"....Darkness Over All The Land"--Until

"Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land." (Matthew 27:45)

It was a, "darkness," which had ruled since the Garden.  It was in the appearing of Jesus, "Through the tender mercy of our God,..the Dayspring from on high has visited us...."  As our Lord Jesus says,  I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." 

It was a day much like today, any day, any year, anywhere.
    "Well might the sun in darkness hide
    and shut its glories in
    When Christ, the Might Maker, died,
    For man the creature's sin." (Isaac Watts)
There is a documentary coming out about a former mega-church pastor, "Heretic," which is nothing more than a new take on the foolishness I heard from many (not all) in my seminary days.  There is always some egotist who thinks that after 20 centuries he has the accurate, best take on Christianity--- fools all.  The refrain still rings throughout the Universe
    "At the Cross, at the Cross,..the burden of my heart rolled away."

I don't know what is going on behind the neophytes always trying to show the world a better way, but the Cross tells us all how God Himself supremely demonstrated Agape.  "God loved the world this way: He gave His only Son." (John 3:16)  There is no "so much" about God's love.  Agape is Agape, Eternal, without beginning or ending, as the song writer said, "....how measureless and strong."

This day, though rarely perhaps ever on the day, has always meant so much to me, even as a child.  Perhaps it was Jesus' mercy and grace which was speaking to me, a part of the without-Him-lost humanity.  What Jesus accomplished on "That Day," was for all humanity, "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it, [His Cross]."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that in, "the Blood of His Cross," the Blood of Jesus, I am, "....triumphing over them...."  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...."

"Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:25, Thomas, one of "The Twelve)

"Unless I see...."  Thomas was setting the "conditions" of faith--- bad idea.  This is a life style of "seeing is believing."  Conversely, what the  Bible calls, "the faith of Jesus," is "believing is seeing."  Our eyes will never be opened until our heart is opened. 

Now, make no mistake; the other disciples did not believe the report of the women any more than did Thomas.  They just were not so blatant in stating their unbelief as was Thomas.  It is very humbling to consider that everything you and I "believe" about the Gospel of Jesus, someone else told us.  That is a central purpose of the Bible, telling us what we don't know.

Thomas did not see, but others did see, and simply told him what they saw.  I did not "see" creation, but the, "Word of God," Who is the Creator, tells me, "In the beginning," He created.  I did not see the trial of Jesus, the beating of Jesus, the Via Dolorosa, Jesus' Death on the Cross, nor His Resurrection.  But some did, and have told me what they saw.  I believe them.

No one around you who is not following Jesus understands this.  Their words and their life style will "fight" against "Kingdom Living."  You and I have a choice every day, even several times a day, to decide how we will live.  Believe what we have been told by, "The Word of God," or believe, well, whatever else.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I believe You.  Amen.
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* So far, we have 8 who are coming to the FHMP Briefing on June 2.
* April 17-24: Israel

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

Three "Words" BEFORE The Cross

"Behold, I bring Him forth to you....Behold the Man!...Behold your King!" (John 19)

What a glorious call issued by a Roman govenor.  I repeat them today, and so should all Followers of Jesus.  Repeat them; live them.  Call the world with these words.

"Behold your King!"  I have often noted that what finally brought Pilate to end the debate between himself and the Jews was their declaration, "'We have no king but Caesar!'  Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified."  I tell you again that the world does not much care about those who proclaim some religouseze "gospel."  But all through history, anywhere or anytime the assertion that Jesus is King is put forth, persecution and death follow.  Every totalitarian government in history got the rivalrous message of the Gospel, "Jesus Christ is Lord" (King, Ruler, "only Potentate").  This is total control of a person's life, "If anyone desires to come after Me, he must deny himself (herself), and take up his (her) cross daily, and follow Me."  Governments, including the American Government of 1962 & 1963, "get" the message, even if religion-blind others do not.  This was not some woman or school board that attempted to outlaw the reign of Jesus Christ in America.  It was all America.  It was a repeat of, "We have no king but Caesar." 

We need a revival in America and the whole world of, "Behold the Man!...Behold your King!"  What glorious exercise!  What glorious redemption, salvation, deliverance in the act of, "Behold the Man!...Behold your King!"  Do you "see" Jesus today?  "For it is the God Who commanded light to shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ."  Wherever people do not behold, "....the glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ", there is only Darkness, despair, fear, hopelessness.  When any, "Behold the Man!", and, "Behold your King!", there and there alone is the, "....the Light of the world."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I, "Behold the Man!" and, "[my] King," today.  What glorious beholding.  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 Cure For Depression

"The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it....The Lam is its light....And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life....They shall see His face, and His Name shall be on their foreheads....And they shall reign forever and ever.... Behold, I am coming quickly!...Let him who thirsts come.  Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."  (From Revelation 21 & 22)

The NIV heading of chapter 22 is: "Eden Restored."  Regardless, I can assure you that if there is any sorrow, trouble, depression, anxiety present today in your life, this will do it.  These Words which Jesus has "sent" to us will "bring you out."  That is, if we believe/accept these Words.

Perhaps, from time to time, when you read such passages there comes a thought of, "This is just too good to be true."  Maybe you recall those nihilists  around you over the years who said such things as, "Well, this is just wishful thinking.  It is just the dream and propagation of people who can't face the fact that after death there is nothing."  Remember?

Well, today, at this very moment, you and I have a continual choice, a choice which is before us every time such thoughts or words or accusations come our way: "Who has believed our report?"  When the Bible says that, "we wrestle," among all the others things with which we, "wrestle," is the weak, very limited human mind, which just cannot "take in" such glorious reality.  Yet here they are, the very Words of Jesus to His Church, in fact, "whoever desires." 

Cheer up today.  I have "a word" for you.  "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." !! 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You, "....prepare a place for,"  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

"Unless...."

"Unless the Lord builds the house (nation), they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city (house, nation), the watchman stays awake in vain.  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,..for so He gives His beloved sleep."  (Psalm 127)

What came to me today about our text is that whoever is "build[ing]," whoever is "guard[ing]," whoever, "stays awake..," whoever, "rise[s] up early," or, "sit[s] up late," our Lord Jesus Christ is right there, every place and all the time, "build[ing]," and, "guard[ing]."  Hence, the great passage in 1 Thessalonians 5, "....that whether we wake (literally, 'watch') or sleep, we should live together with Him."  We only can, "build," and, "guard," and, "watch," in fellowship/participation in Jesus.  "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep"--------- even when we have to.

Jesus Christ is with/in/around us even when we are not building, guarding, or do not, "rise up early," or, "sit up late."  The "work" is His, and only "ours" when we remember the words of our text.  Life which survives and overcomes is, "....we...live together with Him."  If you and I and the whole of the race need any reminder of anything today, it is the great, "Unless."

Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me more and more the lifestyle of, "Unless."  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