Can You "Hear" Others?

"Truth (faithfulness) springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven."  (Psalm 85:11, NASB)

Many years ago I was in a prayer gathering where someone shared today's text.  It was quite obvious that it had really spoken to his heart.  I still don't see what he saw in the text, but that doesn't matter.  The Holy Spirit spoke to him, impacted his "day," his life in Jesus, and that was enough for me to rejoice with him.

I also remember, now this goes way back, at a Full Gospel Business Men's Regional Rally in 1967, that a guy who was not one of the main speakers was asked to share his testimony.  He started out just repeating, "There is therefore now no condemnation...."  He repeated it over and over, in fact, at one point he came to tears.  I too loved/love that text, but had never "experienced" the depth of what he was experiencing in that moment, and probably the moment those Words first impacted him.  This, my friend, is the Glorious Reality in the, "God-Breathed," Words, "Wonderful Words of Life."

I shared a very familiar Scripture which Jesus spoke (is still speaking) to my heart a few weeks ago with a group of Fellow Followers of Jesus.  In the succeeding responses, I could tell that they had no clue of what I was speaking.  It was "revelation" to me, something "new" in a very familiar passage, but I could tell it was for me in this season, and I should not have expected others to "see" what I was seeing in that text at that time.  I'm sure the same has happened to you at some point in your sojourn.

Why do I share this with you today?  Simple: You and I as Followers of Jesus Christ are called Brothers and Sisters in Jesus.  We are The Church, the Body of Christ, "the Household of the Faith," and, "the pillar and ground of the Truth."  We are of the, "Koinonia," or, "Partnership," in Jesus Christ, the Family of the Living Triune God.  What affects other Members of, "The Household," affects you and me, or at least it should.  Romans 12 tells us, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."  Maybe what others "rejoice" in does not "ring a bell" with you, maybe the pain of those, "who weep," we cannot feel at a given moment.  Yet the truth is, the reality is that their rejoicing is our rejoicing; there weeping is our weeping.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, write in my heart and mind, "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."  Amen.

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Going to DC next Tuesday, January 21 for "Impeachment Mania."

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 Pillar And Ground Of The Truth"

"Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this."  (Acts 15:2)

Back in what has been referred to as the "discipling/shepherding movement," Bob Mumford called the leader of a very large television "ministry" to get together and discuss accusations and misunderstandings.  That television "ministry" CEO flatly refused.  In fact, he wouldn't return Bob's calls and order Bob's tapes to be discarded.  Paul, Barnabas, Peter, John, James, et. al., could have done something similar.  Don't "counsel," just burn the others' tapes.  Thank our Lord Jesus Christ for true apostolic servants.

Our text yesterday concerned authority in what 1 Timothy calls, "the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth."  This does not mean First Baptist or Second Methodist, or Pentecostal Highway of Holiness Waiting for the Return of the Lord Church.  Each protestant Church has some form of "councils," but only within their particular denomination, or, within those isolated independent congregations.  Protestantism has no "council" to cover all Protestant churches as does Roman Catholicism, or, as the "Early Church."

The Timothy reference above calls the Church of Jesus Christ, "the pillar and ground of the Truth."  The world has been asking, "Whose truth?!?"  Go down the street to First Baptist and you will get a "truth."  Cross the street to the Methodist building and you get another, or at least an "addition" to the truth.  But the most "spiritual" are those independent congregations who believe that their worship and songs are superior, preaching deeper, meetings more "relevant."  The world is quite amused, and, not impressed.

Every city, town, village should have a "council at...."  There would be less control of the, "I'm my own church," people and the opportunity at least for the Truth of the, "God-Breathed," Word to powerfully impact the community.  The call for you and me today is: Don't be a "lone ranger."  This does not mean that people who are "committed" members of a local church cannot still be lone rangers.  What I call a "council mentality" is a heart attitude.  When I speak of "council mentality," I am thinking of the attitude of Snoopy when asked about the book on theology he was writing.  "I hope you have a good title."  To which Snoopy replied, "I have the perfect title: 'Has it ever occurred to you that you may be wrong?'"

I ask that you pray with me for an awakening of a "council mentality," and practice, in every city, town, village--------------- throughout the earth!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for a greater "council mentality."  Amen.

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Conference Call, January 16, 18:00 (6)

Phone Number:   712-770-5505

Code:                      889721#

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

When No Authority Is The Authority

"So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter."  (Acts 15:30)

Doesn't sound like a text which one should choose for a devotional?  Personally, I don't like to think of myself as the one who chooses.  This is what the Bible calls, "the Words of God."  I read this today, and value this text as much as Psalm 23.

The, "letter," referred to here was from the "Council at Jerusalem."  The, "letter," has to do with Church order, theology, doctrine.  Protestantism has no such "councils."  What it does have is thousands of denominations, which includes the so-called nondenominationals.  This is a main reason that Catholics say the Reformation was illegitimate; there is no connectional authority.

If you observe Protestantism over the centuries, you will notice that the many "splits" just perpetuated what was said of Israel during the time of the judges, "every man did what was right in his own eyes."  I'm not offering any "remedy" to this lack of authority in Protestantism, but I am encouraging all of us to be very, very careful of what 2 Peter calls, "private, personal interpretation," of Scripture.  This, my friend, has led to innumerable heresies, much "disillusionment," confusion, and yes, heartaches in the "independent-Church" mentality. 

What to do?  For me, I would like to affirm that I am open to "challenges" to any of what might appear to be in me of, "private interpretation."  No, I never encourage, "vain babbling," argument or just sounding off.  What I am writing today, however, is that you and I should have a sense of, "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."  Dunn was right; "No man is an island, entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."  This is "Bible 101."  This is the Church.  The statement of a "Jesus person" in the 1970s, "I'm my own church," could not be farther from the Truth.  The call today to all of us is to put a primacy on what Bonhoeffer called, "Life Together."

Father, in Jesus'  Name, I pray that I will walk in, "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."  Amen.

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Conference Prayer Call Tomorrow, January 16, at 18:00hrs (6:00).

Phone Number:  712-770-5505

Code:                    889721

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 Will Speak To Her Heart" (The Triune God)

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her."  (Hosea 2:14)

Literally, "I will...speak to her heart."  Can anyone think of anything more tender and compassionate than this?!? 

A title of this chapter in my Bible is, "The Lord's Love for His Unfaithful People."  This sums up not only Israel, but also much of the Church throughout history---- which includes me.  This Word of promise and comfort is to the Jews.  This Word is to the Church.  This Word is to you and me.

"I will...speak to her heart."  This is glorious.  This is the Living Triune God in Jesus Christ loving, enduring, forgiving, "I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness,.." away from the distractions, the lies of the age and, "....speak to [your/my] heart."  And then, perhaps we can add, that Jesus will lead us right back into that environment which is the scene of "unfaithful people," always faithful to, "I will speak to her heart." 

There are so very many around you today who would look at some of the things you have gone through, or are going through, and say as many said to David, "There is no help for him in God."  Well, I come back to the question; who are we going to believe?-- the disobedient, or those who have "heard" the reality of, "I will...speak to her heart"?  Jesus has; Jesus does; and how can I ever forget, in my deepest hour of helplessness, the glorious reality of today's text.  Jesus did in me, as He Who Is, "Faithful and True"----- "I will...speak to [his] heart."

Father, in Jesus' Name, today's text is glorious to me beyond expression.  No one can, "....speak to [my] heart," as You.  Amen.

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Conference Call, January 16, at 6:00

Phone number:    712-770-5505

Code:                      889721

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

"Where Can I Find Help For You?"

"He only is my rock and my salvation; my defense (strong tower); I shall not be greatly moved (shaken)."  (Psalm 62:2)

"Only," is a key Word here.

It does not mean that our Lord Jesus does not give us other "helps," e.g., the Church (i.e., other believers), governments, doctors, etc.  But Jesus is telling us here that there is an, "only," in our life, and it is He Himself.  It is sort of like the king in 2 Kings 6:27 when he responded to a woman who cried to him for help, "If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you?"

While this text and devotional may seem "simple" to some, in reality it is not simple, and not simple for one very key reason.  With all of the technology of recent decades, there is a very real tendency to "rely" on that said technology first, at best, only, at worse.  I have some health issues and have been praying for them.  I am also praying for many Followers of Jesus who have physical and spiritual problems, some with the spiritual "issues" are also seeking counseling.  Literally, Thank the Living Triune God in Jesus Christ for these "helps."

I cannot emphasize too strongly, however, that you and I need our Lord Jesus Christ to constantly remind us of our text, "He only is my...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for all which You supply to help me.  And I acknowledge, confess anew today that, "[You] only are My Rock and My Salvation."  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