"....I Stand At The Door And Knock"

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)

I hope my devotionals have not been "downers" in recent days.  Truth/Reality, however, can be that for those who, as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "sorrow as others who have no hope."

We have "hope" because we have Jesus Christ, or rather, Jesus Christ has us.  I mention again that it seems as though in Revelation 2 & 3 the greater the rebuke the greater the accompanying promised blessings.  Just notice this: "And to the messenger of the church of the Laodiceans write,...'So then, because you are luke warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.'  Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire...."  What an absolute horrifying rebuke.

Ah, but then we read our text, followed by a promise which cannot be hyperbolized, a promise to the repentant person and local Church, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father in His throne."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You for knocking on my heart's door!  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

"....Or Else"

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent."  (Revelation 2:5)

I'm still processing the closing of 130 and 148 year old churches.  Most of you reading this are a part of congregations which are "products" of the last 50 years.  It's sort of like The United States of America.  Egypt, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, Ottoman and some other ancient empires all out lived our 244 years.  On the world stage of history, we have proven very little.

There are three congregations in Greenburg which were founded in 1799; that's 220 years ago.  Our local church is not quite 20 years old, and several of the larger evangelical/charismatic congregations in our area are no older than 45 years.  I repeat: It's not how we begin; it's how we finish.  Every race I started, I was in the lead for a number of yards, some I won, some I didn't.  Good starts don't get, "the prize."

Our text, taken from the last several days' readings in Revelation, maybe gives some insight as to why congregations fail, "....Repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your candlestick...."  Could this be what is happening all throughout the Western World?  Is repentance a part of modern Christendom, our church, your church?  Only the arrogant would say that there is nothing in their local congregation of which they have to repent.  Revival begins with repentance.  If whatever we call "revival" does not, it's not Holy Ghost Revival.  This is a main reason the landscape of the charismatic renewal is strewn with closed churches.  Bob Mumford once said, "The Lord came looking for fruit, and we gave Him bumper stickers."

Revival begins in and is maintained in repentance and obedience.  The first time I read Revelation I can remember taking note that rebukes were followed by, "....exceeding great and precious promises."  Notice what Jesus says to the Ephesian Church which had, "....left your first love..: repent and do the first works."  I believe this is what our Lord Jesus is saying right now to the Western Church--- "first love-first works."  To the obedient Church, then, our Lord Jesus Christ gives the promise, "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I prayer for awakening, revival, whatever You call it.  Your Church is in desperate need.  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

A Reason Churches Close

"After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.  And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.'"  (Revelation 4:1, NIV)

Right after warnings, rebukes, and affirmations to the seven churches, we encounter, "a door standing open in heaven."  It is a great "leaving-behind."  The warnings, the rebukes have been issued.  Then comes, "That Day," the Second Advent, when Revelation 4-22 will manifest.  What are you and I about in such an hour as this?

This "open door" is an invitation.  This "open door" is only in and through the Blood and Cross of Jesus.  In chapter 3 we read a glorious promise to those who have been, as chapter 1 verse 5 says, "....washed...from our sins in His Own Blood," those who Follow Jesus, "I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before My Father and His angels....I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut....Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

Then in a little bit we read, "....Before me was a door standing open in heaven."  Maybe a reason so many "churches" fail is that they have been so consumed with selling a get-it-all-now "gospel" (I wonder if it is also "get out of jail free") that they have left people with no hope.  There is no, "door standing open in heaven," for many congregations today.  They look around and see sicknesses, marital breakups, financial difficulties, broken hearts, "unanswered" prayers, countries such as the US now which are just full of hate and revenge.  Humanity needs, "After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven."  Go ahead, cynics, and call this "pie in the sky."  At least I have "pie."  What do you have?

My weary traveler, is the reality of today's text not worth whatever we go through in this sojourn?!?  Instead of, "Look around," I call us to look "beyond."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Words cannot be matched.  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 Is Our Lord Jesus "Writing" To Your Church?

"And to the...Church in_______write:_______"  (The Book of Revelation)

Well, "The Great Evangelical Recession" really hit home today when I learned that after 130 years, Park Avenue United Methodist Church, formerly Park Avenue Evangelical United Brethren, formerly Park Ave. United Brethren in Christ will be closing in June of 2020.  My Dad was the pastor from June of 1956 to June of 1964.  It is the Church I was a part of from my eighth grade through 12th grade years of high school, and two years of college.  O, yes; and I also found out that after 148 years, Trinity UM, formerly Trinity EUB, formerly Trinity Evangelical Association, the Church in whose building I was licensed to preach in May of 1964, also closed in June of last year.

This is the Church in America; this is the Church in Europe.  Now don't anyone get all spiritual on me and tell me, "Well, those are denominational churches; they were probably dead anyway."  Really?  And how much has your local church grown in the last 130 years?  Oh, wait!  It's not 130 years old, probably not even 50, and probably not even....  The proud who call themselves "Christian" had better face the reality: The Church in America is losing the battle.  We have lost several generations, and most likely will lose ensuing ones, unless....  The epicenter of the Church of Jesus Christ has shifted from "the white man's church" to the African and Asian "church." 

I am determined, only by the grace and mercy of Jesus, to continue pressing on "in the fight."  Jesus, "The Word of God," declared this Eternal Truth:  "I will build My Church," and that Church is and always has been the Glorious Church, the Overcoming Church.  It is not a one generational church, or a 148 year old church.  It is the "2ooo year" Church, rooted and founded in, "Thy Kingdom is a Kingdom of all ages, and Your Dominion endures THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS."  It is time for The Church of Jesus Christ to storm those, "gates of Hell," which Jesus tells us, "....will not prevail," or, "not be victorious."

Are you "on board?" 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I grieve for the state of the American and European Church.  "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven."  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

I May Be Nuts (No Comment)

"The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."  (Zephaniah 3:17)

Our worship, prayers, declarations, nothing can compare, in any way or fashion, with what the Living Triune God says to and about us throughout Scripture.  Just read our text several times; meditate upon it, and we can maybe begin to see just how much Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit lavishes love and grace upon us.

The Hebrew for, "rejoice," here gives the idea of, "extreme delight."  Ern Baxter once shared an observation of the Matthew 11 passage, where Jesus is rejoicing, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things...from the wise and intelligent."  He said that the Greek context actually implies that Jesus clapped His hands and jumped up and down.  "Jesus, actually did that?"  Why not?  If you take our text seriously, you will see the same "attitude" there.  Regardless, the Bible is just packed full of passages which affirm this glorious truth.  "What Wondrous Love Is This, O my soul, O, my soul,.." that the very, "Mighty One," Himself rejoices, "....over you with gladness,..quiet[s] you with His love,.." and rejoices, "....over you with singing."!!!  How dare anyone ever entertain the idea that our fellowship in the Godhead is just "a one way street."

The Blessed Trinity tells us many times throughout the, "God-Breathed," Word, to, "rejoice, praise, glory, exult."  Now here's a thought:  Maybe this is as much an invitation as a command.  The Blessed Trinity says more wonderful things to and about us than you and I can ever say about and to Him.  No matter our worship, prayers, declarations, they pale into near insignificance when compared to what our, "Good Shepherd," expresses to us and does for us.

When you worship, pray, intercede, declare, just always remember that no matter what you and I can say or express, pales in the great flight of what Jesus Christ says and expresses to us, and, has done and is continually doing for us.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to more and more appreciate that You, "....rejoice over [me].., quiet [me]..," and, "rejoice over [me] with singing."  As the song writer said, "I scarce can take it in."  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