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"O God, why have You cast us off forever?...Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old....Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.  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 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 is Germany, 1933-1945.  Bonhoeffer made a note beside verse 8 in his Bible the day after Germans, "burned up all the meeting places of God in the land."  And it was not only the synagogues, but also church buildings which were reflected in Psalm 74.  There are photos of church buildings in Berlin where the National Socialists, "....set up their banners for signs."  Moreover, I can assure you that in most locations throughout the earth the intent is still, "They said in their hearts, 'Let us destroy them altogether.'"  The Followers of Jesus can still pray today, "We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet; nor is there any among us who knows how long.  O God, how long will the adversary reproach?

Sunday, April 17, is "Stand With the Persecuted" Day, a day to remember and pray for those who are persecuted, imprisoned, and murdered for their following Jesus Christ.  Yes, there is "suffering" everywhere and in every town and in every local church.  You may be suffering today.  When we speak of the "Suffering Church" or "The Persecuted Church," I am not dismissing the "inner" suffering, the inner persecution which the Enemy of our souls seeks to inflict on us all.  If you are experiencing suffering of any "kind" today, I pray that our Peace, Who is Jesus, will be your peace and overcoming power today.  Remember, Followers of Jesus may be, "persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed"--- never, EVER.

I leave with you today, however, the great triumph of all who have "overcome" in the Person, the Resurrection Power, Grace, Mercy and Peace, Who is Our King and Savior, Jesus Christ.  "But God is my King from long ago; He brings salvation on the earth....do not deliver the life of Your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted people forever.  Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.  Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise Your Name.  Rise up, O God, and defend Your cause; remember how fools mock You all day long."  Well, I didn't start out to quote so much of Psalm 74, but I hardily recommend that you read the complete Psalm, and pray it, not only for the "Persecuted Church," but for you and yours as well.

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is no greater praying that Your Words.  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 gods Have Come Down To Us"

"Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.'"  (Acts 14:11)

This is exactly what happened in the Appearing of Jesus, "....God[ has] come down to us in the likeness of men."  The Lycaonians did not know what they were saying, but they were expressing the deep longing and question of every human being, i.e., "If God exists, why doesn't He show Himself?"  He did.  From Adam onwards, no matter how evil, how reprobate, deep in the soul of men there has been a longing for "Paradise Lost," to be "Paradise Regained."  But it just will not, cannot be found apart from Jesus Christ.

If the Name of Jesus is not preeminent in Church gatherings, if the Name of Jesus is not preeminent in preaching and teaching, in testimonies, in "outreach," missions, etc., then the perception of the world around us could be the same as the Lycaonians, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men."  You see, Jesus had just healed a man through Paul, and then, as now, an unregenerate person's first response is to worship the bringer of the "miracle," the blessing, the overwhelming good feeling, the help which one could hitherto not find.  As Paul with the Lycaonians, clarity is so too needed today.  If people come into our meetings and are "blessed," yet the Name of Jesus is lacking in the music, the preaching, the testimonies, then they too will respond in the spirit of our text.  What other option do they have?!?  And not only so, but even "believers" can all too easily take their eyes off Jesus, if everything/one but Jesus is constantly held before them.

Now, no one in their "right mind" would want this, yet when we speak of "God," or "the Lord," or "You," or "He," without the Name of Jesus preeminent, if something is perceived to be a "blessing," if someone "really enjoyed the service," and that someone knows not the Living Triune God, then the only ones to praise are the congregation, the worship team, the pastor.  Some think I'm overreacting to trends in Christendom, but worship is not, "the way, the truth, and the life."  The way "into His Presence" is not worship, no matter how "great" it may be.  The "way into His Presence" is Jesus.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, "have come down to us in the likeness of men," Who is Jesus Christ.  Our lives, our gatherings and mission should be that of the Apostle Peter to Cornelius, "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--....And He commanded us to preach to the people...that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.  To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."  So I join the writer of old,
  
 "Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our Blessed Redeemer!
    ....Hail Him!  Hail Him! highest archangels in glory;
    Strength honor give to His holy Name!
    Praise Him!  Praise Him!  Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
    For our sins he suffered, and bled, and died."  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

"Everything We Have Done Was By Your Power"

"Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us." (Isaiah 26:12)

The CEV says, "You will give us peace, Lord, because everything we have done was by Your power." 

I read today in Acts, "....and by Him (Jesus) everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses."  You and I could do, cannot do, nor ever shall be able to do anything to justify ourselves before the Living Triune God, "....everything we have done was by Your power."  Nothing we have or are brings us into the Kingdom of Heaven, makes us a child of God, takes us to Heaven.  The "playing field" before the Living Triune God, however, is level.  In Jesus Christ, anyone surrendered to Jesus, anyone, "....who believes is justified...."

No two finger prints are alike.  No two people look exactly alike; there is always some unique feature which proves this.  There is one "arena," however, where all are "alike," one in which no matter how "good or bad," how gifted or seemingly ungifted, no matter how others may like or dislike.  This is the all-encompassing, without prejudice, "unmerited favor," bestowed upon all human beings in Jesus Christ.  When Jesus died upon that Cross, He was not selective.  He, "gave Himself for all."  He did not look ahead and see me and my sin as a hopeless condition, "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied...."  Seeing you and me was not the "satisfaction."  The "satisfaction" for sin is in, "the travail of His soul," not in me, nothing in me, from conception until the end of this life for me.  Jesus in His Cross saw the "result" of His Shed Blood, His Death and Resurrection: My salvation, and my salvation brought great, "satisfied."  When Our Lord Jesus said, "It is finished," was He and Father also saying, "We are satisfied?"

The awareness of my wretchedness is before me every day; "....of whom I am chief," can be uttered by me also.  Yet in the face of my own sin, shortcomings, failures, mistakes, etc., is, "the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ."  And, "in the Face of Jesus Christ," is love, forgiveness, acceptance for the repentant sinner, "Everything we have done is by Your power."

Father, in Jesus'  Name, I confess with Your Words, "Everything [I] have done is by Your power."  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...Understood By The Books"--- And Still Do

"In the first year of Darius...I, Daniel understood by the books.., by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah....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.'"  (From Daniel 9 & 10)

Sarah and I saw a woman crying in our church meeting last Sunday.  She eventually left the meeting, before we could "do" anything.  We pray for her.  We know so little of the pain of those around us.  For now, we are thankful that she knows Jesus.  The battle in life is the same battle of which the messenger told Daniel.  Yes, many of our "battles" are personal, but they are also cosmic.  What we saw in our sister is also going on in the saints throughout the earth, and in, "heavenly places."

As I went through Daniel this quarter, I again was impressed by our texts.  First, "understanding" only comes, "by the books," viz., the Bible.  You can go to all the seminars, read all the books, listen to the greatest preachers, but if we do not, "underst[an]d by the books," we do not understand.  I know I sound like the proverbial "broken record," but this record is not broken.  It is the Powerful, Eternal, "Word of  God/Words of God."

Second, the battle of which you and I are a part is cosmic in nature.  I have always thought that there were two appearances in Daniel.  The first is called, "the vision" (v.7).  This may be called speculation by some, but I believe it was the Lord Jesus Christ (see Revelation 1).  Daniel heard the Words of Jesus, then went into, "a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground."  Verse 10 tells us of the second appearance, "Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands."  The messenger then tells Daniel, "....I have come because of your words."  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael...came to help me...."  Then he told Daniel, "....when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come."  And we can say, "then the prince of Rome, Byzantium, the Holy Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, American Empire."  Yes, indeed.  Each empire, each nation has an assigned "prince."

Today in prayer, I was so very aware of the Prince of America.  What do we do with him?  We keep interceding, praying, "in the spirit," keep praying Jesus' Words.  We all have personal battles, struggles which could consume us, but we are in such an hour that we need to, "press on," in our battles, and press into the battle for men and nations.  The same One Who gave strength to Daniel is the One Who is, "the Strength of my life," Jesus, the Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me what I need to know here.  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

"Arguing," Or, "Overwhelmed"

"When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.  As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet Him."  (Mark 9:14, 15--NIV)

Our pastor shared from Mark 9 yesterday.  He mentioned that while he was in seminary there was a lot of arguing going on.  I too remember those days; for me, I did not enjoy that.  I think sometimes in frustration I  manifested in "unspiritual" ways.  As is an "occupational habit," I took particular note of our text, and took some of his thoughts further. 

The Amplified says, "....questioning and arguing...."  This is a mental process.  Worship is a heart process, "....They were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet Him."  A person who spends more time in argument than in worship is a person whose life is lived in his mind.  Most of his/her response, not only to fellow humans, but also to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, is in the reasoning of the mind.  I am not an arguer, but I do "operate" too much in the mental.  I don't want to admit that, but it is sometimes too obvious.  I have purposefully been doing this quarter's reading since the first of the month in the KJV.  I am reading more with worship in mind than with some mental comprehension.  Yes, we are to, "get wisdom," and, "in all your getting, get understanding."  But we Westerners tend to put too much emphasis on the mental grasp of life rather than on the, "....overwhelmed with wonder...."

There were most likely people in the crowd that day who had never heard Jesus preach/teach.  They just saw Him, and in that seeing they were "taken" to another realm.  Here was the One Whom the Bible calls, "Lovely One," and, "Rose of Sharon, and the Lilly of the Valley."  What sort of "understanding" does one have to have to look upon a Rose and a Lily?!?  You just behold them, enjoy them.  Today, this is a "word" for all of us.  The current political climate in America, as well as the "talk" radio and television, which seems to be an endless purveying of punditry, is a plethora of, "....arguing with them."  

I read the, "God-Breathed," utterances, I pray, "in the spirit," I worship, I "do mission" all because down deep in my heart, down where the mind of man cannot go, Jesus' Word was imparted in a "special" way, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there will My Servant be also."  Jesus' Words do not come with, "arguing with them...."  Jesus' Words come in, "....overwhelmed with wonder."  I desire my life, as I know do you, to be dominated not by, "....arguing with them," but rather, "....overwhelmed with wonder."

Father, in Jesus' Name, grant that I live/walk in, "....overwhelmed with wonder...."  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