"Not One Thing Has Failed"

"....Not one thing as failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you."  (Joshua 23:14)

Reading the Bible straight through in these last two months of the year has given me a wonderfully renewed appreciation of the "banks on the river."  The human race bouncing off the "banks" throughout its rocky history, all the while the Living Triune God has been guiding us to the ultimate "haven," Heaven, Eternity in Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit. 

Jesus took Abraham outside his tent door one night and told him of His plan.  "Do you see those stars?  That is the number of your offspring."  For me it means beyond just the Hebrew Family.  The Living Triune God was speaking of all who would be, "children of God by faith in Christ Jesus," who have numbered into millions upon millions over the centuries.  I'm a little ahead of schedule and just finished the Book of Joshua, and I say again, What an absolutely, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," walking the human race throughout the thousands of years of our history.  And what Joshua told the Jews so very long ago has continued ringing in the ears of humanity throughout the centuries, "And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you.  All have come to pass for you; not one world of them has failed."

"And you know," right?  Well, my friend, no matter what life may be saying to you, or to me, or to humanity in general, these very, "Words of God," spoken by an individual in human history, "....are true and righteous altogether."  What Joshua realized, and the Holy Spirit was passing on to humanity, is that no matter how mankind reads history, the truth of our text is THE TRUTH.  In the days ahead of our existence, may we never forget these powerful Words, no matter what comes our way, "....not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you"!

Father, in Jesus' Name, no matter who argues with These Words of Yours, I accept and believe 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

Someone For You

'This is My Body which is broken for you."  (1 Corinthians 11:24)

Some newer translations just say, "This is My Body for you." One says, "This is My body which is for you."  One thing is for sure; this says everything.  This is what it cost for you and me to be who we are now.  This is the "doorway to Heaven," Father's care.  There is just no other way than the precious Body of Jesus, "broken for you."  What took place on the Cross was a living and dying and triumphant expression of, "This is My Body for you."

Yes, my dear, maybe lonely, friend today; the Body of Jesus is, "for you."  David realized this when in the midst of great struggle he cried out, "When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me."  Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, here in today's passage, has revealed the depth of, "God is for me---------   This is My Body for you." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Living Triune God, how can I ever assimilate, "This is My Body for 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

"But If Not"

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  (Psalm 34:1)

Well, I didn't get all I prayed for, but we did get a victory.  The increased Republican majority in the US Senate means that more good judges will be appointed in the coming months and at least the next two years.  There may even be a Supreme Court nominee within this time frame.  How a nation does anything, e.g., business, government, schools, entertainment, religion reflects on its spiritual condition; so, too, an individual.  What I do rules over what I say, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" 

Today's text is another way of saying what the prophet declares in Habakkuk 3:17, 18, "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-- yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."  For The Church of Jesus Christ to live victoriously in these evil times, we must walk in the Theology of the three Hebrew sons in Daniel 3, "If that is the case, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."  Is this your resolve today?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray so that I am aligned with the three Hebrew sons.  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

"Make The Request Deep Or...High Above"

"Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make the request deep or make it high above."  (Isaiah 7:11)

I have made my praying according to our text.  I believe that much "safe praying" is an attempt to avoid disappointment or to look good, you know, the kind of general praying which no one can know if it were answered or not.  The prophetic Word came to the king in an invitation to pray way beyond himself, probably because that is where our Lord Jesus Christ "abides."

Don't be timid today, or ever.  Respond to our Lord Jesus Christ as our text invites us.  Remember what Jesus said when Peter inquired, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water."  Jesus said, "Come."  It is as though Jesus were saying, "Come to Me, Peter.  Come to Me from the safety of your life.  Come to Me from your predictable life style; take a chance, Peter.  Don't stay where it seems 'safe.'  Live life, Peter, as I do.  Live in Me as I live in the Father, and so desire to live in you.  I am not in the "boat of safety;" I Am in the, "deep," in the, 'high above,' away from any false sense of safety."

Isaiah 57:15 says, "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  "Revival" of, "the spirit...and the heart," the real place of faith-living is in, "the high and holy place," in Jesus Christ.  The Bible declares that, "The world languishes and withers,..the heavens languish with the earth."  This describes a desperate state.  It is time for the Church, it is time for you and me to, "make the request deep or make it high above," on behalf of, well, humanity.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I hear Your call, and my heart desires to, "dwell in the high and holy place," 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

Here It Is Quite Simply

"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."  (Romans 13:12, NIV)

Only the, "Light of the world," Jesus Christ, can overpower the, "darkness."  And you saw, "the deeds of darkness," manifested in a very, "deeds of darkness," way in America during the recent Kavanaugh nomination hearings.  This is the Democrat Party, the political party which most manifests, "the deeds of darkness," and not just now, but also historically.

The reason I am praying for 300 Republicans in the US House, and 60 Republicans in the US Senate is that I am praying for the United State of America to fulfill its prophetic destiny.  As our Lord Jesus Christ, "The Word of God," told the Egyptian King, "I have raised you up for this very purpose."  I have absolutely no doubt that this is what Jesus said and is still saying to America.  My personal opinion is that the "Great Awakening" of the 18th Century was more responsible for the American Revolution, better called I think, "Liberation," than any other "cause."  The "Great Awakening" laid the "theological" groundwork for America's destiny of, "I have raised you up for this purpose."  I can assure you that the Democrat Party is in absolutely no way aligned with this purpose.  

King Jesus raised up the USA to be a leader of freedom in the world.  Jesus raised up the USA to be the largest supporter of the prophesied coming State of Israel.  Jesus raised up the USA to be the leader among the nations in sending and supporting missionaries.  King Jesus raised up the United States of America to literally defend the world from being taken over by people groups and nations such as Germany, Japan, Italy, Russia, China, the nations which, in the last 100 years, have demonstrated not only attempted genocide, but also enslavement of their own people, even global domination.  America has been a "cornerstone," if you will, in the frustration of these Satanic Tower-of-Babel attempts.

Only the Republican Party has the platform and commitment to fulfill Jesus' purposes for America, not, of course, that Republicans are paragons of "righteousness," but that they have been consistently the political party which reflects Biblical Principles more than any other American political party.  I am not prophesying about the USA's 2018 mid-term elections.  But I can tell you that America is at a crossroads of destiny.  The sign post is before us: Choose this day which direction you will go, or, in Biblical Words, "Choose you this day whom you will serve."  We can either choose to cooperate with the Blessed Trinity's call on America, or reject it.  Read your Bible to see the consequence of any people group or nation which chose rejection of the Reign of King Jesus.  I pray that old movie line not be said of America, "He chose poorly."

Father, in Jesus' Name, have mercy on the United States of America, "....and on the whole world."  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