This was one of my today's readings. It has been a favorite Scripture to pray over people when we have sent them out in the missions fields.
I read this today in the Stadtmitte (city center, or middle of the city) of Berlin. The UBahn stop is called, "Stadtmitte." This platform was opened as U2 on October 1, 1908, and was originally called Friedrichstrasse. Little did Berliners know what the succeeding century would bring them. But I can tell you from what little I know that the historic German culture was a very militaristic culture, just as Japan. The only way to win against such a culture is to destroy it; that is what WW II did. Yet, instead of repentance and believing the Gospel, the German has largely relied on his touted repetition of scientific brilliance. Germany is the strongest economy in
Europe and the fourth largest in the world. For them, they worked their way "out of the ashes." Sound familiar?
Now what? Well, just as for the salvation of you and me, it is nothing but, "....the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the...prophetic writings...," which will bring the salvation and revival to the nations for which so many of us pray. This preaching, "....according to the prophetic writings...," is another way of saying what Paul said to Timothy, "Preach the Word." It is largely absent in today's Germany, just as in the United States of America. I can say with absolute authority, however, that if this, "....preaching of Jesus Christ according to the...prophetic writings...," does not returned to Germany and the nations of the world, nothing else will bring the revival which we all seek. And our text should not only govern the preaching, but also the praying, worship and service of the Church to our communities and, "to the uttermost part of the earth."
Father, in Jesus' Name, strengthen and empower me in, "....the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the prophetic writings..," and in the living of the same. Amen.
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* Sarah and I return to the States after midnight, Wednesday. We appreciate any prayers.
* I will be preaching in meetings of the Renewed Strength Church north of Dayton, Ohio, this coming Sunday.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not the of us pray only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'" "Looking unto Jesus" Hebrews 12:2
