"He Who Overcomes..........."

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."  (Revelation 3:5)

The Word, "overcomes," means, "conquer, victorious, prevail, subdue."  This is not a sitting-back faith.  This is a pursuing life style, "wrestling against principalities and powers," salvation.  Life in Jesus Christ is not passive; it is active.

There is, and has been for centuries, the debate between "once saved always saved," and those who, well, do something, like obey, those whose lives which reflect the New Birth, Conversion, as in, "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven."  I will not settle this today, nor probably ever in my life time.  My only caution to us all is that we beware of living carelessly, assuming that what we "believe" is more important than what we do.

Some take such thoughts as "condemning."  Why?  The Bible is full of warnings.  Do we honestly think that our Lord Jesus Christ is out to condemn us by His Words?  Our Heavenly Father is our Good Father.  Everything He has given us in His, "God-Breathed," Words are, "for our good."  Keep running this race, my friend, "looking unto Jesus."  In so doing, you and I will be of those who, "overcome, conquer, subdue," all enemies out to deceive and destroy us.  Remember, "He who overcomes...I will confess his name before My Father...."  Is that not worth a life of walking circumspectly?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Eternal Life in Jesus.  Help me to walking responsibly.  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

Who Knows?

"I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.  And you hold fast to My Name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells."  (Revelation 2:13)

We had crossed "Check Point Charlie," the most "notorious" border crossing between East and West Berlin; it was May, 1986.  We walked North on Frierichstrasse toward the Unter den Linden.  We turned East and walked along the gray, drab street with colorless buildings toward Museum Island.  East Berlin was in no way the busy metropolis that was West Berlin.  It was an example of just what happens to a culture when they think some "big brother" can take better care of them.

After we walked for a while I looked over to my left and notice a large building with the marking, "Pergamon Museum."  I stopped, and the first thing which came to my mind was our Brother, "Antipas...faithful martyr, who was killed...where Satan dwells."  Inside that building are some of the actual stones in the reconstructed, First Century Pergamon Altar.  I was just embarking on the next four years of traveling 4 to 5 times a year, serving the Church in Eastern Europe, missions which were from one to two months' duration.  When I got home and thought of a name for my mission, immediately it came to me: "Antipas Ministries." 

Sorry for the "trip down memory lane," but it was a sobering moment for me; and every time I read Revelation 2 I think of our great Brother Antipas, a faithful Follower of Jesus, among them of whom it is said, "whose deeds follow them."  Maybe you have wondered at times what you would have been like in those days in Pergamon; would I have been like Antipas?  In Germany in the 1920s and '30s, what would I have done?  Would I have been of those who "spoke up" for the Jews, gone against the German Government's repression of minorities, shackling of the Church?  Who, my friend can answer that for sure?  I know I can't.  I can say for certainty, however, that the question is certainly not irrelevant in today's world.

Our trust is Jesus Christ, not our bravado, or presumptuous "spiritual" declarations.  We live, as a Czech Brother once told me, believing that when deep trials come, we must trust the grace of Jesus.  We stand today with David, who wrote and sang, "The Lord is my light and my salvation, of whom/(what) shall I be afraid."  This not only applies to what "might be" in our lives.  This absolutely applies to you and me right now, right there, whatever befalls us in this time, and, in whatever the future may bring.  Let me share the promise to the Church at Pergamon which Jesus gave to those who would overcome, a promise which is for you and me also.  "To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.  And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia, Alelluia."  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

How To, "Gain Your Souls"

"By your endurance you will gain your lives/souls."  (Luke 21:19, NASB)

This is not an, "endurance," for a "season" or many years.  This is our whole life, our sojourn in its entirety on Planet Earth.  And this is not just talk or belief.  This is doing.  "Endurance," is an act of faith, obedience, trust.  "Endurance," is not passive; it is active, aggressive, "wrestl[ing]...against principalities, against powers," doubts, discouragement.  And, I can say that this is a daily choice, because the Enemy of our souls does not let up. 

We probably all know of those who have just quit, for whatever reason, whatever the depth of suffering.  49 years ago this coming June I could have quit, given up, not because of "unbelief," but because of intense sorrow of heart.  Jesus "spoke" to my heart, empowered me in His Words, "picked me up" in Father's love, compassion, and Holy Spirit.  I'm sure you also have testimony of Jesus' faithfulness in your deepest trials.

The Word, "endurance," is from a Greek word meaning, "remaining under."  It means that you and I are called in Jesus Christ to walk, "remaining under," Jesus' Authority in our lives, "remaining under," Jesus Words.  Jesus is speaking in our text of His Second Appearing.  It's been over 2000 years since those Words were spoken, and many have asked what Peter said they would ask, "Where is the promise of His coming?"  Having no answer, they quit. 

"By your endurance/remaining under you will gain your lives/souls."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I choose, "endurance," today.  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

"Ghost Riders In The Sky"

"Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You, Lord, are good." (Psalm 25:7, NIV)

Some are plagued by the past much more than others.  The sin, mistakes, bad decisions all add up to a daily battle of thoughts.  They are like "Ghost Riders in the Sky....Their riding hard to catch that herd, but they ain't caught them yet.  They're riding hard forever on that range up in the sky."  The "word" of the Lord today to any who are so plagued, "Stop chasing that 'herd.'"

The psalmist had those days, "Do not remember...my rebellious ways."  Perhaps, "the sins of my youth," were riding across the "sky" of his mind, always riding, searching for an end which just would not appear.  That's what sin is, you know, "....rebellious ways," and the purpose of the Enemy is to ever bring our sin before us.  Yet we also know that the Bible tells us in both the Old and New Testaments, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us....Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."  This is the Word of Jesus.

If our Lord Jesus Christ says, "I will remember no more," then perhaps it would be good for us to also, "....remember no more."  Yes, as with many of, "the Words of God," we might say, "Easier said than done."  But we must remember that Jesus both says these Words and has "done" these Words, "in His Cross."  It was there Jesus took, "....the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways...in His Own Body on the Tree."

The Bible tells us, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil."  And never forget that, "the works of the Devil", have the intent to destroy you and me, defeat us in life, keep us from rejoicing in our Jesus, our Savior, our Salvation.  The prayer of today's text is answered.  It was answered, the "problem solved," in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and, as the old chorus declares, "all sorrow has gone, the glory has shown, and now I am free."  Walk therein.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of not forgetting what You have forgotten.  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

"It's All In There"

"And He said to me, 'Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.'"  (Ezekiel 2:1)

So, do you want the Lord God to, "....speak to you"?  You probably have several "copies."

All the prophets prophesied to kings and nations, not charismatic church meetings.  The Epistles were primarily to local churches, instruction in right thinking/believing/living.  The Gospels, the Words and Deeds of our Lord Jesus Christ, reveal our Lord Jesus encountering and serving, the blind, beggars, the rich, the religious, soldiers, government leaders.  Ultimately, we read that Jesus took them all to His Cross, where He shed His Blood for them, took their sin, sicknesses, pains, griefs, sorrows, dying for them, and arising from the grave for them.  This is, "I will speak to you." 

What the Bible refers to as, "the Faith of Jesus," is not life in a vacuum.  The Living Triune God is revealing just how much He cares, guides, sustains all who trust in Jesus, depend upon Jesus, and follow Jesus.  As the Bible declares, Jesus' Word, "....is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this Word you shall live...."  This is good for us to always keep in mind when reading the Bible-------- and going about our daily lives. 

The Bible is Jesus, "The Word of God," speaking Words to you and me, "for our good always."  Jesus' Words are, "A lamp to our feet"; therefore, I continually encourage you to read all Scripture quite regularly, not just passages which are "favorite," or seem to particularly "speak" to your situation.  Why?  Again, Jesus' Word, "....is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this Word you shall live." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that Your Words always be my "Guide," not 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