In The Face Of the Impossible, The Nothing-Is-Impossible Appeared

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live...." (John 11:25, KJV--from today's Gospel reading)

This is one of the first passages of Scriptures I memorized.  Little did I know that years later it would save my life.  There, as I stood beside and slightly behind Sarah as she sat at the grave-side service, somewhat stunned and disbelieving this could happened, I looked at that little casket.  I have been surviving to this day because Jesus was also "there" also, speaking our text once again to me.

Do you remember the context?  News had come that, "Lazarus was sick...."  Jesus basically then told the disciples not to worry about it.  In effect He told them, "You are about to see resurrection power."  It is notable that Jesus had only been told that Lazarus was sick.  We have no record that news then came of Lazarus' death.  Jesus knew that, however, and we don't get any attempt from Jesus to soften reality here.  "Jesus...told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead.'"  No one is better equipped to face death head on than the Follower of Jesus.  His life principle is, "Looking unto Jesus."  He "looks" and sees, "The Word of God"; He "looks" and hears "Wonderful Words of Life," the glorious, "God-Breathed" Words of Jesus.  He reads and receives promises unimaginable.  In face of his sin, mistakes in life, failures, he presses in and on and upward, "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."  Jesus' Blood, Death and Resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection. 

It's Christmas Time; we even have had some snow flurries this morning.  Snow and Christmas, nothing better.  Yet as I write this, I have tears in my eyes, tears because I still miss Stephen Paul very much, but tears also because of Holy Ghost joy and victory; as the grave marker says, "Until the Trumpet Sounds."  And what about you today, my friend?  Yesterday we received word that Jonas, the young German boy for whom many were praying, died after many months of battle with the same force which took Stephen.  Maybe you have lost someone recently or decades ago.  It really doesn't matter, does it?  The empty chair still somehow makes the room empty.  But rejoice today and, "Be strong in the Lord [Jesus Christ] and the power of His might," because only in the, "power of His might," do you and I have any power at all to live here and now.  "The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever"------------- and so are you and I in Jesus Christ.  Enjoy Him and the Season.

Father, in Jesus' Name, some do not believe You because they choose not to.  I believe because I have to, and I rejoice that my have-to is based upon Your proven Words.  Amen.
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Please say a prayer for our 2016 Berlin Mission

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

"From His Place He Shall Branch Out...."

"Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!  From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord; yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord.  He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne...."  (Zechariah 6:12-13b, from my recent "Minor Prophets" reading)

I'm sure that most like devotionals, sermons and teachings about themselves, how to be a better wife, husband, successful business person, expand their "ministry."  I think it's better first and centrally to do as the Hebrew writer said, "Consider Jesus."  If our desire is insatiable to improve ourselves, make life easier for ourselves, to get help "just to make it through the day," and do not see that all of it is only, as the carol says, "met in thee tonight," then we will be on an endless search.  Even the best of preachers and teachers cannot satisfy the longing for "self-improvement."  Sure, we all should want to be a better us, grow and develop more and more, but if this "want to" is not in, "consider Jesus," it is all in vain.  All we will get is religious trimmings on a lifeless tree.

"Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!"  From His place He shall branch out...."  Jesus has branched out from creation.  And more and more as the prophets, who were not always quite sure of whom they spoke, realized who and what was, "The Coming One," the more eager were they, and the expectant ones, looking to His coming.  Hence, generations later we read, "....Simeon...took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 'Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples...."  This could be something of what the prophet spoke, "From His place He shall branch out."  Perhaps it could even be found also referenced in the parable, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened," then later, "Go in the all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."  "He shall branch out...."

Ah, then the glorious declaration of the Godhead, "And He (Jesus) shall build the temple of the Lord....[Jesus] shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so [Jesus] shall be a priest on His throne...."  Christmas is a celebration of the First Appearing of the One Who fulfills our text.  "Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore..the newborn King," the One Who alone, "shall bear the glory."

Father, in Jesus' Name, nothing and no one can make me a better me than 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

The "Was" And The "AM"

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'  Then they took up stones to throw at Him...."  (John 8:58, 59a-from yesterday's Gospel reading)

Abraham was a, "was."  Jesus is the, "Am," the only, I might add.  All humanity is "was."  People either were, or are, or yet to be born, but until the Second Appearing of Our Lord Jesus Christ, "was" will be their epitaph.  His Satanic Majesty and his demonic hordes attempted to make Jesus a, "was."  Resurrection first day of the week:  "Game over."

It is no wonder that the hearers of this most outrageous claim, "picked up stones to through at Him."  They were zealots of the first order.  They were the "guardians" of orthodoxy.  Some of them could have been among those who were ready to stone the woman of the first few verses of John 8, that is, until Jesus made them face themselves and their own sinfulness.

We are in the Season of Celebrating the First Appearing of Jesus, His "birth."  It is right that we should celebrate this, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord."  Remember also the words Jesus spoke to those somewhat confused disciples on the road to Emmaus: "'Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?'  And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself," which are really, "all...things," in the Scriptures.

While for others, birth is 9 months after conception, "birth" for Jesus was revelation, a sort of, "Here I AM."  It is, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," or, again, "Before the beginning began, the Word already was;" hence, "I AM," the Great Eternal Now.  Yet for those who wonder about the love of God, Who He Is, how He "acts," and relates to humanity, go to the feeding trough of Bethlehem and consider the Baby.  This is no pretentious king, coming with great "pride, pomp and circumstance," appearing in robe and crown, but a helpless, cooing baby.  Perhaps we could say, Jesus "stepped" out of Eternity to enter this time/space world, a total identification with you and me.  Jesus breathed, lived, ate, drank, slept, worked, was a part of a large, humble family.  The Bible says that He Who claimed, "I and the Father are One," was tempted with everything you and I are tempted with.  This is the Savior of the world Whose Appearing we celebrate in this season.  This is how He does things.  O, my soul, take note.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no full understanding of such things.  What I do have is, "lost in wonder, love, and praise."  Amen.
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We are in the process of making plans for our Berlin Mission for 2016.  Please pray with us about it.

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

"....They Overcame...Because of the Blood Of The Lamb...And The Word...."

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." (Revelation 12:11, NASB)

Very few people throughout history were, "faced with death," because they spoke of "God."  Millions throughout the centuries, however, were, "faced with death," because they mentioned Jesus, proclaimed Jesus, "because of the Word of their testimony," Jesus Christ.

One translation of our text reads, "because of the Word to which they bore witness."  The emphasis here is not on my testimony, but What and to Whom I bear witness.  The Followers of Jesus are moved by the Holy Spirit to only bear witness to, "the Word," Who is Jesus Christ and His "God-Breathed" Words, which are themselves testimony to Jesus.  If my testimony is not "to" the Word of God, then it is a self-centered testimony, a testimony which glorifies me, not Jesus.  I may have given such testimony over my life time.  What stupidity!  This is not a false humility clothed in religious wording, as it was neither to Paul, "Of whom I am chief."  This is the realization of anyone who for one moment considers reality.

The shepherds were directed to Jesus.  The "wise men" were directed to Jesus.  Simeon and Anna were directed to Jesus.  It was Father by/in the Holy Spirit which took them to the stable, then the house, then the Temple.  Everywhere Jesus "was" the Father led others to Him, "This is My Beloved Son."  This is not exalting one of the Godhead over another.  This is the realty of the Universe, "No one has ever yet seen God at any time; the only begotten God Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."  Anyone, I repeat, anyone who attempts to "explain" God without the Person, the Name of Jesus preeminent is speaking nothing but Gibberish.  Jesus is, "....the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

To talk of "God" without the Name of Jesus is the reason for, "Well, Allah and the God of the Bible are the same."  Islamic theologians mock the Blessed Trinity; therefore, Followers of Jesus have nothing in common with Islam.  To talk of God without the Name of Jesus may be "ecumenical," but it leads to disastrous results.  No devil or ISIS will ever stop a person from using the term "god."  They will, however, fight you and me "tooth and nail," even cause us to be, "faced with death," if we even contemplate speaking the Name of Jesus.  May the Name of Jesus be ever in our hearts, our minds, and on our lips.  May no one ever doubt as to the God Whom you and I serve.  "God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.  Remember Christ our Savior...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for the Overcoming, "Blood of the Lamb," Jesus.  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

"Then The Seventh Angel Sounded"

"Then the seventh angel sounded:  And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15, from today's reading)

On the first "Christmas," an angel also, "sounded."  He said, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Then his brethren joined him, "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...."  This was the First Appearing of, "our Lord and of His Christ."  To say Jesus' First Appearing was humble is an understatement.  "The first Noel the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in field as they lay."  Then as the shepherds said, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us," they left their flocks and, "came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger," an animal's feeding trough-- hardly the birth "fit for a king."  But, the kings of the earth are not as our King.  "Their rock is not like our Rock," nor, "the kingdoms of this world," as, "the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."  Ours is a Shepherd/King. 

The Bible is full of the phrase, "'The days are coming,' says the Lord, 'when,'" and, "that I will...."  Throughout the centuries man has laughed at, discarded, railed on such promises/prophesies of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We will all "see," won't we?  The only "proof" we have of the certainty of Jesus' Words is, "faith...the substance (steadiness, support, a guaranteeing, reality) of things hoped for ( expected, anticipated) the evidence (proof, test) of things unseen."  Those of us who are of, "the faith of Jesus," are those who believe/receive/act upon the "God-Breathed" Word.  We are the steady, supported, guaranteed, real, expecting and anticipating, hence, very secure people; and whether alive or, "fallen asleep in Jesus," at Jesus' Second Appearing, we will be a part of the rejoicing, praising multitudes in Eternity who will be, even as we are now, a part of that great, "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your angelic "soundings."  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