A New "Take" On A Popular Verse

"And they overcame him (Satan) by the Blood of the Lamb, and by (through, on account of) the Word (Logos) of their testimony...." (Revelation 12:11a, from today's reading)

Derek Prince once said that the best translation of the phrase, "by the word of their testimony," is, "by the Word to which they bore witness."  Notice the difference here.  The emphasis is not, "their testimony," but rather, "the Word to which they bore witness."  This is the, "He must increase," of which John the Baptist spoke, of which Biblical Theology teaches humanity, of which Father speaks of the Son, "My Beloved...in Whom I am well pleased." 

Do people walk away from me with the conclusion that I have "increased" Jesus Christ, or increased me?  Do people walk away from worship/His Presence gatherings with the overwhelming observance that Jesus Christ "increased," or the worship leader, the music, "that-was-great-worship" increased?  Do they walk away from our church services, seminars, ministry to the poor, the homeless, the aged, with the actuality of the old hymn, "May Jesus Christ be praised," or, "What a wonderful work they do?"  What people "walk away with" is what actually occurs, not what we hope occurs. 

Now this does not for a moment diminish our, "testimony."  What this does, however, is "elevate" Jesus Christ, "The Logos of God," to His proper "place" of Glory in the Universe.  It is as Peter said on the First Day of Pentecost in the Church Era, "This is that...."  His testimony was to the Words of the Prophets, "God-Breathed," Words, "the Logos of God."  When I speak of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done over my whole life, and especially what Jesus has been doing in my life over that past 47 years, it is all a testimony to, "the Logos to which they bore witness."  Our testimonies are our testimonies to the Bible promises, the prophecies, the Law, to the, "exceeding great and precious promises," of which Peter speaks. 

Perhaps we should respond to people who ask, "What has happened to you?" with the words, Exactly what the Bible said would happen to all who surrender their lives to Jesus.  It is not our testimonies by which we, "overcame him," but by, "The Logos to which we bore (bare) witness."  This, my friend, is the only "overcoming power."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray from the bottom of my heart that my "testimony" is to You and not to me.  Amen.
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Fall, 2017 Mission:  October 28-November 15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only tied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....A Pathway No One Knew Was There"

"Your path led through the sea, Your pathway through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen, a pathway no one knew was there!"  (Psalm 77:19, NIV & NLT)

I wonder how many times, how many seasons of my life our Lord Jesus was on the, "....pathway through the mighty waters...," with me and I knew is not, how many times I was caught up in my own trouble, my own heartache, my own self-absorption as Jesus was "walking" with me, in me, sustaining me.

Sometimes the reality of, "....Your footprints were not seen," comes when we are living in a known sin, rebellion, or loneliness, sadness, despair.  It is in those times/seasons that many think Jesus has "left" one on his own, or at least is less concerned, less shepherding than when we are dancing around in worship, visiting the nursing home, passing out tracks, or some other such endeavor which it is then too easy to say, "Now the Lord is surely favorable towards me."  Really?  Does the message of, "....not of works lest any man should boast...," mean nothing to us?  If we for one moment think that praying 8 hours a day, participating in some "presence conference," doing mission work, feeding the poor and hungry gives us more salvation status, then we have learned nothing of Biblical grace.

In June of 1970, I stood at the grave of Stephen.  I was numb, "alone," not knowing anything.  Jesus was "standing" there with and in me.  Was I cognitively aware that Jesus was walking, "....through the sea,..through the mighty waters," with me?  I cannot fully remember.  I do know, however, that I felt as though I was about to drown in those waters.  I was on, "a pathway no one knew was there" (NLT).  Many around me reminded me of the, "exceeding great and precious promises."  I in no way discount such love and support.  At times such as that, do all we know to do, but always realize there is something about this life that is full of, "....a pathway no one knew was there!"

Take courage, my friend.  Whatever befalls us, you know as well as I that whether, "....through the sea," or, "....through the mighty waters,"  Jesus Christ Is, "The Lord," Who, "is my Shepherd,...even though [we] walk through the valley of the shadow of death."  Hear Him: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out," not now, not ever.  Furthermore, "I Am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever...."  Glorious Life preserver, "....through the mighty waters...no one knew was there".

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that when and what I cannot see never keeps You from me.  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

You've Heard Of "Mission Creep"-- I Fear I Have "Devotional Creep"

"Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old....The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary....They said in their heart, 'Let us completely subdue them'....Have regard for Your Covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land." (From Psalm 74, NIV)

Verse 4 says, "Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place...."

Every month when I read Psalm 74, I am reminded of Germany, 1938.  Increasingly, however, I am reminded of the United States of America.  I have probably bored you before with my take on how and why King Jesus raised up the USA.  But I can tell you that even though Psalm 74 is obviously speaking of the Jews and their nation, I believe there is a very real application for America.  What Psalm 74 describes is occurring in the US more and more.  The enemies are not only "roaring" in the streets, in the universities, in the media and entertainment industries, the Government, they are also "roaring" in the, "meeting place."

"We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, none of us knows how long this will be.  How long will the enemy mock you, God?"  I am not saying that there are, "no prophets left," in the US.  But I am wondering, Is what they/we are saying in alignment with, "The Word of God"?  The only way any prophet, or any of us, for that matter, can have any certainty about what is taking place in the earth, any comprehension, and any corresponding knowledge of what the Bible says, "....men ought to do," is by a consistent reading, listening, and obeying of the entirety of Scriptures, and that with no agenda but His.  I simply would not have any confidence at all to write a devotional, to do any mission work, to preach/teach, even converse with individuals if I did not read/hear and submit, on a daily basis, to the very, "Words of God."

The Psalm also declares, "But God is my King from long ago; He brings salvation on the earth....The day is Yours, and Yours the night."  Good news today is that this, "....salvation on the earth," of which our text speaks, is rooted, founded upon, and pours forth from Golgotha, from the Blood-stained Cross, the Blood flowing from our Savior's precious Body.  Indeed, That Precious Body was given for you, me, the whole of mankind, and, this was, "....from long ago," as the Bible says, "from days of eternity."  Now our Lord Jesus Christ, He Who is, "from days of eternity," continues this, "from long ago...salvation...," in the very "Throne Room" of Heaven where, "He also makes intercession for us"; therefore, no worry nor fear should overwhelm us.  I can tell you, furthermore, We need to understand that a very real integral part of this, "salvation on the earth," is in and through His Church.  If humanity is going to make any "sense" whatsoever of what is taking place in the USA or any nation, it will be the Church, faithfully bearing witness to Jesus Christ, His Words, His Blood, His Cross, His Resurrection and Ascension, who will bring the only sanity and whatever clarity we all can receive.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, the uproar of those who rise against You which ascends continually."  Amen.   
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Berlin/Wittenberg Mission, October 28-November 15 

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

"....All Who Are In The Graves Will Hear His Voice"

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes in Him Who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life....Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming, in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice, and come forth...."  (John 5, from today's Gospel Reading)

With all that we have had to do to take care of Sarah's sister's property, I have been made even more aware of life's "cycle."  There are people in Florida who have property which has been neglected, to use a term of a park manager there.  I know for a fact that people die in Florida (and many other places) who have no family.  There the property sits; no one to claim nor take responsibility for it.  Too many people die alone, with no one, nothing.  It breaks your heart.

Depressing?  Why?  Why is it that so many who call themselves "born again" cannot deal with the realities of life?  They send money to people and organizations who promise them, in essence, everything.  "Sow a seed and you will get a hundred times as much."  Or, "Send for this holy water from Israel and you will be healed of anything."  It is a "everything-is-better-if-you-listen-to-me religion.  Yet, no matter how we may not like it, most Followers of Jesus are not millionaires, and Followers of Jesus die.  In spite of this, the Church has the message of hope and comfort as none other.  There is no one better equipped, better able to face the reality of one's own death than the person whose absolute trust is Jesus Christ, a person who believes, accepts, and is utterly dependent upon the very Words of Jesus.

I have shared before that one time in pastoral work I went to see a woman who was designated "terminally ill."  When I walked into the room, there was the family, about 5 or 6 people.  I know they were waiting for me to pray a "prayer of faith," or some such thing.  To this day, I can still hear the "Word" which Jesus spoke to my heart, "Prepare her to die."  I confess, I was a little surprised.  But, I did just that.  I asked, as politely as I could, would the family give me some time with her alone; they complied.  I don't remember what I said, what Scripture I read, but I do remember the look on her face, one of peace, contentment, and her words, "I feel so much better."  Who else in this life can do that for someone other than our Lord Jesus Christ?!? 

Yes, Jesus Himself speaks of death, and even once, in what seems to be a sort of "reality check," He said to his disciples, "Lazarus is dead."  But He did not leave it there, for it was not His final word on death.  To all of us, to anyone who has, "ears to hear," I give the Words of Jesus again, "....The hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."  Notice, "....and now is...."  This is Resurrection-Eternal Life.  Eternal Life is, "has...life."  Of what the hopeless call death, our Lord Jesus calls sleep, "The girl is not dead, but sleeping....Our friend, "Lazarus, sleeps."  Stephen, "sleeps," my Grandparents and Parents, "sleep[]."  And make no mistake about this, "....The hour is coming in which [they]...will hear His voice and come forth--- to the resurrection of life...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be a faithful servant to you and humanity by always sharing You and the Truth which only You Are.  Amen.
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Berlin/Wittenberg Mission:  October 28-November 15, 2017     

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

"....Silence...."

"When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.  And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.  Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.  He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.  The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand."  (Revelation 8:1-5, NIV- from today's reading.)

I sent a note to our supporters over the weekend in which I stated that there is a witchcraft spirit loose in the United States of America, and, I believe it is of a magnitude unlike anything we have seen before in the land.  It is not women dressed in black stirring some cauldron.  It is in women and men, news media, Hollywood, the American Government, including the "intelligence" agencies.  Now some may say, "So what's new?"  To which I say, Plenty!  Donald Trump is no paragon of virtue, but then again, how many U. S. presidents have been such?!?  I do believe, however, that his stated policies have far more value for America, Israel, and what we impact than those of Barack Hussein Obama; this especially includes Trump's military strategy.  Much of this witchcraft spirit is directed at him and his cabinet------------------ but mostly at you and me. 

Okay, so what does this have to do with our text?  Everything!  I don't know; you don't know, nor do the "famous ones" know if this is indeed the "close of the Age."  We do not know the, "day nor the hour," of Jesus' Second Appearing, and, quite frankly, I have no clear "revelation" on any "timing."  But I can tell you for me, at least, there is something in the "spiritual atmosphere," something which indicates a shift into another "gear," if you will, of the "events" leading to the close of the Age.  "....There was silence in heaven for about half an hour."  Now you may have and/or have heard "teaching" on this verse.  But for the "prophetic" in me, there is something very, very sobering here, "....silence in heaven...."  Could this phrase be akin to, "the calm before the storm"?!?  To me, this says that whenever this occurs, there will be something of the "shift" about which I have been sharing. 

You and I cannot, repeat, cannot become complacent and abdicate to others our strategic and tactical place in the Church and Kingdom, "of our Lord and of His Christ."  Each one of us has a "role" to play.  Abdicate that role, and we abdicate to the enemy some area, some person or group of persons for which only you and I have the assignment.  If you don't know who and what that is, I highly suggest that you find out, and do so immediately.  I believe that before the Second Appearing of our, "Great King," and Savior, Jesus Christ, there will be a storm of evil loosed in the Earth as none before.  But there will also be a great "move," a great revival which will see millions of the lost brought to Jesus into his His Church.  These are extremely sobering and exiting times to be alive.

Father, in Jesus' Name, by Your Grace and Mercy, help me in my "part."  Amen.
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Berlin/Wittenberg Mission, October 28-November 15   

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