What Is Your "Determination" Today?

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence (superiority) of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony (majesty) of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  (1 Corinthians 2:1, 2)

People who are able to speak well, express things more cleverly than most, need to be very careful.  People tend to be more enamored with them than Him.  I come back to the response of a university professor who was once invited to hear Spurgeon preach.  When asked what he thought of "the prince of the pulpit," his response was classic.  "I don't know, but Jesus Christ sure must be a wonderful person."

Do people walk away from you and me with the same "impression?"  Or, do they say, "Wow, what knowledge of the Bible, what an intercessor, what anointing.  That person is quite a soul winner."  We will leave in our "wake" what we value most in life.  People can sense whom/what we love. 

Determine with me today to affirm Paul's, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  This is not a call to repeat words over and over.  This is a call to, as the old song says, "Lift Jesus Higher," in word and deed. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I may honor the Son as You honor Him.  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

"Through Fire And...Water...To Rich Fulfillment"

"You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment/abundance."  (Psalm 66:12)

This is just as true now as it was 4000 years ago.  The song writer was correct, "What He's done for others, He'll do for you."

Everything you and I experience in life, others throughout history have also.  That, of course, does not lesson the pain nor the significance of our suffering.  What it does (I hope and pray) is assure us that our Lord Jesus Christ has been, from the beginning, taking care of our fellow travelers through similar "valleys."

Anyone who reads the Psalms and the complete Bible without preconceived ideas/theologies knows that so many others have gone, "....through fire and through water...."  And, they have found in Jesus, "The Good Shepherd," the Very One Who Is, "Faithful and True," that Jesus Himself is the One Who, "....brought us out to abundance", as in, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  Hebrews 11 is not the only example of this. 

Some may say, "Well, I've never seen that, 'abundance.  My whole life has been only 'through fire and water.'"  But I am here to tell any who feel this way that the, "rich abundance/fulfillment," is ours, if we continue trusting, depending upon, and walking in obedience to Jesus------ no matter what!  Jesus died on a cross for us, was buried in a tomb for us, arose from the dead for us, ascended for us, is coming back for us, and taking us to, "....in My Father's House are many mansions"--------- for us. 

For too many, who have succumbed to much of the teaching of the last two generations, this is not "enough."  For me, however, I say with the song writer, "It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to walk together with those who are going, "through fire and through water," that we may believe for, "....You brought us out to rich fulfillment/abundance."  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

Be Very Careful of, "Samaria's Plague"

"For Samaria's plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah.  It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself."  (Micah 1:9, NIV)

There are "incurable" evils in the world, much as the description of Esau in Hebrews 12.  If, "Judah," is not very, very careful, sober, watchful, this evil will, "spread to Judah."

Complacency has been disastrous for the Jews over the millennia, and, in the last 2000 years, for the Church.  Even a casual look at world history will affirm this.  The admonition of the, "God-Breathed," Words is addressed to the Church, "Be sober, be vigilant/watchful, our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  If you ever saw a lion in the hunt, you will notice that it doesn't lunge on its prey all at once.  It takes a relatively long time, crouching, moving ever so slowly towards its prey, careful not to set off any alarm, just patiently waiting for the right moment to spring.  "Samaria's plague...incurable", is just like that.

Many modern self-appointed theologians will not agree, but there is still very much alive, "....Samaria's plague is incurable...."  These, "super apostles," think they can cure anything and anyone, which I always have found most interesting since our Lord Jesus could not.  I pray you and I never get so complacent in our walk in Jesus Christ as to think, "....Samaria's plague..," will never reach us.  May you and I always stay full of Jesus' Words, Holy Spirit, living in obedience to Father's, "....will be done."  It only takes one careless moment, just like Esau, to lose so very, very much.  Jesus Christ is, "the Great Shepherd of the Sheep," i.e, for those sheep who walk in, "Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil", in other words, the obedient ones.

The Bible makes it very clear, "In the last days evil men will go from bad to worse", which is another way of saying, "Samaria's plague is incurable...."  Watch, listen, read the news and you just cannot escape the confirmation of this.  CAUTION: Never think that you, or I, or any "super apostle" can cure, "Samaria's plague".  I can tell you with certainty, however, that the, "vigilant/watchful," those who literally Follow Jesus in obedience to His Words, those who are continually aware of their weakness and dependency, those who live the moment by moment walk in Jesus, well, "I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I trust as I obey You that, "Samaria's plague...incurable", will not destroy me.  Amen.

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Open for breakfast or lunch with anyone in the Greensburg area after December 2.

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 Was Your "Spain?"

"But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain."  (Romans 15)

I seriously doubt that this passage is underlined in most Bibles.

How many plans have you made in your life time which didn't "work out?  Paul, being the missionary that he was, naturally wanted to get to Spain, "It has always been my ambition to preach the Gospel where Christ was not known....So after I have completed this task.., I will go to Spain and visit you on the way."  The Bible gives no indication that he ever made it there.

I have written about our text before, but sometime when I read it I think of the so many people I have known over the years who have spoken of "disillusionment," which is code for, "I didn't get my way in life."  So many people who Follow Jesus Christ could use the "disillusionment" excuse for giving up.  So many are not where they thought they would be 30 or 40 years ago, or even 20, for that matter.  People who worship "goals" and "plans" need to be very careful.  It is a desire to control one's life, not a desire to, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."

We need to always remember that even though "the best laid plans" do not come to fruition, our Lord Jesus, yes, our Lord/King, has been guiding our "ship."  It has taken quite a bit of grace for some of us, the Don Quixotes of life.  Praying and living, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven", should be fundamental Kingdom living.  I'm fairly certain that Paul at some time said something like, "Well, that didn't work out.  'Lead on, O King Eternal.'"  

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for keeping me from too many "spains."  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

"....Lay Aside Every Weight...."

"....Let us lay aside every weight,..looking unto Jesus...."  (From Hebrews 12:1, 2)

Or, "to look away from all else," and, "to see distinctly."

Whatever and whomever we are, as the NIV says, "fixing our eyes upon," whatever dominates our thinking, planning, books, work, churches services------ is our god.  Too many today "Practice the presence of" whatever they like the most, whatever others tell them we should be "looking unto."

I found it quite interesting this time, considering our text, that the conclusion of chapter 12 to the "great hall of faith" in chapter 11 is to place the emphasis of our, "looking unto," not in the "heroes" of the faith, but rather, "the Author and Finisher," or, "the Pioneer and Perfecter," literally, "of the faith," Jesus.  There is sort of a look-at-what-they-did emphasis today rather than look at what Jesus did/is doing, Who He IS!

What/who are you "looking unto" today?  What "Christian life style" seems to "speak to you" the most?  Hebrews 3:1 tells us, "....Carefully consider Jesus...."  If we do not, some other "carefully consider" will take over.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have too often "carefully considered" too many other things.  Teach me this most precious, "....carefully consider...."  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