.  I heard a missionary once say that when God puts "something on your heart, no matter what Scripture you start with, you always end up at the same place"-------- got me.  I love, "the Words of God," because Jesus, Word of Father, and His Words saved my soul, not just in the New Birth, but my whole life.  Too many of the days of my life I did not realize it; 45 years ago, however, I did.

What about you today?  If, "Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside" are not founded, rooted in His Words, one is in danger of false "blessings."  And no matter what seems to be one's "natural ability to read people," if he/she does not, "have their senses exercised," in, "solid food," they are headed for catastrophe.  Just look at the American population, religious and non religious alike.  America is becoming more and more a nation of stupid people, and when you read the Bible, you see the definition of "stupid."  In the Bible we see a biography of those individuals and people groups who reject, "solid food."  They are as those who advised a leader of old, "The advice of [his] wisest advisers has become stupid...."  We can feed the hungry, give to the poor, spend billions on "relief," but if people will not eat the, "solid food," they will die.

"But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." (ESV) 

Father, in Jesus Name, thank You for, "solid food."  Amen.
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Article which addresses the event of the recent policeman/student confrontation:  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Job...Cursed The Day of His Birth"

"After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.  He said:...'That day-- may it turn to darkness....May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more...." (Job 3, NIV)

Maybe most who are reading this woke up this morning to a bright day, with a song, worship, "feeling groovy," thankful to be alive.  Yet there are many on this Planet who wish they had never been born.  Some of them are closer around you and me than we may be aware.

At the point of our text, Job was not in such a "glory to God," or, "somebody give me an amen," state.  After the tragic news stopped, Job awoke one day and, "After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth....May a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it....Why did I not perish at birth?...For now I would be lying down in peace....I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."  Now we must remember that at the end of the Book Job was commended by our Lord.  He said to Job's friends, "I am angry with you.., because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has."  Apparently all that Job said of the Lord was, "truth."  His complaint was not directed toward the Living Triune God.  He was in the depths of despair, "a lonely creature in the universe."  

Job was in deep distress, a distress which many "bebop" Christians cannot/will not understand.  Everything in their life has always gone well, no sickness, no deaths, no loss of job, wonderful church mega church. Shallow religious people outwardly (or if one is really "spiritual," they do so inwardly) judge people who seem to have so much trouble in their lives.  Such self-righteous are just no better than Job's three critical friends; they are no good to anybody.  Then there are those as Job's wife, "Why don't you just, 'curse God and die.'"  Job (and can I add you and me to this?) would have none of it.

"Where" are you today?  Has life seemed to give you more "bad" than "good?"  Or maybe early on in your life things were going quite well, only to have these latter days turn into, "....a cloud settle[d] over it;...blackness overwhelm[ed] it."  Well, my friend, no, "cloud," or, "blackness," can, "overwhelm," anyone rooted, settled, and who has is building their life on Jesus Christ, "who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock," THE Rock, The "Rock of Ages," Jesus.  I am a living testimony to this/Him.  I know some of Job's heartache, inability to do or say anything.  It was as though I were as described in Job 2:8 and, "....took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with is as he sat among the ashes."  But then Jesus "came" to me, viz., I realized He was "there," in front of me, speaking to me, helping me realize that He had never left me, always indwelling me and I in Him.  As the old song says, "Then Jesus came and He spoke my name, He whispered peace to me.  Now I've taken my harp down off the willow tree."  No matter what, never put that harp away.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You, and can never thank You enough for Who You are, Who You are to me, what You have done and are doing for/in me.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....with no one speaking a word to him...."

"When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept.  And each one of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky.  Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him...."  (Job 2:12, 13, NASB)

Jesus answered very few questions from "the crowds."  And many of His answers for "the Twelve" were not really what they expected, or wanted.  Yet questions have dominated most of humanity throughout history, even Covenant People.  Most of what follows today's text in the Book of Job is full of questions.  But where are the answers? 

It is a fair question to ask, What is really behind "questions?"  As I read the Bible, from time to time I think of the history of the Jews particularly.  All of the prayers and "declarations" of the Psalms for victory over the enemy and the corresponding promises lead many to believe that the prayers and promises were just words hanging out there, somewhere in space------------ over Auschwitz, Treblinka, the destruction of the first and second Temples, the triumphant marches of the enemies through the centuries over the possessions and bodies not only of the Jews, but also the Followers of Jesus, year after year, century after century.

I have said before that the "best" thing Job's friends did for and with him was to sit down with him and be quiet.  The whole Book of Job reveals that there were/are no "answers."  When the Word of God, Jesus, finally responds, "answers" Job, He answers no questions, not one.  He just tells Job, in effect, "you can't handle the truth."  I ask, rhetorically, What would it be like if there were 8 hours of prayer meetings in the Church for every 1 hour of preaching/teaching/discussion/planning, question-answering?

I am doing more and more praying in my spirit in the Holy Spirit (praying in tongues) these days.  I look at people we know, the nation, global humanity and feel like, "....no one speaking a word to him...."  I continually come to the conclusion and practice, "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."  Holy Spirit, "words," are the best, "words."  Away with futile speculation, and in with the pursuit of Jesus, His, "Kingdom come.  Your will be done", even more of, "....no one speaking a word to him...." as much as, "....speaking a word to [Him]."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that the "greater work" is really not "work," just enjoying You.  Amen.
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* I am going to send you a prophecy which I received some weeks ago, and would like your confirmation or not-sure.  "In the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established."
* "Germany: 20,000,000 Muslims by 2020":    Read 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2