"Afraid"?

"But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3, NLT)

Every month when I come to this section of the Psalms I am captured by the titles in the NIV & NLT: 
    Psalm 56:         "A Dove on Distant Oaks
    Psalms 57-59:  "Do Not Destroy"
    Psalm 60:        "The Lily of the Covenant," or, "Testimony)"
One can say with a great degree of accuracy that David spent most of his life "running for his life."  He probably felt like "A Dove on Distant Oaks."  No wonder he wrote about "Do Not Destroy."

Religious people tend to glorify David (as they do all "super saints") as the great "shepherd-king" of Israel, giant slayer, mighty warrior, which can be charismatic code for, "perfect, no problems, no fears," or, "I-want-to-be-like-him/her."  Such appraisal comes from letting other people do their Bible reading for them.  For far too many, the only Bible reading they do is when the Scriptures for the sermons/teachings are put up on the screen.  Erroneous theology, and outright heresy and disillusionment feeds on such a life style in the Church.

David says, "afraid," three times in Psalm 56.  Notice some of the other words in context:  "hounding me, attack me, slander me, harm me, twisting what I say, plotting to harm me, kill me."  Here is the simple, yet powerful prayer he prayed when faced with such: "Don't let them get away with their wickedness...."  (I pray this, too, for the nations.)

Now most people are too proud to admit to, "afraid."  But worry, for instance, is a sort of clandestine, "afraid."  We can use prettier words such as apprehension, anxiety, tension, but they all come back to, "But when I am afraid...." 

Ah, but then we have the great declaratory faith/trust/confidence of David, and may it be the same for you and me, "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You."  I like how the NLT translates the next verse, "I praise God for what He has promised."  The NKJV puts it this way several times: "In God (I will praise His Word)....In God (I will praise His Word), in the Lord (I will praise His Word), in God I have put my trust; (therefore) I will not be afraid."  This is Central Biblical Theology.

David's trust and confidence was, "The Word of God," Who is Jesus, "The Lord is my Shepherd," Jesus, the One, "....God...has promised."  David's life and trust was based upon, "I praise God for what He has promised," i.e., "The Word of God," Who, "became flesh," and Whose Words are, "dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock"---- Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with David, "What time I am afraid (anxious, worried), I will trust in You."  Amen.

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* I know in recent years we have been sharing about the Berlin Mission earlier, which can lead to the "crying-wolf" syndrome.  We pray it does not with you.  Europe is becoming more of a challenge.
* You can access the devotional any time at: 

   apfdevotionals.blogspot.com

* The News, Commentary Blog at:

   jhs58.blogspot.com  (New article today)

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 Cannot Explain What Is Going On

"The One Who existed from the beginning is the One we have heard and seen....He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life." (1 John 1, NLT))

I think if I were to preach somewhere again, as I did yesterday morning in our local "Prayer Breakfast," I would again use this text.  Why is this blessing me so (Rhetorical)? 

I had some professors and fellow students in seminary dispute this Epistle as John's.  But why has this always sounded so "John-like" to me?  "We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands.  He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life."

You will remember that it was John who laid his head on Jesus at the "Last Supper/Passover" Jesus celebrated with the twelve, yes, the twelve; even Judas was there.  Maybe it would have behooved Judas to have had a "head-resting-on-Jesus" relationship with the Master.  Judas was, however, too interested in "the mission," or "the work," or, well the anything-but what Jesus is after in you and me, "We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands.  He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life."

My, "own eyes," have not "seen" Jesus, nor have I, "touched Him with [my] own hands."  Yet meditating in 1 John 1:1-4 over these past days, its seems as though in some mysterious way I have.  Tears have come to my eyes while reading these, "God-Breathed," Words.  "He was with the Father and then He was shown to us."  Wow! Has Jesus ever been "showing" Himself to me.  I am going to sign off now.  While I cannot understand fully what is going on, I shall treasure these moments in Jesus I know "throughout" Eternity.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for this.

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You can read the article in the Johnstown Newspaper about yesterday's prayer breakfast here in Johnstown at:
www.tribdem.com
Scroll down to the title: "WATCH VIDEO"
The article is well written, I thought.

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

This Translation Is Better

"The One who existed from the beginning is the One we have heard and seen.  We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands.  He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life.  This One Who is life from God was shown to us, and we have seen Him.  And now we testify and announce to you that He is the One who is eternal life.  He was with the Father and then He was shown to us.  We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son, Jesus Christ.  We are writing these things so that our joy will be complete." (1 John 1:1-4, NLT)

It was a good morning, a very early morning.  Thanks for any who prayed for me.  It was a great time with pastors, business leaders, the mayor and county commissioners, plus a number of local Church representatives.  I would say that there were 350 to 400 there.  The first thing I did was read the above text.  I could have just kept reading it over and over.  No more beautiful Words were ever penned. 

The text which I shared yesterday is from another NLT version.  This sometimes happens with "modern" translations.  The same translation can vary over the years.  The text above is from a NLT Bible I have.  Read it again.  If this does not bless you, whatever does should be suspect.

"He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life....He is the One who is eternal life."  Notice here that it does not say that Jesus Christ gives, "eternal life."  Rather, "....Jesus Christ...is...eternal life."  This Wonderful Counselor, Immanuel, "....Word of life..., eternal life....was with the Father and then He was shown to us."  O, how Jesus is, "shown to [me]," in our text.

These Words are, "Rock," Words.  Dig deep, go through and passed all the garbage which our lives have accumulated over the years, all the opinions, the philosophies, and get down to these Words.  Keep building your life on Jesus' Words.  Then, will we be, "....like a [far-sighted, practical, and sensible] man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when..," (we can go one to say) the storms of life, "burst against that house..," those same storms, Satan's mighty forces, will not be able to, "shake it, because it had been securely built and founded on the rock," viz., "the Words of God."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your staying with me through the years I did not act on this.  Amen. 
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Please pray for our Berlin/Wittenberge Mission.  We still need funds.

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

"....So That [We] May Have Fellowship...."

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our joy complete." (1 John 1:3, 4--NIV)

And how are you doing today?  It is mid day here in the Eastern Time Zone, and nearly half of the "normal" work day is past.  I have been doing these devotionals for over 15 years and realized today that these are for me sort of "pastoral letters."  In something like a "spiritual aptitude test" years ago, my results revealed that my "primary gift" is pastoral, and my "motivational gift" is prophetic.  Whatever weight the others in the "test" put on it, I had to concur with the results.  I know that most of you have pastors, and some of you are pastors.  Maybe all I'm saying is, I'm here for you to share whatever you would wish, "....so that [we]...may have fellowship...."

Today's text is that which I plan to speak about in the annual Prayer Breakfast here in Johnstown tomorrow.  I intend to say that, "fellowship...with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ", is the primary intent of prayer.  Our text also reveals, however, that fellowship is central not only to our relationship in the Godhead, but also in the Church.  Amidst all the "programs" and "activities" and meetings, a great reason for the Church is, "....that you also may have fellowship with us....We write this to make our joy complete."  Note: The word for, "fellowship," literally means, "participation," also, "communion, contributory help" (I really like that).

I had a great time this past Saturday with some of the men of our local church.  It reminded me of something Charles Simpson once shared.  He was out on a boat on a Saturday with some of the men of the church and wondered, "I wonder where Jesus would be most comfortable, here on this boat, or tomorrow morning in our church service?" 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You have included me in, "....fellowship...the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ."  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

"I Like You" (Jesus)

"One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."  (Mark 10:21)

It seems as though the young man did not hear the contrast between his riches and, "....treasure in heaven...."  I also wonder if our Lord Jesus may have been saying to this young man, "Get rid of your riches so that I can be your Riches."

I really ask that you pray for me as I speak at a local annual prayer breakfast.  Many who will be there are local political leaders, business people, some who probably do not know Jesus.  They are as the business man in our text, relatively wealthy, perhaps many are "self-made," many who are of those, "who trust in uncertain riches." It is a tremendous opportunity; pray that I don't "blow it."

As I read our text today, I was reminded of just what a glorious Gospel we have, "....so great a salvation."  The 06:30-08:00 gathering this coming Wednesday, May 10, is called a "prayer breakfast," and my emphasis will be on what the Lord Jesus spoke to my heart so very many years ago.  I asked Jesus, in a non religious wording, "Why do you want us to pray so much?"  The response was also very non "religiousese" answer, "Because I like you."  I shall never forget that response.  Jesus, "Immanuel, God with us," telling me that He likes me.  There was a sort of, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you...," in the whole scenario.  I really to not believe it is untrue to Scripture to write it this way, "With fervent desire I have desired... you."  We can also hear this in, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"  Jerusalem, indeed, the whole human race, has been guilty of walking in religious cliches and activity rather than, "....I want[] to gather [you]...under [My] wings."

O, the religious will be quick to point out, "O, no, Jesus would not say, 'Because I like you.'  He would say, 'Because I love you.'"  We have got to get out of "post-Garden" religion.  I believe our Lord Jesus was saying to me what He is saying to all those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."  He just likes being with us, abiding in us, talking, fellowshipping, yes, spending the time enjoying each other, as in the Garden, "in the cool of the day."  Evangelicalism has placed so much emphasis on the aspect of forgiveness in our relationship in the Godhead that it has, for the most part, forgotten the purpose of forgiveness-- Fellowship, "Abide in Me and I in you." 

So, when that "prayer time" is over, when you go about the rest of your day, always remember that our Lord Jesus likes you, enjoys the times of speaking together, whether in words or in thoughts.  And when we say that, "Amen," to our prayers, remember that it is not over until the next worship service, the next quiet time.  It is, "And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so want the, "I like you," relationship.  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

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Posted By Antipas Prayer Force: to Antipas Prayer Force Devotionals at 5/08/2017 01:42:00 PM

The Great Evangelical Mistake

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"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.., that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth....But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God.................." (Deuteronomy 28)

One of today's readings is in Deuteronomy 28-32.  The history of Israel and the Jewish People is written in these chapters.  We may not like what we read here, but history has proven that whatever theology we may believe and hold to, the truth of the Bible still stands, "....God...cannot lie." 

For us "Completed" Gentile Followers of Jesus, the glorious reality is that, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us...."  History, BC and AD, seems to prove, however, that Jesus did not "redeem" us from the consequences of disobedience.  The declaration in our text has not only applied to the Jews throughout history, it has also applied to the Church.  The Church throughout history has not only suffered persecution from, "them which are without," but has suffered from its own disobedience.

I have forgiveness in the Blood of Jesus, for which eternity will not suffice the, Thank You, I owe the Blessed Trinity.  What neither I nor anyone else does not have is a remake of life's erroneous choices, a "do over" of a life style of living my way instead of full of, "the Words of  God," and obedience thereto.  Now our Lord Jesus Christ ever speaks His Words to us; we have them readily available.  But it is up to you and me to avail ourselves of these Words, of which the Bible declares, "They are your life." 

Perhaps the passage in James may also apply here.  "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that the one having brought back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."  This is not the, "sinner," in need of, "born again."  It is the sinner who is in need of being, "brought back."  This is the you-and-me sinner which, "....strays from the truth...."  Just some Sunday thoughts.     

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for the times You have, in The Holy Spirit, in Your Words, and through Your Church, "brought back [this] sinner from the error of his way...."  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