Life After Conferences And Seminars

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the Name of the Christ depart from iniquity.'"  (2 Timothy 2:19a)

This is "foundational" from the beginning, in every era, every nation, "The Lord knows those who are His...." 

The thought occurred to me this morning that I spend far too little time in "listening" prayer.

Later, in a "listening mode," I believe the Lord Jesus spoke to my heart about His Church, what the Followers have done in and with the Church over the centuries, what it is today. 

The thoughts took me back to my first parish, which consisted of 4 congregations, one 78 members, one about 40, another about 28, and the smallest about 19 members.  The smallest one was in such a remote area that you could not see any houses from the building's location (I got my first deer about 70 yards from the front door).  When I became their pastor, the monthly schedule for the parish was that the largest congregation had service every Sunday, one Sunday in the morning, the next Sunday in the evening.  The other three had services only every other Sunday.  They had no prayer/Bible study meetings; at least the two smaller ones didn't even have Sunday School.  As far as I know, none of the Churches had ever had any conferences, seminars, etc.  Yet, in each congregation there were people who loved Jesus, followed Jesus, lived in Jesus Christ.

Fast forward to today: The reality is that the so-called "mega churches" have set the "standard" for far too many people.  From the make up of Sunday morning services, "ministries" for every age group, gender, to even seminars based on one's vocational status, I have heard many of those in these types of churches basically saying to Followers of Jesus Christ throughout the centuries, "We do it right."  Really?  Do they really want to tell retired Pastor N. A. Pearce in the 78 member congregation that he didn't really know about worship, about prayer, about how to, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes?"  And what about Ike Tyger, a World War One Vet in the 19 member Fairview E.U.B Congregation, who had been gassed in the Battle of the Somme?  Are they going to say that his faith, his walk, his ''anything" in Jesus Christ was inferior to that of today's "prayer-movement-worship movement-equipping seminars" churches?!?

More Followers of Jesus Christ throughout the centuries, and throughout the world have been members of "Fairviews" than of "We-have-the-greatest-worship-and-preaching-and-offer-the-most-complete-ministries" churches of today.  It is a gross sin to judge them.  I smuggled Bibles into Czechoslovakia in 1981, and in that particular mission we took Bibles to a couple who distributed Bibles throughout their region.  When they knew I was a pastor, the man asked me to share something from Scripture.  It was obvious to me that he was so hungry for, "the Words of the Lord."  Because of his work, he was relatively isolated, no "formal" congregation, no "pastor," just a few Believers gathering together from time to time.  What does the current generation in the Church say to him and his wife?!?

Now I am not criticizing the modern church.  I am just calling all of us to remember, pray for, and be thankful for those Fellow Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ who do not have what we may think is indispensable to living "the Christian Life."  They are Members of the Same Body of Jesus Christ.  Remember:  "....The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His....'"

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, Alleluia!"  Amen.

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I found Isaac Tyger's obituary and am sending it separately.  Notice at the bottom who had his funeral service!  Click off to the side to avoid being sent to another view.

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 Often I Wanted To Gather...."

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.  Behold!..."  (Matthew 23:37, 38a)

This heart-broken call has been going forth since the Garden. 

Of course, this is a call to Jerusalem, but just as little chicks which wander from mother's care, so did humanity leave the, "Wings," of the Living Triune God.  The Lord Jesus Christ has "lived" in this call to humanity since the Garden, "How often I wanted to gather you[]...." 

What about you and me today?  Deep in the recesses of our beings there have been at times, for many, a "wandering" from, "under [His] wings," and, "....underneath are the Everlasting Arms."  Maybe it was not a wandering of denial or rejection of Jesus, but perhaps of a confusion that our life became so different from what we expected, e.g., the "unanswered" prayers, the betrayals, the hurts.  Outwardly one may appear to be the "same," yet inwardly is another story.

Jesus, "was in all tempted as we are...."  Never allow some religious spirit to deny this to you.  Jesus knew family rejection, "co-workers" rejection, misunderstanding, broken heartedness.  But the great reality in which you and I can walk today is the same in which Jesus "walked."  In all, we can walk as Jesus, "yet without sin," not the same sinlessness of the Savior, but the "sinlessness" of never giving up.  The psalmist wrote what is Reality for you and me today in Jesus Christ, "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth/faithfulness shall be your shield and bulwark."  O Brethren, snuggle up today! 

Today's text brought the song to mind, "Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian!  Lift up your voice and sing Eternal Hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King, the hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find.  None other is so Loving, so Good and Kind!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do rejoice in You today!  Amen. 

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CONFERENCE PRAY CALL TONIGHT AT 21:00 hrs. (9 PM)

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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

May We Be Very Careful

"So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?'  And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you are persecuting.'"  (Acts 22:8)

It is quite obvious to me that if I "persecute," viz., mistreat in any way, any who are Followers of Jesus Christ, I am mistreating, "persecuting," our Lord Jesus.  There is no metaphor here!

Today as I read our text I took particular note of Jesus' use of, "I am Jesus of Nazareth," not Jesus, the Christ, nor Jesus, the Son of God, but, "....of Nazareth."  Could it be that Jesus is emphasizing His humanness here to Saul, His identity as, "The Son of Man," with and in those who follow Him?  I am Sherwood of McKeesport; you are you of your birth place.  I believe our Lord Jesus Christ is saying to us that He is One in His People.  What you and I do to any Follower of Jesus, who is from any town of any nation, we do to, "Jesus-------------  of Nazareth." 

The exhortation for me today is to be very, very careful how I treat you, how I treat any who is a Follower of Jesus, a member of His Church.  Again, there is no metaphor here.  If I am unkind to you, I am literally unkind to Jesus.  If I speak evil of you, I speak evil of Jesus.  If I find fault with you, I find fault with Jesus.  He is indeed, "Jesus of Nazareth."  May you and I never persecute _______ of _______.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I never "persecute" You!  Amen.

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I have had another friend say that they have not received my devotionals for quite a while.  As I have indicated before, this happens.  Names just disappear from the mailing list.  If you do not receive a devotional for a few days, please let me know.  Also, I remind you that you can go to:   apfdevotionals.blogspot.com      to receive any of the devotionals.  I hope you received my note from the US Capitol Building yesterday.

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 "How-To" Praying For Your Government

"Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name; bring an offering and come into His courts.  Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.  Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.'  The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity."  (Psalm 96:7-10, NIV)

Some believe that my service in the Church of Jesus and Jesus' Kingdom is based on my particular interest in politics, pursuing a "Republican" agenda, getting the culture I want, sort of like that carnal stuff which drives the humanists.  It is not.  I don't pray for some political party or personages to rule.  I don't pray for laws and regulations, etc., based on anything other than Jesus' Prayer, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven."  I pray this for my family; I pray this for you; I pray this for the Church; I pray this for the nations.  The "key" Word?  "Thy"-"Thy"- Thy"!  Today's text is a great prayer for the nations.

It is just ludicrous to pray in any other motivation for the church, the governments, our jobs/vocations, etc., than, "Thy will be done."  Unless this is our motivation in prayer, all else is a waste of time, and does no one any good.  Two of Jesus' prayers come to me today.  "Yet, not my will, but Thine be done....Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit."  It may not be with these exact Words, but every day, every moment we should live in this "attitude."

Today I encourage you and me to remember that it is not to you, nor me, nor personages, nor governments that we, "Ascribe...glory and strength."  Moreover, we only, "Worship the Lord in splendor and His holiness."  Neither we nor the nations have any, "holiness," apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our witness to the nations, to our national and local governments is, "....The Lord [Jesus Christ] reigns."  And, because, "Jesus Christ is Lord," because Jesus Christ, "....reigns[,] the World is firmly established, it cannot be moved...."  Jesus, "will judge the peoples with equity." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so affirm and pray.  Amen.

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Please pray today's text with me tomorrow while I am in the US Capitol Building.

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