Faulty Traditions

"But we speak the wisdom of God,..which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit."  (1 Corinthians 2:7a, 8, 9)

What the Living Triune God reveals to humanity comes from, "But as it is written," and, "....through His Spirit."  This is how we know, "the things which God has prepared for," us.  Beware any other "avenue."

Some have used our text as an excuse to call and treat Jews as "Christ-killers."  Many others have believed that Jesus' death on the cross was the result of His enemies' desire to rid the earth of Him and and His Church and Kingdom Reign---- utterly ridiculous.  Jesus made this whole idiocy approach to His death quite clear when He said, "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes if from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father."  So there you have it.

Right after Paul writes, "for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord," he then clarifies this by writing, "But as it is written...."  That which, "is written," concerns what no, "eye has...seen, nor hear heard, nor...entered into the heart of man...."  The Death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ as, "Immanuel, God with us," indeed, His very Being is the Ultimate, "....nor...entered into the heart of man...."  The only way which you and I can make any "sense" out of life, its seeming contradictions, chaos, "unfairness," etc., is to be people who know and have written on our hearts, "But as it is written," that which, "God has revealed to us through His Spirit."

The Bible says, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the perseverance and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."  In Jesus' Words and Holy Spirit is the, "the comfort," and keeping-Truth which you and I need to navigate this sojourn.  Walking as such will keep us from the historic heresies which have been used to justify all sorts of wickedness.  And there is more.  Walking in, "But as it is written," and, "....revealed...to us through His Spirit," you and I will have the, "joy unspeakable and full of glory," which Jesus promises us.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your Life's Compass.  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 Message...To Those Who Are Perishing"

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being save it is the power of God.  For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'" (1 Corinthians 1:18, 19--NIV)

It was a good time in DC yesterday with my friend, Dan.  He said it was like a "good civics class."  We prayed in the Supreme Court Building the passage from Job 12 which I sent the other day.  If you have not read that, I encourage you to read it.  It is another great passage to pray for nations. 

Job 12 is an appropriate "commentary" on our text, "To God belongs wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His....He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders."  Paul picks up this theme in our text, and it is fundamental to understanding the "walk" in the Living Triune God.  When anyone comes to Jesus Christ, involved in our repentance is an utter contempt for any "wisdom" and "intelligence" which you and I think we may have.  I have observed those who depend on, even pride themselves and bask in the adulation of others, concerning their "wisdom" and "intelligence."  The dangerous word and attitude, "pride," is what stands out.  The Blessed Trinity will not stand for this in His Church and Kingdom.

Beware too much flattery towards others concerning their "wisdom" and "intelligence."  You are just adding to their eventual downfall.  Pray that the Twenty-First Century Church of Jesus Christ will be known for, more than anything or anyone else, "....the message of the Cross...."  If we are praying for "revival," if we are praying for "break-throughs" in our nations, Churches, cities and personal lives, it will come only when, "....the message of the Cross is [proclaimed] to those who are perishing...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Keep me near the Cross."  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 WORD FOR AMERICA AND THE NATIONS, NOW

"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.  What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; those He imprisons cannot be released.  If He holds back the waters, there is drought; if He lets them loose, they devastate the land.  To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are His.  He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.  He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a belt around their waist.  He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.  He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.  He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.  HE REVEALS THE DEEP THINGS OF DARKNESS AND BRINGS UTTER DARKNESS INTO LIGHT.  He makes nations great, and destroys them.  He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; He makes them wander in a trackless waste.  They grope in darkness with no light; He makes them stagger like drunkards." (Job 12:13-25)

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

VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE

"You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; You have been angry-- now restore us!  You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking."  (Psalm 60-- I would encourage you to read and pray the whole Psalm.  It is indeed a prayer for the hour)

I pray this is not laborious to you, but I believe it is of utmost importance, not just to Sarah and me, but "beyond."

I was awakened this morning at 05:30 and had a very strong "sense" that we should not go to Berlin at this time.  We had our flat reserved, and the plane tickets were about to be finalized for May 4-June 2.  This has rarely happened to me, but I repeat that the sense which came to me was very strong.  I know it was our Lord Jesus Who had me check my email at that hour, and found that the host had, for some unknown reason, canceled our accommodations.

Later this morning a word came to me very strongly, "America is in grave danger."  Now I can tell you that for some weeks now I have had the sense to be in DC more.  Tomorrow a fellow member of our local congregation is going with me to sit in on two House of Representatives Hearings, one at 10:00 and the other at 14:00.  Both will be chaired by Maxine Waters, and Alexandria Cortez, the freshman closet communist representative from New York, is on the committee.  These two represent just a part of the evil which is being unleashed in the United States of America.  We had a tremendous prayer time in our church last Sunday, and during that time I received some greatly encouraging prophetic words concerning what Jesus has been speaking to my heart.  "Something," my friend is going on in the heavenlies!

The text above really hit me, as my Dad used to say, "like a ton of bricks."  It is a description of not only America, but the nations of the world.  Again, I ask that you read and pray the entire Psalm.  For me today, nothing has been more timely.  To those who have been supporting Sarah and me over these many years, I cannot thank you enough.  You are enabling us to fulfill "the call."  Please pray for Dan and me as we go into what the Lord spoke to my heart, "the lions den."  I will be making plans to take others with me to DC from time.  Let me know if you are interested.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me and my friend to be as Your Word promises, "....ready in the Day of Your Power."  Amen.

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TWO VERY RELATED ARTICLES AT:   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

"By Faith............."

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.  And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8)

If you have never experienced this, you are missing out on one of the greatest joys of a Follower of Jesus.

"By faith," they kept at it, didn't quit, didn't give up, didn't rail on God for not doing what they expected and wanted.  "By faith Abraham obeyed."  This is perhaps one of the best descriptions of the life of a Follower of Jesus Christ.  It does not mean that the Hebrews 11 "people" never had questions, or even some doubts and complaints, but "in the end," they did as Abraham, "....went out, not knowing where...."

This describes what Sarah and I did in 1998 when we left a "secure" pastorate with a regularly monthly salary and headed to Berlin Germany.  We had not raised any "support."  We had a house, car, bills, etc.  Now I would not fault anyone who said that was irresponsible, but nonetheless, we did it.  And we both can tell you that we have never seen, before or after, the kind of "falling into place" of everything when we, "....went out, not knowing...."

It is reported that Hitler once told Rommel, "You don't have to understand.  You only have to obey."  That was the kingdom of darkness version of a principle of life in Jesus Christ.  Too many times we labor to understand, rather than, "....labor to enter into that rest."  And I can say today that a key principle of, "....that rest," is when obedience rules over understanding, "By faith Abraham obeyed..., not knowing...." 

Some have the wrong impression that the life of faith is really, for too many, a life of carelessness, irresponsibility, lack of goal-setting, planning; it very well can be, but only to those who seek their own, "not the things which are Jesus Christ's."  If your life and mine are surrendered to Jesus Christ, if we walk according to His, "God-Breathed," Words and not, "lean to our own understanding," we will walk in joy, peace, victory.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray to walk in "responsible" faith in You.  Amen.

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Another revealing article on the radical agenda of the humanists at: 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