"The Secret Place"

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."  (Psalm 91:1

"The secret place," is only a secret to those who know not Jesus.  If you and I have surrendered our lives to Jesus, if Jesus Christ lives and reigns in us, no, "place," of His is kept secret.  Right now I rejoice that I am "there," and, I trust, so are you.

Some people speak of that, "secret place," as some sort of spiritual activity.  It is not, nor is it in just some special kinds of meetings.  We heard Jesus, "stand at the door and knock," at some point in our lives.  By His Grace and Mercy, we opened the door of our hearts and "where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in."  I say again, We do not come and go to, "the secret place."  It/He is our dwelling place.  Hence, we are never, ever alone in this world.  "Behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

I can say with reverential respect and awe today that wherever there is a Follower of Jesus, "the secret place of the Most High," is there.  We are bearers of His Presence.  We do not go to, "the secret place";  we live, dwell, abide "there," in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Let us not keep that "place" a secret from others.  May our, "light so shine before men that they may see your good works," and get a glimpse of not only, "the secret place," and, desire to be there with us, but also encounter the Living Triune God.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for inviting me to share in Your, "secret place," to live "there" in You.  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

"....Unless You...Become As Little Chiildren...."

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

There is something in our Lord's Words which speaks of "starting over."  When one comes to Jesus, He/she comes to Jesus only by repentance, which means, "I am wrong.  I know nothing.  Only You, Lord Jesus, are right."  This is the beginning of conversion.  One definition of conversion is, "change in character, form, and function."  One thing for sure about a little child: They are just starting. 

We thought we were alright, educated, sophisticated in the ways of life, but then we met Jesus.  We discovered that our whole attitude and life style was contrary to the purposes of the Blessed Trinity, His Kingdom, His Church.  Maybe we didn't (and too many times still don't) admit it, but we just thought we needed forgiveness of sin.  Indeed, we do.  But conversion speaks of something beyond the New Birth.  It is a change in thinking and living, viz., "change in character."  This is a life time process, again, growing and discovering, as a, "little child."

In the next verse, Jesus says, "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Now you know as well as I that most church-goers don't believe this.  They look for the "seasoned," the educated.  A little child is none of this.  Mostly they are in awe of each new day, what they experience, what they learn which they never knew. 

Whatever our Lord Jesus fully means in our text, it would behoove all of us to pray to live such a life before each other and the world, "....converted and become as little children..., humble himself as this little child...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess I do not fully know the meaning of these, Your Words.  Holy Spirit, teach 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

"....The King Eternal"

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen."  (1 Timothy 1:17)

Every so often Paul has these "outbursts."  He's writing along, then, "Now to the King eternal...."  I imagine he had some of those moments when working on the tents.

I come across these moments every day while reading the Bible.  It's okay then to just stop reading for a moment (a while) and worship, praise, give thanks, meditate, take a sort of, "Selah," moment. 

People may preach and teach great things, and sometimes you want to so respond.  But you and I should expect these moments every day.  The Words of Jesus are, as the Bible says, "unalloyed," viz., no mixture, no impurities, just, "life to those who find them, and medicine (health) to all their body."  More than anyone or anything, Jesus' Words produce glorious "outbursts."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, "be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

*****************

Had to "rain check" DC-- "foul weather."

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

"Footpints"

"Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known."  (Psalm 77:19)

There are various translations for the phrase, "not known."  It is, "not seen," in the NIV, or, "a pathway no one knew was there" in the NLT), or, "Your footprints left no trace," in the CEB."  The TLB says, "a pathway no one knew was there."  Whether our text says that Jesus', "footsteps," were there and we did not perceive them, or as the NASB says, "Your footprints may not be known", there is something of life's journey here.

Many people today are living with lost, "footprints."  They thought that Jesus', "footsteps," were so clear.  They were so confident of His Presence.  Prayers were being answered.  Worship seemed so intimate and so refreshing.  When He "spoke," it was as though you could actually hear His Voice.  Every day was an adventure in Him.

Then the waves of life covered His, "footprints."  O, you may hear those people who talk and talk of victory after victory.  Their "quiet time" is a continual charismatic conference.  Read the Bible, however, and you will see that this is not the case of one person of whom you read.  We read of David and Goliath; we read also of David and Saul.  We read of David, the victorious warrior; we read of David running for his life from Absalom.  We read of Paul's preaching when, "almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God."  And we read of Paul, when he wrote, "no one stood with me, but all forsook me."  Jesus preached to, "multitudes."  At His cross, there were only four. 

It is time for the Church to stop listening to the hype.  Hype is like the proverbial sugar or caffeine high.  It may "pick you up," but the downside is worse than any "upside."  There may, indeed, be times when you think you see, "footprints," when all is clear and lovely.  But what do you do when it is not so?  When our life and, "hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' Blood and righteousness," when our "daily bread" is Jesus' Words and not His, "footprints," we will always be able to, "be still and know that I Am God." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, whether Your, "footprints," can be seen, known, or not, I "look" to You.  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

"Your Tradition" Or "Command of God"

"Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"  (Matthew 15:3)

I think we all have, "your tradition".  What place we give, "your tradition," will determine who guides and leads us, in short, our life style.

It is easy to see the contrast, or perhaps contradiction, between our traditions and, "the command of God," (NIV), that is, if we really want to.  Finney said that the number one hindrance to revival was selfishness.  Try to argue with him.  That is how I would define the people who allow, "your tradition," to rule rather than, "the command of  God."  There have been many throughout Church History who participated in, "teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."  These, "doctrines...of men," will leave the follower worn out, discouraged, disillusioned. 

Traditions come from reading the Bible with looking-for-what-I-prefer glasses.  People get an "idea," or something they want to promote, go to the Bible and look and look until they find a passage which seems to back them up.  The main problem here, however, is the motive.  Start with a wrong motive, and you will end with, well, WRONG. 

I also would greatly discourage going to the Bible looking for answers, etc.  I would greatly encourage, on the other hand, going to the Bible and looking for the Godhead, His Purposes, His Will, His Everything.  Maybe we could pray something like, Lord Jesus, I prefer what You have for me rather than what I think I want for myself.  I come to Your, "God-Breathed," Words for You to speak.  Amen.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want You, not me.  Amen.

*******************

* DC: January 17

* Preaching in the CCE meeting, January 21

* FHMP Briefing at the Lamplighter in Delmont, January 27.  Need reservation.

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