Away With "Rugged Individualism"

"The Lord is your keeper....The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming forth from this time forth, and even forevermore."  (Psalm 121)

As I was reading Psalms 121-125 this morning, I was struck with the great emphasis of the Bible on corporeity.  The phrase, "....and even forevermore," reveals this.  The, "forevermore," reveals that the Holy Spirit is always speaking of future generations.  Moreover, one of today's readings in the Epistles reveals also the corporate nature of the Church, "Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually."  Today, the emphasis is far more on, "....members individually," than on, "....you are the Body of Christ...." 

Most Americans do not think corporately.  "Rugged individualism" rules.  You and I know that the emphasis today is almost solely on, "individually."  Large churches, large "ministries" for the most part are large because they appeal to that old "rugged individualism" mentality.  "Tell me how I can advance me and mine, how I can prosper, how I can be healed, how I can claim everything in the Bible for just ME."  Of course, this would be denied most vehemently in order to preserve the air of spirituality.  But the reality overshadows the objections.

The Biblical Principle of corporeity will help all to understand Bible promises, covenant, etc.  Individual Jews through the centuries have suffered, experienced poverty, persecution and destruction.  But the Jews as a People Group have survived, right to this very moment.  Indeed, even after the Holocaust, which seemed to mock promises such as, "The Lord is your Keeper," a great miracle burst upon the global scene, the Modern State of Israel.  The great effort to get Jewish children out of the grasp of the German before and during the war reveals how the Jews saw themselves as recipients and benefactors of, "The Lord is your keeper;...The Lord shall preserve you...even forevermore."  The Lord Jesus is, and the Lord Jesus has done just that.

This Bible Theology applies also to the modern Church, especially in America.  It needs to get out of its perverted "rugged individualism" mode, and greatly increase the emphasis that we are, "the Household of faith."   Ephesians 4:25 says, "....for we are members of one another."  Later we read, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones....I speak concerning Christ and the Church."  The Church globally is declining in numbers and financial giving; no matter.  Jesus promises the durability of His Church, of us who are, "....members of one another."  For us also the promise is ever, "The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."  

Martin King said in a message the night before he died, "I may not get there with you, but...."  He was not just looking out for himself.  He was looking out for the welfare of his People Group.  This has been the theme of the Jews and Church through the ages, "I may not get there with you, but" I will run my "leg" of the race, "looking unto Jesus," doing my part that whatever future generations there may be, I will do my part to help them in their, "The Lord shall preserve you...even forevermore." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for those times when I am a, "individually," and not a, "member[]."  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

Selections From This Month's Psalm 119 Reading

"The law of Thy mouth....(72) I understand more then the ancients because I keep Thy precepts (100) I hate vain thoughts: but Thy law do I love (113) The entrance of Thy words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (130) Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness (142) Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not Thy statutes (156) Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them (165)." Psalm 119, KJV)

v. 72: The Words of God come from, "Thy mouth..," which is another way of saying they are, "God-Breathed"; ergo, every time I read the Words of God, Jesus is breathing on me and into me His Word/Breath.

v. 100: You may not think you are very smart, perceptive, wise, etc.  No matter; if you and I, "keep Thy Words," which means, of course, we must read them if we are to "keep" them, we will be smarter, more perceptive, and wiser than those who rely on their "natural ability."!!  Say it with me, "I understand more than the ancients because I keep Thy precepts."
v. 113: If we want to have victory over, "vain thoughts," we will stay saturated in His Words.
v. 130: "The entrance..," is key.  Knowledge and understanding may not seem to flourish in me and you, nor wow the crowd.  But as Jesus' Words keep entering you and me, whatever, "understanding," He has for us will be ours.
v.142: We can pray, worship all day, fast til we weigh 10 pounds, give great sums of money to the poor, and go on mission trips once a week.  While they are "righteous" endeavors, they are not the righteousness in Jesus Christ's Blood which is, "an everlasting righteousness."  No matter how "spiritual" one may appear to others, there is no spirituality apart from, "Thy Righteousness...an everlasting righteousness."
v. 165: How about this take on an old cliche?  Know and love Thy Words, know peace.  No, "love Thy Words," no peace.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with the song writer, "Breathe on me Breath of God."  Amen.
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News on the great self-destruction going on in Germany: 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

Jesus, "Followed Them.., Traveled With Them"

"....And all drank the same spiritual drink.  For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ."  (1 Corinthians 10:4)

The NLT says, "For they drank from the spiritual Rock that traveled with them, and that Rock was Christ"------ Who, "traveled with them...," and Who, "travel[s] with," you and me, Who, "follow[s]," you and me.

I'm glad that you and I do not have to wait until "God shows up."  Jesus is the "Following, Traveling" God of Creation.  He never leaves, always, perpetually, 24/7/365/6 "traveling" with us, always "following" us.  The Bible tells us that the King of the Kingdom, Jesus, is ever behind us, goes before us, His hand is upon us, and gloriously, "underneath are the Everlasting Arms.  And, because of Jesus' Blood, His Cross, His Resurrection, Jesus is eternally in us.

What was "playing out" in that wilderness journeying was the manifestation of, "the Kingdom of God/Heaven."  He is not a god confined to buildings, meetings, etc.  On the contrary; The Blessed Trinity was moving in the camp of Israel, providing manna, succoring, defending, leading.  The Jews were not competing with different religious groups.  They were dealing with nations, people groups attempting to destroy them.  Pharaoh did not learn that Jesus, "the Rock that traveled with them...," is King of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus is the Warrior/King/Shepherd.  The attacking nations did not realize that they were taking on the number one Super Power of the Universe.

Such is our Inheritance.  You and I are "traveling" through this brief allotted life time with/in the "Traveling, Following" King Jesus.  Some are now on a lunch break; some are in school; some are in their houses; some may be on a business trip.  No matter!  Enjoy this Kingdom Day.  The Same Rock, Jesus, Who, "traveled with them," and Who, "followed them," is right there, right here, following, traveling, indwelling.  Glory!

Father, in Jesus' Name, What a glorious journey.  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

"Proclaim The Kingdom...And Heal the SIck"

"....He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick."  (Luke 9:2)

We tend to do neither today.  Why?

Let's face it: "the Kingdom of God," just does not "sell."  It's certainly not "seeker friendly," nor does it make me the center of things; the King is.  What the King says, goes.  We have not vote in what He does.  Who today wants to hear of a king and some kingdom?!?  Who wants the thought that Jesus Christ is King, and we His subjects?  Who does not want a "say in the matter?"  And perhaps even greater than the aforementioned, "The Kingdom of God," is far beyond the control of ANYONE, any apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor/teacher, bishop, church board, or "generals of intercession," period. 

Then there is the, "....heal the sick."  It is frankly embarrassing to pray for someone's healing, only to see that they are not healed.  We can mumbo-jumbo any theology all we want.  The truth is that even with the great "faith-healers" of the Twentieth Century, most in their meetings were not healed.  I was in meetings where most of those seeking healing left without anything "happening."  I confess that there have been too many times that I have not prayed for people because I didn't expect anything to happen-- horrendous. 

So, now what do we do?  Well, we do what our Lord Jesus commands and sends us to do.  The old cliche could apply here: "Ours is not to reason why.  Ours is but to do or die."  I don't preach much any more; but that's no excuse.  I am now writing this for, well, I don't know how many.  I want to, however, as one translation says, "....proclaim the Kingdom of God."  I want to, "heal the sick."  Notice that Jesus does not say, "Pray for the sick," rather, "heal the sick", but that's another discussion.  Please send me a prayer request.  I will pray for you, no matter what the request, no matter if I "look good" or not.  Let's get over this degeneration (forgive me if "degeneration" seems a little too harsh) of "the Faith."  Jesus is King of, "the Kingdom of God."  I am Jesus', "bond-slave."   And that, my friend, is Bible.

Father, in Jesus' Name, how we do "pick and choose" what we want to "proclaim" and do.  Holy Spirit, I need you.  Amen.
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Fall 2017 Mission:  Berlin/Wittenberge, October 28-Novenmber 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

A New Take On Slavery

"O Lord, how manifold are Your works!  In wisdom, Y0u have made them all.  The earth is full of Your possessions--..."  (Psalm 104:24)

This, of course, includes you and me, and everyone on the planet, everything in and on the planet---------- "....full of Your possessions."

The sad state of most humans is that they have never "staked their claim" to being Jesus', "possessions."  Adam is referred to as, "the son of God," in Luke's Gospel, which means, he was born directly of the Blessed Trinity, had no human father nor mother.  Humanity rebelled in Adam and Eve, however, and lost the inheritance of the Living Triune God.  Humanity was given an opportunity to regain "Paradise Lost" in and through the Blood of Jesus Christ, but has, by in large, rejected this marvelous "Amazing Grace."

There is no doubt in Biblical Theology that not only, "The Earth is the Lord's..," but as the Great "Developer" of the Universe, Father, King Jesus, Holy Spirit, it is quite true that, "the [Universe] is the Lord's."  Now we can argue, reason, ask the never-ending "whys" of life, but the Bible is quite clear, "Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases."  This reality is repeated over and over again in the Bible.  This is what words like, "King," and, "Lord," mean. 

Anyone who follows Jesus are just as Romans 1:1 says.  I am, "a bond-slave of Jesus Christ," or has the word for, "bond-slaves," in the Greek means, "without any ownership rights of my own."  Frankly, I'm tired of "property rights."  You and I are Jesus', "possessions", and I say with the old song, "I'm not my own; I belong to Jesus.  He purchased me; I'm all His."  I gladly go to the doorpost and ask Jesus to put His, "awl," in my ear, just as the foreshadow of our "bond slave," position in Jesus Christ says in Exodus 21:6, "....His  master shall bring him to...the door or the doorpost.  And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve Him permanently."  I'm in.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I regret and repent of ever asserting any "property rights."  I'm Your servant, "permanently."   Amen.
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* Please continue to pray for Sarah's sciatica. 

* Please pray for our mission to Germany, October 28-November 15.  Please pray especially for our train connection to Wittenberge.
 

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