Where Are You Standing Today?

"Therefore He said that he would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy." (Ps. 106:23, from today's Psalms reading)

It was 28 years ago today that the evil government of the reign of the Ceausescus came to an end in Romania.  President George H. W. Bush said that this was not a political revolution; it was a spiritual revolution.  One of the reasons for this victory was a group of 4000 Followers of Jesus in Timisora, kneeling and praying in the rain---- "had not_____ stood before [Me] in the breach...."

"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." (Ezekiel 22:30)  Fundamentally, this is Jesus Christ on that Roman cross.  The Bible tells us that Jesus, "....delivers us from the wrath to come."  The text also speaks, however, of people like those Romanian Followers of Jesus who participate in Jesus, "in the breach," for the whole world.  The Word for, "breach," in today's text is the exact same Word which is translated in the Ezekiel 22:30 passage as, "gap."  The Word seems to have military connotations, the idea of an enemy making a "breakthrough."  And in that, "breakthrough, gap, breach," is exactly where you and I, members of the Church, need to be. 

I cannot remember when I have felt more empowered to do this.  What about you today?  Do you have any sense of urgency, "....on behalf of the land," whether Israel or your nation?  For the USA, I believe one of the major breakthroughs was in the year of 1962-1963.  It was a masterful military strategy on the part of Satan.  He found a negligent, self-absorbed, focusing-on-things-other-than-Jesus-and-His-Words Church, caught us sleeping, and allowed Satan's willing henchmen to take prayer and Bible reading out of the American schools, thereby destroying the, "wall," of our nation's founding.  This was just as our Lord Jesus said of the latter days, "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way"  Though I was only 19 & 20 when this went down, I was sleeping.

Personally, I believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is Father's, "...Chosen One [who stands] before Him in the breach...."  And what He is calling to you and me to do is what He said to Moses in the wilderness, "But as for you, stand here by Me...."  You and I may not be in the governments of our respective nations, but we are Citizens of the Kingdom of God/Heaven.  Those who are enemies of the Godhead cannot, "st[an]d before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath...."  It is up to you and me. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to walk in all that You mean in Your Word.  Amen.

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We have room for about 8 more for the January 27, 2018, briefing.  Please let us know if you will be attending.

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

"Fear Not, For I Am With You" (The Triune God)

"For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth.  My heart is stricken and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread.  Because of the sound of my groaning my bones cling to my skin.  I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert.  I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop."  (Psalm 102:3-7)

Been there.

When I read our text each month, I am reminded of the period in my life when I could have written this Psalm.  Maybe you have one too.  Or, maybe you are now writing it.  If you are not, and perhaps never have, "written" such, "....do not be arrogant, but tremble."

"Life is full of surprises," the saying goes.  It is.  You know that as well as I.  Just think of what you thought your life would be like 30 years ago, and what it is today.  Some of the surprises are welcomed, some are not.  Some of those "surprises" can lead us to today's text, "I am like a pelican of the wilderness;...I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone...."  But I don't need to tell you today that, "Yea, even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil," that evil of being alone and feeling abandoned, "....of the wilderness,..of the desert-- on the housetop."

Jesus continually tells us (that is if you and I continually read His Words), "For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you'....Fear not, for I am with you.  Be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yes, I will help thee; yes, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My Righteousness....Come to Me,..and I will give you rest.... My... burden is light....Fear not; I Am the First and the Last."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You have been and are Faithful to me.  I receive Your Words afresh today that I am not like that, "pelican," and, "owl."  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

"Follower," Who Me?

"Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves Me."  (John 12:26)

I shared yesterday from my Gospel reading; I thought I would again today.  I have shared before on our text, but it has been such a powerful encouragement to me, that I wanted to "remind you of these things."

One who serves must be one who follows.  There are just too many books today about "leadership."  Maybe the Church would be better off if it emphasized more and more, "Whoever serves...must follow...."  How many leaders do you know who are followers?  I have written before, and I write it again.  Follower is for most a bad word, a "put down" word.  "O, he's a follower."  Frankly, I am always suspicious of a person who constantly looks for ways to lead, be in charge, looking for leadership roles.  I wonder what local congregations would be like if members said to their pastors, "I would like to follow you."  I can hear it now, "Oh!  I don't follow any man."  Fine, but how is your "follower-life?"

Our Lord Jesus gives us a life principle here, and it is much "deeper" than I can understand or express.  The only way you and I can be "with" Jesus is to follow Jesus, "Whoever serves Me must follow Me."  (This text took us to Berlin in October 1998.)  Maybe instead of saying, "The Lord led me there," we should say, "I followed Jesus there."  I really believe it would change our whole perspective on Kingdom Life and affect any needed attitude change.  It changes the whole role from asking Jesus to go with me to committing to Jesus to, "follow Me,"/Him---- "wherever" He is going.  It is easier for us to come to Jesus and say, "Be with me today," or, "Go with me," or, "Help me in what I am doing and want to do." 

Maybe pray something like this: "Lord Jesus, you know what I am going through at work, school, in my family.  I will follow You through this.  Amen."  May our Lord Jesus give us understanding in all of this, and write our text in our hearts.

Father, in Jesus'  Name, I must admit that by nature I would rather lead than follow.  Forgive me if this manifests in my relationship with you and others.  Teach me, Holy Spirit, and make me a follower of You.  Amen.

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There are, however, still about 80 on our mailing list from whom we have received no response.

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

"Mary, Did You Know...?"

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die."  (John 11: 25, 26--KJV)

I share this in the KJV because this is how I memorized it while in college.  This is how I heard it from Jesus that day, so long ago, at the gravesite of Stephen.  This is how I still hear it.

I had a choice on that June day in 1970:  Believe these Words, or believe everything and most everyone else.  I am alive today because I have chosen the former.  Nothing that day in my senses, my body, soul, or spirit, for those who like to separate humans as such, would "function."  I just stood there staring at that little casket, numb, emotionless, nothing.

But during those moments, hours, days, months, and eventually years which have followed, I am still being sustained by those same "Wonderful Words of Life," because they are not just printed words on some nice paper.  They are The Very Words of Jesus, "The Word," yes, the very, "Word of God," Himself. 

"Mary, did you know Your Baby Boy" would do this for me?

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