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Monday, January 5, 2009

"Abide...Words...Ask...Done"

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." 
Jesus

I want to highlight a point in our text.  "If you abide in...My words,..you will ask...."  To put it another way, Jesus is saying that abiding in Him is expressed in abiding in the "God-Breathed" Word and prayer.  There is one reason only that people don't pray regularly or read the Word regularly.  They don't believe "it works."  It is that simple.  And time is not the problem.  Belief is the problem.  There are millions of Americans who spend 8-10 hours per day, at least five days per week at their jobs.  Why?  Their jobs produce something------------a pay check.  They spend long hours at their job, because they know "that [their] labor is not in vain."

If you want a suggestion for a New Year's resolution, I have one.  Demonstrate this year that you believe Jesus Christ is a better Rewarder than that job.  Commit to praying through five Psalms each day, pray in the spirit for one half hour each day, and read the Bible for 15 minutes each day (that's all it takes to read through the Bible in a year).  It is not too late to start.  Prove to yourself that you believe Father hears and instructs through prayer and the "God-Breathed" Word.  Enough with talk religion.  Demonstrate that you really do believe Jesus when He said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I need you.  I pray that what I do will confirm what I say.  Amen.
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I will be preaching this month in our CCE meetings, January 17 & 18)


"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Saturday, January 3, 2009

Truth In The News

You will not receive the truth in the US and "foreign" media.  I will try to at least keep you informed from another perspective.  Go to:
Please note the "brainwashing" video from Iran.
If you are a "reader" and interested in more detailed news, let me know.
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Friday, January 2, 2009

"You Can't Out Give God"--- But You Can Out Spend Him

"You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance." (Psalm 65:11)
 
Many, many years ago, I heard a man say, "When I was making $5000 a year, it was not enough.  When I was making $8000 a year it was not enough.
Now I am making $12000 a year and it's not enough.  You know, I'm beginning to think it will never be enough."  What prevents the revelation in our text is just that--- "It will never be enough." 
 
People love to repeat, "You can't out give God."  Okay, but most live as though, "You can't out spend God," but you can!  Far too many Believers spend like the proverbial "drunken sailor," then blame God for their indebtedness and go to the "faith" prophets to hear, "Everything will be okay, I'm in control, says the Lord." 
 
The promise, "And my God shall supply all your need...in Christ Jesus," is in the context of, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...."  Jesus supplies our need, not our greed.  Allow His contentment to rule in you this year, and on January first of next year you will be singing with the psalmist, "You crown the year with Your goodness, and your paths drip with abundance!"
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to always recognize the difference between what I want and what I need---- and live accordingly.  Amen. 
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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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Saturday, December 27, 2008

Command For The Coming Year: "Watch, Stand, Be Brave, Be Strong"

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."  (1 Cor. 16:13)
 
On this date in 1944, during the Ardennes Offensive, the German Army was still wreaking havoc in the American lines.  Some, in the face of overwhelming odds and firepower, stood their ground.  Some survived.  Many died in the process.  Thousands, however, fled in shear panic.  I have never condemned the latter.  If I would have been in that hellish position, I cannot really be sure what I would have done.  "Stand fast" means to hold your ground, be unmovable, unshakeable.  The NASB translates, "be brave," as, "act like men."  Variations on this were heard all over the battlefield in those horrendous days. 
 
And so, in the desperate war of life, the God-Breathing Word says the same to us.  The Holy Spirit would not have urged Paul to write our text if Believers did not need this kind of exhortation and encouragement.  We all know people who exude the air of perfect spirituality, never show signs of weakness, never fearful, always seemingly on top of things.  I write not for them.  I write for those who find days or moments in the days when we need to hear, "watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."  There are seasons in this pilgrimage when the enemy throws overwhelming forces at us, and we face the temptation to turn and attempt to outrun the onslaught.  Our text commands us what to do.
 
Someone once said that when the Lord says, "Fear not," He has a reason.  Something is facing you which will cause fear.  But to those who are utterly dependent in Jesus Christ, the, "Fear not," command rules.  Mark this--- There are no impossible commands in the Bible.  If some seem as such, it is only because we try to walk in them apart from total dependency on the Living, Indwelling Christ.  "Watch" in Jesus.  "Stand fast in the faith" in Jesus.  "Be brave" in Jesus.  "Be strong" in Jesus Christ.  And as He says, "Do this and you will live"--------------------------------- and not run.  
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You are the power of the command.  Amen.             
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News, Commentary:        www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
Devotional Archive:         www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2



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