I Had A Lot Of Scripture To Choose From

"I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my daily bread."  (Job 23:12)

The summer of '70 was the first time I ever read the Bible completely through.  It was in the KJV; no matter.  Desperation does not need the latest translation, explanation, exposition, Wow! teaching.  What a desperate soul needs is the Breath of God Himself.  So very many in Christendom give so little time, if any, to Godhead "respiration."

Maybe you already checked out because you have read and, in some cases, heard me say this so much.  It does not, however, change the power, deliverance, "so great a salvation," healing, sustaining, "God-Breathed," Words.  I used the word, "respiration," above.  The dictionary defines it as, "a process in living organisms involving the production of energy."  So, there you have it, exactly what Jesus tells us, "The Words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

Most people have some sort of Iphone, smart phone, etc.  It is free and easy to download any number of Bible programs.  One can at least listen to Jesus speaking almost wherever one goes.  Some Church-goers, however, give more time to Limbaugh, or music, or that favorite worship tape than they ever give to reading/hearing Scripture.  Wouldn't it be a "production of energy," better than coffee or that "power drink" to drink in, breathe in, "the Words of God"?!?  Nothing, I repeat, nothing in the universe can produce "energy" as can, "The Word of God," Jesus Himself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your "Divine Energy."  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

After Suffering, God "Himself Will...Establish You"

"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  To Him be dominion forever and ever.  Amen."  (1 Peter 5:10, 11--NASB)

I think so many people today get discouraged and give up because much of modern Christendom does not proclaim the Bible Theology from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.  They pick out what will keep people coming back.  "After you have suffered..," will not do that.  Of course, most of the talk of "suffering" in the Bible is not what most Westerners think of or experience.  It is talk of severe persecution.

Yet, we can take from Bible Theology that our Lord Jesus Christ is He Who, "will Himself perfect...you," (literally, 'compact together, perfect for his full destination or use, bring into its proper condition, whether for the first time, or after a lapse)'."  Can this be any more clear?!?  Just study this from the Interlinear for a moment and we will see the purpose of Jesus in His "workings" in our lives.  This is sort of another way of saying that Jesus, "causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 

Then there is the, "confirm ('fix firmly'), strengthen and establish ('lay the foundation [in]) you", from the moment we open our heart's door to Him until the very moment of our departure from this life.  "To Him be dominion forever and ever.  Amen."  Whatever our "sufferings" may be does not diminish suffering for the individual.  But what, or rather, Who sees us through is our, "Great Shepherd of the sheep," our Lord Jesus Christ, and His promise is sure, "the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You so much for this glorious promise of Your working in my life.  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

A Prayer For Presidents, Prime Ministers

"I will sing of Your love and justice; to You, Lord, I will sing praise.  I will be careful to lead a blameless life...."  (Psalm 101:1, 2a, NIV)

I'm outside on the porch as I write this-- 70 degrees.  This was unheard of when I was growing up in the 40s and 50s, but then, again, much of today's world was unheard of when I was growing up.

My prayer which I am sending on the conference call today is from Psalm 101.  It is a prayer of David which he penned when he was the king of Israel.  It is the prayer/commitment of an honorable man.  I prayed it today for President Trump and PM Netanyahu.  The same "feeding frenzy" which we are seeing against Trump, we are seeing and reading and hearing against Netanyahu.  I repeat what I have written before:  There is an evil unleashed in the earth.  I can almost "see" it in the spiritual realm; it is ugly. 

Isaiah 24 tells us of what appears to be a final judgment on those who reject the Reign of Jesus Christ.  It is a judgment on the world land mass and its people.  "See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; He will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants-- it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant,..for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender....The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered.  The Lord has spoken this Word."  What are you and I about in this very moment which is preparing for what is to come in the earth?

Most agree that David was a "type" of Jesus Christ.  Psalm 101 reveals the attitude of a good monarch, and, I might add, also a faithful Follower of King Jesus, praise and a commitment of a life style which reflects Jesus Christ.  Every time I read Psalm 101 I ask again that I might be as was said of David, "He had God's Heart."  Psalm 101 is, at least in part, a description of those who, "ha[ve] God's Heart."  Jesus walked out Psalm 101 in His brief sojourn as, "the carpenter's son," as the Teacher, Healer, Deliverer of those around Him, Bearer of our sin.  And our Lord/King Jesus continues to "walk" the earth in His Church, the Church which manifests Psalm 101.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I again pray that Psalm 101 be my life and epitaph.  Amen.
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Lies at the UN:       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

"....In My Flesh I Shall See God"

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God...." (Job 19:26, 27)

Job saw Jesus' appearing.  Notice that Job is not, however, referring to Jesus' First Appearing.  Job saw the Second Triumphant Appearing, "and He shall stand at last on the earth," having fulfilled, "the last enemy that will be destroyed is death."  What a Glorious Gospel! 

We know Biblical Theology teaches that the Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming of Jesus (see Luke 2, Simeon, John 8, Abraham).  Peter tells us that what they "saw" was not perfectly clear, but they did know that Jesus would be appearing on the earth some day.

Our text tells us that Job saw beyond this.  And notice the glorious reality of what Job saw: "....and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God."  So much for those who think talk of resurrection is "spiritual," not a physical reality, viz., "....in my flesh I shall see God."  The Great News for you and me today is that we can say now, because of the Shed Blood of Jesus, the Death of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, the Ascension and Soon Second Appearing of Jesus, "....He shall stand at last on the earth...."

Today, here in our town, the weather is cold, cloudy, foggy and rainy.  In the midst of gloomy weather, what too many see as day to day drudgery at work, maybe depressing family concerns, the increasing chaos in the Earth, etc., the Follower of Jesus has a "Ray of Hope," and what a marvelous victory-inspiring hope, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth....I know, that in my flesh I shall see God...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say with the song writer, "It is well with my soul----- "that in my flesh I shall see [You]."  Amen.
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I have been sending some prayers via the "Free Conference Call."  I don't know how many enjoy this, but I will try to read from one of my Psalms readings each day, and perhaps pray a prayer from that.

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