"Singleness"

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Another word for, "simplicity," is, "singleness, purity."  The word, "simplicity," here does not mean naivete or stupidity.  It is a, "simplicity that is in Christ."  This is how we know God.  This is how we know ourselves.  This is how we know life. 

People tend to look for "new things."  To many, "the deep things of God," means preaching/teaching which WOW the listener/reader, a sort of, "I never knew that!"  We must always be careful not to, "be corrupted," which can also mean, "destroyed, ruined," by any, "craftiness," which "brain-trips" us.  Any, "craftiness," is an attempt to take you and me from Jesus Christ to someone/thing else.  This only happens when we leave, "the singleness that is in Christ."  Awareness of Jesus in all things is not, "What would Jesus do?"  It is, What are you about in this, Lord Jesus, Your will, Your purposes?

"Looking unto Jesus," keeps us from, "corrupted," speculation.  Jesus is the center, not you, nor I, nor "ours."  If you will, Jesus is the "hub" of the "wheel." Everything and everyone are as "spokes."  What an absolutely great Anchor in life is our Lord/King Jesus.  I have watched boats in a harbor which move slightly in a number of directions.  They do not, however, "stray" very far.  They have a rope which is attached to an anchor.  You cannot see the anchor, but you know that at the end of that line it is there, keeping any currents from taking that boat away. 

The, "simplicity, singleness, purity," is in the Oneness, Jesus Christ.  When Eve and Adam lost their, "singleness,"-relationship, they lost everything.  I hear a lot a people use the word, "focus."  So be it, "the singleness which is in Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank you that You have made our relationship uncomplicated.  Amen.
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Berlin Mission:  October, 2016

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

Kingdom Life-Style Comes From A Sword Not A Seminar

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4, NASB)

Sin is a heart matter, not a mind matter.  It goes from the heart to the mind where humanity has managed to institutionalize it.  What humanity needed was a "heart transplant."  This is why the Bible says, "My son, give me your heart."  This is why our Lord Jesus says to mankind, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed[s] evil...."  This is why the Bible says, "For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart....All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."  A Kingdom life style change comes from a Sword, not a seminar.

To combat sin, not the sin which requires the New Birth for forgiveness and acceptance, "in the Beloved," but the, "sin which so easily besets us," viz., life-style sin, we need weapons which deal with the heart, which in turn will deal with the mind, which in turn will deal with our life style.  It is so very important to our daily walk in Jesus Christ to realize that, "the weapons we fight with are not," are not "mental" debates.  God is after the heart of man.  When the heart is healed, the mind will be healed, the life style will be healed.

"The Word of God," alone is, "divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses."  The Words of Jesus alone are the weapons, "powerful for...destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and [can bring] every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...."  These, "speculations and every...thing...against the knowledge of God," are not in the mind of man, rather in the heart of man.  And it is exactly here, my friend, "bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," where Christendom will either change a culture or be changed by a culture.  Again, I use the word, "Christendom," because the Church cannot be destroyed.  "The gates of Hell," cannot resist the Church, but they can resist Christendom.  I want to live and operate in this world as the Church, not as Christendom.  The Church is commanded to go into all the world and, "make disciples."  2 Corinthians 10:4-6 should be on the title page of every "discipleship manual."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so need Your Words written in my 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Then The Lord Answered...."

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind ('storm')." (Job 38:1, NIV)

I wonder if it occurred to the "theologians" of the Book of Job to wait for this moment.  Nevertheless, our text records that Jesus finally called a halt to the war of words among Job, his three friends, and Elihu.  Now, "The Word of God," says to Job, "I will question you...."  This is one of the most sobering passages of "Holy Writ."  God has heard everything.  Now He is about to answer all of Job questions?  No, because Job could not understand the "answers" even if there are any.

Consider some of what Jesus said to Job: "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?...Where were you when...the sea...burst forth..., when I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther'...?  Have you commanded the morning since your days began...?  Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water,..where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man?"  Yes, there are many "places" in the earth and the Universe where, "....there is no man".  Yet, there is the Blessed Trinity.  He is where you and I are.  He is where you and I are not.  Life goes on in Alexanderplatz, even when I am not there. 

Jesus lives in you and me now, but the Living Triune God, revealed in Jesus is, "from Everlasting to Everlasting...God."  I think I can say that He is the Great "Bookends of Eternity," nothing before Him, nothing after Him, "Before Abraham was, I AM."  No one, no preacher, teacher, etc., can speak of God the way God speaks of God.  That is a reason it is absolutely imperative that you and I give ourselves daily to, "the Words of God." 

For me, the Book of Job is not so much about "trouble," or "trials," or suffering.  The Book of Job is about mankind's total lack of understanding about, "the deep things of God."  Yes, the Holy Spirit does reveal, "deep things (or, 'depths') of God," to those in whom Jesus Christ lives and the Holy Spirit rules.  But the Book of Job also teaches us that there is, and probably always will be, for "saved" and "unsaved" alike, "Where were you when..?" 

If you are struggling today with questions, with suffering, with loneliness, disillusionment, I suggest a "journey" expressed in the old song, "I Stood At Calvary."  And, "When I survey the wondrous Cross on which the Prince of Glory died," I hear again those words, "Where were you when...?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that there is a very real sense in which I not only don't know where I was, but where I am.  I rest that not-knowing in You.  Amen.
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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

Lord, Help Me To Be A Real "Friend"

"For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you."  (Job 36:4)

If you thought, "Job's three friends," were know-it-alls, how about this young man, Elihu?!?  When he shows up on the scene in chapter 32, his first words seem humble enough.  But then he keeps talking.  Sometimes it's not the first things we say, but what dribbles on which give us away.

The "fifth man" in the Job "seminar" is perhaps the most presumptuous.  God does not even speak of him at the end of the book when He speaks to Job and the "three friends."  That has to be the ultimate "snub."  Elihu, at one point in his "introduction," says, "I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer."  This motivates far too many.  For many it is, "I just have to say something; it really does not matter if it helps you or not.  I just have to talk."  God help us all. 

I wonder how many congregations there would be in a given town if we were all less like, "Job's three friends," and Elihu.  You see, the number of churches in a town are usually driven by two things: "We know best," and, "I have to be in charge."  Eliminate these two evils and Christendom just might begin to manifest the prayer of Jesus, "....that they all may be one."  Back in the mid to late 1970s, we were a part of a number of Protestant Congregations and a Catholic Community whose leaders met every week, and the congregations met about 4 times a years for a worship gathering.  It was the most talked about happening in the valley among unbelievers.  That should have told us all something.

I wonder what the scenario of Job would have been if the pseudo-theologians would have listened to, "The Word of God, " Jesus, rather than, "I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer."  Our Lord Jesus will speak to us, but if the Book of Job teaches us anything, it teaches us that God is not as quick to "speak" as are we, and if we would just learn more to, "Wait on the Lord," well, a large portion of the Book of Job would not have been written.  Every time I go through the Book of Job I am amazed at how people can say what seem to be "good" things, yet in the end get the most stern rebuke from the Living Triune God.  It appears to me to be a heart matter.  After David made some scathing statements about his enemies, he then cried out, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me,..and see if there is any wicked way in me."  This apparently was not a prayer of the, "three friends," and Elihu.  If we pray this daily, however, it just might make a difference in The Church at_______.

Father, in Jesus' Name, maybe my words should be fewer.  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

"Jesus, The King of".............

"Then Pilate asked Him, saying, 'Are You the King of the Jews?'"  (Luke 23:3)

The "evangelical church" has spent so much time over the years speaking of "Lord and Savior" that Christendom has little idea of, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."  Even some of the "greats" of Church History spoke little of, "The Kingdom of God/Heaven."  I think one reason, perhaps we could even say the main reason, for this was/is a reaction to "kings" and "kingdoms."

The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America was the rejection of the rule of kings.  Furthermore, if you go back in English History, you have the Magna Carta Libertatum, "The Great Charter of the Liberties."  Mankind has so longed for freedom, fought for freedom, died for freedom that to speak of a religion of "king of anything" is to go against the inherited nature from Eve and Adam.  "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die.  For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'"  Instead of, "The tree of Life...in the midst of the Garden," they chose the "tree" of ego, "....you will be like God," not in character but as in, "who needs God."  In other words, "You will rule your lives."

The Church has parameters; the Kingdom does not.  Remember the quote?  "You can control the Church, but you cannot control the Kingdom."  Many of you find yourselves as the only Follower of Jesus, not only in your family, but also in your work place.  When Followers of Jesus are together, viz., the Church, the parameter is the Confession, "the faith of Jesus."  Two may be in a restaurant.  The whole restaurant is not included in the Church, but the whole restaurant is in the Kingdom, the reign of Jesus, "The Government of God."  If we could only realize the release, the freedom of being Ambassadors of the, "Kingdom of Heaven/God." 

There is a liberty in the message of, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," or, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of [Creation]."  Revelation 1:6 declares, "He has made us a Kingdom," or, "formed us into a Kingdom."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for myself and Your Church to manifest to the world, Jesus Christ is King. 

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* "Israel: More Formidable Then Ever"  (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