KTBTIB Nottingham sent you a video: "O God Beyond All Praising"

"Kiss the Son...."  (Psalm 2:12a)

The word, "kiss," is probably a little eerie for most Westerners.   I remember the first time I was kissed by a man other than my Dad.  I was in Russia during the communist era and had just met a fellow Follower of Jesus.  His name was Anatoli.  I know that this is quite common for the Russians, but it was most uncomfortable.  Yet, I think I remembering reading somewhere that we are supposed to, "Greet one another with a holy kiss."  

The word in Hebrew for, "kiss," seems to have the idea of, "fastening up, as a mode of attachment."  There is an intimacy here, a closeness in Jesus to which we need to, or rather, are invited to, take heed.  One translation makes an attempt to make us Westerners more comfortable with our text by translating it, "Do homage to the Son...."  Nice try.

Whatever, I do think the Holy Spirit is calling us here to embrace with much love/affection our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a life style to which you and I are called.  I like the concept of, "fastening up," "attaching" ourselves to Jesus.  Below is a great hymn I heard this morning.  It was written by an Anglican Minister who died when he was only 56.  Be sure to scroll down to follow with the words.  I heard this hymn while contemplating our text.  Enjoy

KTBTIB Nottingham has shared a video with you on YouTube O God Beyond All Praising Lyrics: O God Beyond all Praising we worship You today And sing the love amazing, that songs cannot repay! For we can only wonder at every gift you send At blessings without number and mercies without end We lift our hearts before you and wait upon your Word We honor and adore You our great and mighty Lord For we can only wonder at every gift you send At blessings without number and mercies without end For Christ who gives from Heaven from death has set us free And we through Him are given the final victory! Then hear O gracious Savior accept the love we bring That we who know Your favor may serve you as our King And whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill We'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still To marvel at Your beauty, and glory in Your ways And make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise. Help center • Report spam ©2016 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

"A Book of Remembrance"

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His Name."  (Malachi 3:16)

Just in case you may have been duped by those who peddle the idea that we should not, "fear God," just "respect and be in awe of Him," the word for, "fear," in our text means exactly that, "affright, fear, be afraid." 

Among other things, there is some complaining about God's ways in previous verses, "It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts?  So now we call the proud blessed, for those who do wickedness are raised up; they even tempt God and go free."  This kind of talk still goes on among church-goers today.  Our text is a fearful reality to those who carry such an attitude, "and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear Him."  Notice that the, "book...was written before Him...."

Quite honestly, I believe the attempt to eliminate the word, "fear," is an attempt to sell God to humanity.  "Oh, it doesn't mean to be afraid.  It just means to have reverence for."  I have heard this many times over my years.  As as result, there is very little, "....those who fear[] the Lord...," not only in the world, but also in churches.  "....A book of remembrance was written before Him...."  Jesus is "keeping track" of those who are walking in, "fear of the Lord and meditate on His Name," and those who are not.  May our Lord Jesus help us to walk in the fear of Him as well as the love and worship of Him, "and meditate on His Name."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for any time I walk in less than, "fear the Lord and...meditate on [Your] Name."  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 Don't Want Anyone To Miss This

"Then the angel showed me the river of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the street of the great city."  (Revelation 22:1, 2a- NIV)

Here we are at the end of the quarter and the end of the Bible.  As I read our text, I began to pray more fervently for people to come to Jesus, some for whom I have prayed for many years.  I do not want to miss this, nor do I want anyone else to miss this great sight.  George Mueller prayed for 52 years for one of his friends to come to Jesus, and he did.  It was, however, after Mueller died.

I have often wondered what is, "....the effectual fervent prayer...."  Literally, "Much prevails the prayer of a righteous man effecting."  The word translated, "effectual," means basically, "at work," and the word for, "fervent," means, "much."  Back in 2002, when I was asked in a meeting to share what I was doing in DC, Alan Vincent said to the group, "Prayer is hard work."  It is, yet a most enjoyable "work."  But what is the prayer which "brings results," prayer which sees people coming to Jesus?  How much does our praying affect the answer, and how much does the response of others affect it?  Is, "the effectual fervent prayer," yelling at God, raising your voice, all night prayer meetings, 24/7/365 prayer watches??  Is it repeating the same thing over and over and over again?  I'm sure there is much more to it than most of us know.

I confess that to me there is still a "mystery" about praying.  I do know, however, that Jesus teaches us to, "pray and never give up."  So will I do, and so I pray you.  As I prayed for governments today, I confess I do not know what the Lord Jesus is about, but I prayed and will continue to pray for governments.  Likewise, I say the same for people for whom I pray.  There is something prepared for us that is beyond description, that is, a description which is adequate to the splendor and grandeur of the world to come.  O, how I long for us all to see that, "river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that no one will miss what you have, "prepared for those who love 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 Command to, "Feed, Tend"

"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?...Feed My Sheep." (John 21:17)

Don't be offended if Jesus asks you something several times; there is always a reason for this.  One reason our Lord Jesus asked Peter the question of Peter's love for Him could have been to show Peter the "nature" of Jesus,' "love," viz., feeding, caring for, serving others.  Jesus' encounter with Peter reveals that love is know "feeling," but doing, "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth."

The 33 year journey was pretty much "over" now, the Appearing, the Temple, Simeon, Anna, the "growing years," the teaching, the healing of the sick, loving acts of kindness, then Gethsemane, the Blood, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, the beating of the soldiers, the Blood, the Via dolorosa, the nails, the Blood, the Cross, the Blood, the Death, the Blood, the Resurrection.  Now, the "parting words," not only to Peter, but also to all of us, "Do you love Me?...Feed My Lambs....Tend My Sheep....Feed My Sheep."  Love for our Lord Jesus Christ is manifested not in talk, but in, "Feed/Tend My Lambs/Sheep.  These Words of Jesus should be considered fundamental to Church Life.  No matter what I "do" in the Church and Kingdom, it should be in the heart of "feeding" and "tending."  One word could be translated, "shepherd."   

Feeding/tending/shepherding must be the motivation of all apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  If one is more concerned about what he has to say than people receiving the Word, this is not the Love of Jesus.  Paul asked the Colossian Church to pray for him that when he spoke, "....I may make it manifest (make clear, visible, known), as I ought...."  If this, "manifest," is not in our preaching, teaching, serving others, then all is lost.  Without, "make manifest," or, "make known/visible," our Lord Jesus Christ, there is no feeding Jesus to others.  Whatever you and I do, it must be, "visible," viz., imparted in such a way that others feed on Jesus, receive Jesus, the Way of Jesus, "made clear/known."  This is not just in preaching/teaching.  This attitude must be in everything we do and are.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want to, "feed/tend" in the way only You mean.  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

KTBTIB Nottingham sent you a video: "Fairest Lord Jesus - Maranatha Celtic"

"From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, 'If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend.  Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.'"  (John 19:12, from yesterday's Gospel reading)

I guess you and I are not, "Caesar's friend," and are of those throughout history who, "speak[] against Caesar."  For us, Jesus is King, and when we say and live this Truth, we declare ourselves the enemy of every world system.  Rulers of this present age do not much mind religious declarations.  What they do "mind," however, is when we declare and live, "Jesus Christ is Lord," aka, "King."  The word translated, "Lord," in Philippines 2:11, means, "a person exercising absolute ownership rights."  Jesus usurps every constitution, every law of "Caesar" which declares and works against King Jesus.  We will need to remember this more and more in the days ahead.  It has been this commitment, and love for and to Jesus which has been the sustenance of the Church through the ages. 

As I have been reading the "Passion narrative" in John's Gospel this past week, I read of the great love relationship which you and I are called to in our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.  I had this brought home to me this past weekend when I listened to one of my favorite songs.  For me, there has never been a greater song written in the History of the Church of Jesus Christ, nor a better arrangement than the song which I share with you on YouTube below.  There is a tradition which asserts that this great hymn of the Church came from the Nights Templar, German Crusaders, as they made their way to Israel, aka, The Holy Land.  Many do not believe "Fairest Lord Jesus" goes back that far.  Regardless, I love this hymn. 

I heard this version last Saturday.  I simply wept like a baby.  I cannot recall a greater moment of worship, adoration, thanksgiving and appreciation than those moments.  Here is one verse which is not popularly sung:

All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me." 
Praise Him!

KTBTIB Nottingham has shared a video with you on YouTube