Condition of the Walls and Gates

"And I went out by night...and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire."  (Nehemiah 2:13)

There have been times in "Church History" when this was needed, maybe more often than most would suspect.

Church history is full of, "....walls...broken down and...gates...burned with fire."  By the time Wycliffe came along, the Church was, in a very real sense, experiencing a "Babylonian Captivity."  Yes, there were others before him, but Wycliffe called the Church back to the Scriptures in such anointing that he greatly influenced Hus and Luther to follow in his steps, hence, The Reformation.

We need today to go, "....out by night through the Valley Gate...and...view[] the walls...."  This is not just a "pastoral call."  It is for all of us.  I am praying with Solomon, "Give me a hearing heart," an observing heart as Nehemiah, who loved His "walls" and "gates."

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I always have a heart for the "walls" and the "gates."  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

Continuing The New "Through-The-Bible"

"Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord."  (2 Chronicles 28:22)

You may recall the account of Ahaz in Isaiah 7.  He was given an opportunity for a most powerful encounter with the Living Triune God.  "Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: 'Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz.  Make it as difficult as you want-- as high as heaven or as deep as Sheol'" (NLT).  The next verse says, "But the king refused," pulling some religious excuse, "No,' he said, 'I will not test the Lord like that.'"  Big mistake.

Notice, "....in the time of distress," he, "became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord."  This occurs far too often in those in distress.  This could have happened to me years ago; it can happen to anybody.  The Bible tells us, "You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord."  Now too many speak of Job's experience with flippant theology.  When we read the Book of Job we need that, "hearing heart," of which Solomon spoke.  Regardless, unlike Ahaz, Job, "....in the time of distress became increasingly []faithful to the Lord."

Life is indeed a battle.  The Bible affirms this.  Don't listen to, "If you do everything right, you will have no difficulty."  I pray for you and me today that in any, "....time of distress," you and I will, "became increasingly []faithful to the Lord," Jesus Christ.  Jesus is, "Faithful and True," and as you and I abide in Jesus, we too can be "faithful and true."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my "increasingly" in life will be towards 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

"Stand Still," And, "Sing To The Lord"

"You will not need to fight in this battle....Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord....And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness...."  (2 Chronicles 20)

First of all, "Stand still," did not mean "Do nothing."  The king, "....appointed," worshippers, praisers; no passivity here.

Secondly, "You need not to fight in this battle", notice, "this battle."  We know that the rest of the Bible reveals that the Lord God could have added, "There will be plenty of battles in which you will have to fight."  This, of course, does not mean that even when David took his sling and stones, and by them slew the giant, he was not absolutely dependent on, "The Lord [Jesus Christ] is my Shepherd."  And in that dependency, beware the standing around, passivity attitude of life.  We are always "engaged."

We all know that praise is a "weapon," but for me that should not be our motivation, viz., worshipping the Living Triune God to "get something."  I worship because God the Father, God the Son Jesus, God the Holy Spirit is nothing but absolutely WORTHY.

What army is out against you today?  "....Stand still,"  which also means, "Station yourself," or, "take your stand," worship, "and see the salvation," literally, "the Yeshuah," yes, "Yeshuah of the Lord," Who Is Jesus Christ.  While it may seem at times that we are "involved" in a more "direct" way in the battles of life, thank and praise our Living Triune God that there are those times of resting in worship which bring the victory.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my Yeshuah, no matter how I may have to take on the Enemy.  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

What A Day This Is!

"Then David said, 'No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever'....So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it.  Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God."  (1 Ch. 15:2 & 1 Ch. 16:1)

This is a reason, "....the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom."  It was in that moment when the Living Triune God of the Universe "came out" of, "The Holiest of All," came out of temple to a lost humanity.

You may remember the "Four Spiritual Laws."  One speaks of the great chasm which separates the Blessed Trinity from humanity; it's call sin, or rebellion.  Now God the Father, God the Son, "The Word of God," Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit is no less "holy" than before the Cross.  You and I cannot just "enter" fellowship apart from the Blood of Jesus.  The Bible teaches clearly that we only have, "boldness to enter the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus."  But now, because of Jesus, His shed Blood, His death, His resurrection and ascension, you and I are invited in Jesus Christ, "To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father in His Throne."

There never has been, nor ever shall be a great "invitation."  Our text tells us of a time when only the Levites were, "....chosen...to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever."  The Cross of Jesus Christ fulfilled this.  Now, as the prophet once said, "You are sons (and daughters) of His Presence."  Yes, you and I now, living in surrender to Jesus Christ and His Words, "....may carry the ark of God and minister before Him forever."  The Bible tells us that the Church is, "the household of God," even, "the Temple of the Holy Spirit."  Glorious "Good News."

Father, in Jesus' Name, may my friend here and I walk worthy of such a "high calling."  Amen.

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Two very timely, prophetic 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

Fear Not: The "Commander of the Lord's Army" Reigns

"The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand.  This was the Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division, was Ammizabad his son."  (1 Chronicles 27:5, 6)

From Cain and Abel onward, the People of God have been at war.  Most of the world's inhabitants don't like us, would rather do without us, many would just like us dead.  There are many such passages as today's text throughout Scripture, and I don't mean just the Old Testament, e.g., Mt. 2:16, John 33:16, Acts 16:23, Eph. 6:10ff, Revelation 12:11.  I can say that there is a real sense in which the so-called "five-fold ministries" are "captain[s] of the army," and, the Church can also be referred to as, "....in his division were...."

We all have a tendency to ask to be free from such a warfare environment; won't happen.  Jesus, the Christ, "the carpenter's Son," He Who Is, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," Jesus Christ, The Very One Who Is, "Before Abraham was, I Am," Who is referred to as, "the Commander of the Lord's Army," is soon to be manifest in His Second Appearing on Planet Earth.  The War is won!  What you and I are experiencing in daily life is "mopping up" actions, ongoing until, "That Day."  Here is a reminder and "thought for the day:"

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse.  And He Who sat on it was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war (please notice present tense)....He, having been clothed in a garment having been dipped in blood,...His Name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven...followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His Mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword....And He has on His robe and His thigh a name written:

                                                     KING OF KINGS AND

                                                        LORD OF LORDS."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I stand in awe.  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