"....Wicked Detest The Upright"

"The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright." (Proverbs 29:27, NIV)

If I may, "truer words were never spoken/written."  And I can say also that what/whom a people, "detest," reveals what they also love.

The Word translated here for, "detest," is, "abomination."  The dictionary defines abomination as "disgust or hatred."  Okay; Jesus told us that we would be hated.  It is always the people who hate Jesus who hate us.  Furthermore, it is always the people who love sin and its adherents who, "detest (hate) the upright." 

So, the next time you believe someone detests you, consider their manner of life.  It just may "make your day."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I always love what you love and, "detest," what You, "detest."  Amen.
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Update on Germany 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

"....From Then On" What?

"Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned." (Acts 27:20, NASB)

"....gradually abandoned", a most disturbing phrase.  If it were all at once, perhaps we would be shocked into a recovery mode.  But, "gradually," is most deceptive.  At first there is hope because of perhaps familiarity, "O, I've been through this before," or, "Well, it doesn't seem that bad."  Yet, "gradually," is like a slow spreading disease, one which no one is quite aware of its impending destruction, only to be followed by an, "It's too late."

When a person or nation gets to this point, there is little hope.  Yet into this dismal abyss of despair, the Lord Jesus Christ told Paul, "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you."  Then Paul told everyone, Believer and nonbeliever alike, "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told."  By the way, notice the object of Paul's last "missionary journey."  Indeed, could it have been the ultimate objective of his service as a Follower of Jesus?  "....You must stand before Caesar...", in the Capital of the Empire.  All the forces of "nature" and/or humanity cannot thwart the purposes of Jesus Christ in our lives.

I too can say to you today, "....I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told."  And what is that which, "I have been told"?  You got it: His Words.  In life's, "....from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned", you and I must have, "The Words of God."  If not, all the positive spin one can put on anything will be absolutely hollow, meaningless gibberish, just like political convention speeches.  There is only life-saving power in, "....keep up your courage, men," when the foundation, the "backing," the uttering of those Words is Jesus Himself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, by Your Grace and Mercy I, "keep up...courage...."  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

"....Chosen...To Be His Own...."

"For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be His own, Israel to be His treasured possession."  (Psalm 135:4: NIV)

And now, we have this: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you....As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world" (Jesus to those who believe Him).  I wonder how much this has really dawned upon you and me.  Those of us in whom Jesus Christ lives are a, "chosen," People, viz., "I chose you."  Quite frankly, over my life time relatively few people would have "chosen" me, and perhaps even you may find yourself on a not-so-desired list, but no matter.  Jesus has, "chosen you," and me.  That really should be enough for us.

Think of it.  Jesus, He of Whom the Bible says,  "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily," Jesus, "King of kings, and Lord of lords," Jesus, "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," chose us.  And remember the day when we, "who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which [we] once walked according to the course of this world," came to the realization that Jesus said to us, "I have chosen you...."  We responded by surrendering our lives to Jesus, and now Eternal Life in Jesus is our life.

Notice, however, that His choosing of us was a choosing, "out of the world."  Jesus chose me out of the life style of, "the world," and that of the American Democrat Party, and humanist dominated culture.  Listen to the speeches, watch the life styles of those so longing for power they can taste it.  Watch their clever theatrics, cleverly worded, high tech video presentations, and the same title screams from it all, "the world."  Never forget that you and I have, "the mind of Christ."  We need to act like it and live in, "the mind of Christ," which is the exact opposite of, "the world."

A, "chosen," Follower of Jesus will be able to walk the "minefield" of deception which is on display this week and coming out of Philadelphia, PA.  It is designed to allure, deceive, and destroy, as in, "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy."  I have heard and seen even so-called "conservative" pundits falling prey to the great deception.  You and I, my friend, are of the, "I have chosen you," People.  We are overcomers, victorious, and in Jesus' grace, will be able to be His witnesses to the nations that they too can be of the, "I have chosen you out of the world."

Father, in Jesus' Name, how can I ever thank You that you, "have chosen," me?  Amen.
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* How would you like a different take of Bill's hypocrisy speech last night?     jhs58.blogspot.com
* Please remember:     California, September 9-18
* Please remember:     Berlin,  October 6-27

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

"'Take, Eat'-- This is I"

"....Take, eat; this is My body."  (Matthew 26)

We know from the John 6 text that the command to, "Take, eat", was more than just some religious observance to later be institutionalized in a religious spirit, a spirit which is based on "coming and going" theology.  This, "Take, eat", is a part of the continual life in Jesus to which John 6 invites us.  Jesus tells us, "This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

The "communion service" is, and has been from the beginning, a central part of the Church.  But how easily humanity takes Life and makes it ceremonial, even to the extent of the superstitious.  When our Lord Jesus calls us to, "Take, eat; this is My body", He is calling us into the most intimate of relationship in the Godhead.  Luke's version of the Last Supper tells us that Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me."  The word for, "remembrance," means, "recalling, reminder," not some sort of "memorial," which usually speaks of some event, mostly in the distant past. 

1 Corinthians says that when we partake of the bread and wine we, "proclaim the Lord's death til He comes," i.e., appears again.  When we, "Take, eat", we are "sitting" at the table continually in Jesus, not just, "in remembrance," but as 1 Corinthians 10:16 says, "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the Blood of Christ?  And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?"

I have never fully understood, and still do not fully understand the mystery of, "Take, eat; this is My Body," nor of, "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him."  But I can tell you that I glory in the reality and invitation to, "Take, eat...."  What glorious, "participation." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, though I do not fully grasp the invitation, I come to the banquet.  Amen.
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New articles 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

The Triumph of Mordecai

"And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king's administrators helped the Jews, BECAUSE THE FEAR OF MORDECAI HAD SEIZED THEM....King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.  And all his acts of power and might together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia?  Mordecai the Jew was SECOND IN RANK TO KING XERXES, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews."

I preached on the subject, "In The King's Gate," yesterday in our church service.  I preached three sermons in one, which tends to be my wont.  Today's texts were ones I did not get to.

The account of Mordecai is one of the most astounding in Covenant History.  I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ, Who empowered, anointed, and directed Mordecai, will have mercy on the current political, cultural, and moral scene in the United States of America.  The Puritans came to these shores in the Name of Jesus to establish an expression of the Kingdom, "of our Lord and of His Christ."  There were many "successes" over the generations, but many stark failures.  The moral climate and cultural decline over the last 50+ years reveal that the "experiment" is under severe threat.

Jesus Christ is King of the Kingdom of Heaven/God.  Psalm 29:10 says, "The Lord [Jesus Christ] sat as King at the flood; yes, the Lord [Jesus Christ] sits as King forever."  There are many governments in the earth today which are controlling much of the activity of the Church in their nations.  Those same governments, however, cannot and will not control, "the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."  This is true in the "super power," The United States of America. 

Derek Prince said to me after our Stephen passed, "God has His purposes."  He does, has always, and will, "even to the end of the age."  This is true for you and me also.  Never forget for a moment that our Lord Jesus Christ is never in a "panic mode."  Just as he put Moses in, "the cleft of the rock," so too is the promise which I read from today's Major Prophets reading in Isaiah 49:2. "He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver."  This is today for you, my friend.  What glorious power, what glorious Words, what glorious comfort.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do not fret today, for You are King.  Amen.
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* I ask that you pray for my time with some of the Church in California, September 9-18
* We ask that you pray for our time in Berlin, October 6-27 

* Please feel free to share with us any prayer requests which you may have

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