"I Stood At Calvary"

"And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing....Then Pilate said to Him....But He answered him not one word....His blood be on us and on our children....And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His Spirit."  (From Matthew 27)

I preached from Matthew 27 back in 2001 in some Sunday services of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh.  After I read the entire chapter, we sang, "Holy, Holy, Holy."  We could have gone home.

Jesus had been before the Jewish Authorities; now He was before the Roman Governor for Judah.  Our Lord Jesus said something to the Roman Governor which must have startled Pilate.  John's Gospel records that Pilate had threatened Jesus with the words, "Do You not know that I have authority (power) to release You, and have authority to crucify You?"  Jesus' answer must have flabbergasted Pilate.  "You would have no authority (power) against Me, unless it had been given you from above...."

So there you have it, my friend.  If Jesus is ruling in you and me today, the world, the Spirit of Darkness, nothing has any power over us.  Jesus comforts us with His Words, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words will not pass away."  Nothing and no one in Jesus will, "pass away."  When the Trumpet sounds, "....the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."  I think I'll have some lunch now.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for taking my, as Your Words say, sins, sicknesses, pains, grief, sorrows, disease in the Blood of Your Cross.  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

"They Did Nothing

"....Our lamps are going out....I was afraid.., so I hid it....When did we...not help You."  (From Matthew 25, NLT)

Today's "new" reading schedule included Matthew 25; it follows what we discussed yesterday.  Matthew 25 tells us of the accounting which we will all be held responsible for at our Lord, King, and Savior, Jesus Christ's, Second Appearing.  Derek Prince once said, "The problem with the foolish virgins, the unjust steward, and the goat nations is that they did nothing."  An absolutely great summation and exhortation for you and me.

"Story of The Ten Bridesmaids":  All ten "started out" with "enough," at least five of them thought so.  The "oil" lasted perhaps for a long time, but time can be deceptive.  In "the end," they were out.  The text says that they, "were not wise enough to take along extra oil." 

"Story of The Three Servants:"  There is a warning here for all of us.  The servant which received the rebuke was the servant who just did nothing, and attempted to justify that by saying, "I was afraid," or as some would say, "I'm not worthy," or, "I can't do that," or, "I don't have much talent," or...............

"The Final Judgment":  The key for me here is what Jesus says to those who were questioning His response to their life style, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you di it to Me," and, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me." (NKJV)  Notice that our Lord is not referring to some "random" act of good deeds.  He particularly targets, "one of the least of these My brethren," the Jews, the Church?

Maybe there is some good advice from a coach I once had.  "Don't just stand there; do something, even if it's wrong."

Father, in Jesus' Name, convict me every time I do nothing when I should be doing something.  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

"When He Comes, Will Find So Doing" ??

"So you also, when you see all these things, know that He is near--- at the doors!"  (Matthew 24:33

Hype the "spiritual life" all they want; this age will not end well for too many.  The Words of Matthew 24 are Words which will keep you and me in, "the faith of Jesus," Words which will enable us to recognize that, "when you see all these things," we will, "know that He is near." 

I was particularly struck today by the "doomsday" Words of our Lord Jesus, "Not one stone here will be left on another....Watch out that no one deceives you....You will be handed over to be persecuted....Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other....Many false prophets will appear....The love of most will grow cold....If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive....Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'" (NIV) 

Today's text comes from a regularly reading of the, "God-Breathed," Words.  When you are given to a regularly reading of all, "the Words of God," you must read them all, not just what has been popularized for agendas.  When you and I give ourselves to, i.e., read and obey ALL of the, "Words of  God," then we can be prepared to fulfill the Words of Jesus which are also in Mt. 24, "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when He comes, will find so doing."  As we watch and read of world events, we can watch the Words of, "The Word of God," Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, being fulfilled before our very eyes.  Religious hype meetings will not prepare people for these days.  Only the Words of Jesus can do that.

While the Words of Matthew 24 are scary to those who know not Jesus, they are indeed, "Wonderful Words of Life."  I say with the song writer, "Sing them over again to me...."  If one's "regular diet" is anything other than Jesus' Words, that one will not be ready for, "That Day."  No personages, nor teachings which do not center in Jesus Christ will prepare us for the close of this age other than Jesus Christ.  I challenge you to read the Gospels as though you have never read them.  Read, listen, meditate, consider.  Only submission to Jesus' Words can enable, "Blessed is that servant whom his master...will find so doing."  We have to "know" Jesus' Words to be of them whom He, "will find so doing."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Help me, in the Holy Spirit, to be able to live in these Words of Yours.  Amen.

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The latest news on Joe is encouraging.  He is home and the bleeding seems to be under control.  Please continue to say any prayers which come to you.

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

"No [One, Nation] Escapes By His Great Strength"

"No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength."  (Psalm 33:16, NIV)

Update:  No king, president, prime minister or nation is saved by the nuclear arsenals, M1 Abrams Tanks, number 1 world economy status, or "Don't Tread On Me" slogans.

6 years ago I posted this on Facebook:  "On September 11, 2001, I was 8 miles from the Pentagon.  The plane which went down near Shanksville, Pa, was just 10 miles from my 4th through 6th grades home room.  I share a quote from a 6th Century BC Chinese military general, a principle by which Americans will either live or die: "If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."  The general's quote is a sort of variation on our text. 

Attitude will either be the victory or undoing of persons and nations.  If my attitude is that no matter what I think of myself, without the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ in me, I will not be, "saved," or, "escape[]," then I will be, "saved," and be one who, "escapes."  Americans, by and large, have not realized this.  Last week I saw a slew of people attempting to save themselves.  They were in the hearings, hallways, Congressional offices, some in suits, some in jeans, some even in shorts, some wearing shirts with logo, etc.  They all were hoping, probably most in some sort desperation, as they were watching the possibility of their "world" fading.

"No king.., nor warrior..," no anyone is, "saved," or, "escapes," without the Indwelling Lord Jesus Christ.  I share with you a passage from my Psalm 35 praying for the American President and Israeli Prime Minister, "Great is the Lord, Who enjoys helping His servant."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I always learn life-changing lessons from life.  Amen.

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Thanks to all who helped with the New York City and Washington, DC., missions.

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