A Word For Those Who Resist The Reign of Jesus Christ

"Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living....Then the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time...." (Psalm 52:5 & Jonah 3:1)

It would be amusing, if it were not so pathetic, when people say the Bible is "not relevant today."  Our texts are from some of today's readings.  Now tell me that the Psalm text does not describe exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in the United States of America.  No, "it's not over yet," and yes, there will be more battles to be fought.  But if we could get a skywriter to fly over America today, this would be what I suggest he writes to those who resist and hate the Reign of King Jesus, "Surely God will bring you down...."  Jesus addresses our Psalm text to those described earlier, those who, "boast of evil," those who, "boast all day long,..who are a disgrace in the eyes of God,..who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction....You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking truth,..you deceitful tongue."  This is "front page headline."

This is Armistice Day, aka, Veteran's Day in The United States of America.  We honor those who serve and have served the US during our very brief 240 year history.  Consider America's battle for survival:
"September 3, 1783-- The Treaty of Paris is signed by the United States and Great Britain.                                   Congress will ratify the treaty on January 14, 1784."  By the way, consider this: "October 7, 1783-- In Virginia, the House of Burgesses grants freedom to slaves who  served in the Continental Army." (The History Place)

I heard a war veteran who served 3 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan.  He is now a member of the House of Representatives from California.  "What we need in the Pentagon is a restoration of the warrior mentality."  He went on to say that Obama filled the Pentagon with bureaucrats, civilians.  Well, of course.  That's all Obama was/is.

The Bible and history reveal that war is the norm for post Garden man.  I write this today in a nation whose national anthem is a chorus describing the nation's battle for survival.  This was not written during the Revolutionary War.  The US Anthem was written 31 years later during another attempt of a foreign power to destroy the young nation.  Personally, I'm glad and thankful for our forefathers who decided it was better to fight for freedom than be enslaved to tyranny, aka, "The Warrior Mentality."

What about you and me today?  You cannot read the Bible without realizing that the Followers of Jesus are, have been, and will be at war until the Second Appearing of the, "King of kings, and Lord of Lords."  This "title" of our Lord Jesus Christ is a political title, a government title, a who's-running-this title.  When I read the Jonah passage, I thought of how many times, "Then the Word of the Lord came to [you and me] a second time."  We have this tendency to read our own limited, misinformed philosophy of life rather than, "....the Word of the Lord...."  Frankly, I don't know how many, "second time[s]," we have.  Church, we need to hear, "The Word of God," King and Savior Jesus, the first time and obey the first time.  A day is coming when there will be no more, "a second time."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for Your mercy in these recent days.  We still need You, however, so much, indeed, "to the end of the Age," and "beyond."  I pray for a life of first-time obedience.
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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

"....Spurn the Work of Your Hands"? Never

"Does it please You to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the plans of the wicked?"  (Job 10:3)

Each day's Bible reading for me is as though I wake up to a well prepared breakfast and vitamin shot.  If, "the words of God," are not so to you, "take a deep breath" and think/pray again.  To quote a 1975 American Express commercial, "Don't leave home without them."

Well, President-Elect Trump's first "act" as President seems to be his invitation to the Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, to visit him in the White House, or even sooner.  I cannot tell you how refreshing this is, especially since the American public was dominated by those who, "smile on the plans of the wicked."  Jesus told Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you."  Okay; let's see what the Lord Jesus does now.

Everyone at one time or another has felt as Job in today's text.  The righteous are sick, while the unbelievers around them are healthy.  The righteous are struggling financially, while the wicked are "wealthy."  We hold Jesus' Principles dear, while, "the plans of the wicked," seem to be the rule of the day in most cultures.  This has been the United States of America for the last 8 years, and, I can contend, much longer.  It has just seemed as though the "smile" was on the wicked.  I personally believe, though, that this past election in the US was a Divine repudiation of the wicked, humanist arrogance. 

I cannot say that Donald Trump is "righteous."  I can say, however, that so many of those who opposed and oppose him on so many issues politically are of the, "wicked."  For those of us who have felt "oppressed" in our host cultures, You and I can say that Jesus Christ never did, and for sure now, does not, "smile on the plans of the wicked."  He has wiped the, "smile o[f] the plans of the wicked," from their faces.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your "visible" Smile.  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

Let It Not Be Said, "The Footmen..."Wear[y] You"

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?  And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do the in thicket of the Jordan?"  (The Lord God to Jeremiah--- and us)

This is from today's "Major Prophet" reading.  This has been the question/exhortation of the Blessed Trinity throughout Church History.  This is to the People of Jesus Christ.  And, by Father's, Son's, and Holy Spirit's grace and mercy, the People who have triumphed in history, no matter the regimes, the persecution, the hatred, the rejection, the plots to destroy, are those who's trust is Jesus Christ and Jesus alone.  I say to you and me today: Don't stop now.  I'm sure many of you Americans are being inundated with Face Book posts, emails. communications from "ministries," all in an attempt to sway you, encourage you, exhort you.  I too posted several Scriptures to Face Book, I confess.  No matter the outcome of the US Elections, however, life goes on and will go on.  No government of man has ever been nor ever shall be the salvation nor the end of you and me.

I personally had a great time yesterday with some friends of ours.  Yes, we played Scriptures; we prayed; we shared.  But just being together with friends who also, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," is just wonderful.  We played through many Scriptures.  We prayed at the "four corners" of the outskirts of Pittsburgh.  Some shared some profound things.  But I "evaluate" our times together mostly in the perspective of Covenant History, the history of those whom the Bible calls, "elect of God," in Christ Jesus.  People who love/obey Jesus Christ do not get bogged down by events, good or bad.  We do not look at history with a microscope, but rather a telescope, and we do so to the past and the future.  Remember, "The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the Everlasting Arms."

The Bible teaches us that the, "horses," and, "the thicket of Jordan," will come.  Indeed, they have come and still comprise the atmosphere of many of our Brethren in the Earth.  We just, in so many ways and of so much, do not know the future.  We are thankful for the "prophetic" and in no wise, "despise...prophesyings."  But we do test them.  And whether they "come to pass" or not, our "hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness."  The reality that, "we are more than conquerors," is based on and in our union in Jesus Christ and His Words, nothing and no one else, no matter how insightful, how profound.  It is our Lord Jesus that we deal with, "horses...and the thicket of Jordan." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my Peace; hence, in You I am unshakable.  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