Do You Want to Be "Living and Powerful?"

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

Man's, "philosophy and empty deceit,..the tradition of men,..the basic principles of the world," are, "not according to Christ."  So, the Holy Spirit says, "Beware."  This is a daily warning, which is why a Follower of Jesus Christ must be in the Bible daily if he is to keep his, "Beware," active and "alive."

It happens every day, through the media, water cooler talk, family gatherings, even church meetings, the latter being more dangerous than all.  But a person who has a regular Bible reading schedule, yes, you read correctly, Bible reading schedule, will be alert, "living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Hey, wait a minute, someone may say, That's speaking of, "The Word of God"------------------------------------------ Bingo.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have none of this without You in the power of Your Word.  Amen. 

**************

News, Commentary: apf327.blogspot

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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

The Number One Qualification of a "Leader"

"Then He said to them, 'Follow Me....'" (Matthew 4:19a)

This is how it all begins, one could even say before conversion, the New Birth, the sinner's prayer------- "Follow Me."  To become a child of God, to be, "born again," to, "be saved," one must obey certain commands, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ," and, "To as many as received Him," and, "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,"------ This is the language of following, which is, by the way, the language of obedience.  

The call of a disciple of Jesus Christ is to follow, not lead.  The number one priority in leadership qualification is following.  The "best" leader is the best follower.  I have written before that whenever people refer to someone as a "follower," it is never good, "Oh, he/she is a follower."  Yet Jesus said, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me, and where I am there will my servant be also."  We could say, "Where I am, there will my servant be also," because he "followed" Me "there." 

Today I examine what I am about in life.  Am I "there" because of, "Follow Me"?  If so, I am in the perfect center of Jesus Christ's will. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me in the, "Follow Me," check today.  Amen.
*****************
See "word" of Prime Minister Netanyahu to young Jews in the USA:     afp327.blogspot

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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

The Independence of Dependence

"For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall." (Psalm 18:29)  

This is David's war cry.  Notice the, "by You," and, "by my God," language. Numbers 21 speaks of, "The Book of The Wars of the LORD."  Some authorities say that it is a reference to "one of several non-canonical books," which have been lost completely.  "Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: 'Waheb in Suphah, the brooks of the Arnon, and the slope of the brooks that reaches to the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the border of Moab.'"  This is a description of a battlefield.  This is Bible, the Book of books which describes the cosmic struggle unleashed in the Garden. 

The thing that most people forget about the American Fourth of July celebration is that the "Declaration of Independence" came after the thirteen colonies were already at war with Great Britain, and was only a beginning, a beginning of a long and difficult struggle for survival.  We may declare a "new day," e.g., "sinner's prayer," prophetic declarations, but enemies are usually not impressed with our "declarations."  They can be, and usually are, followed by protracted war.

Today, however, not only Americans, but every Redeemed Child of the Living Triune God, can celebrate the Great "Declaration of Independence" of the Cross--------- "It is finished!"  This is the declaration of a, "finished," a completed battle which Jesus Christ won, though the wrestling, "against principalities and powers," goes on.  It is a declaration of Independence from Satan to absolute dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the independence of dependence, the freedom to be under the Absolute Rule, the Absolute Monarchy of Jesus, the Christ.

"Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do!!  Amen.

*************

News, Commentary:       apf327.blogspot

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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

The Great Acceptation of Liffe

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

July 1, Genesis 1--- The beginning of this quarterly Bible reading, and in 1943, the "beginning" of me in this time/space world.

Notice, it is, "In the beginning God created."  Creation as we know it had an, "in the beginning."  The Blessed Trinity did not.  My mind cannot comprehend this.  I do, however, accept this.  This, in my opinion, is Biblical faith.  It is not comprehension or understanding as man counts it.  Biblical faith is acceptation of the Words of God and living my life by that acceptation.  This is the best way to work one's way through the Bible.  There are perhaps more unanswered questions in the Bible than there are answered questions.  Have you ever noticed how many questions went unanswered by our Lord Jesus?  When people say, "I know that I know that I know," they really cannot mean that any more than I can say, "I know that God has no beginning."  They should really say, "I accept that I accept that I accept"------------------- what the "God-Breathed" Word declares.

I have completed a 68 year journey, a very short journey in human history, even shorter by, "In the beginning...."  My great drive today, however, is that of the Apostle Paul, "But I press on, that I may lay hold of ("seize tight hold of") that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."  Whatever that may mean in its fulness, "I seize tight hold of that," and I pray for you and me that we will continue to, "seize tight hold of that," until, "that day."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I understand, as man counts understanding, so little of You and the Universe.  But I, "seize tight hold of," You today.  Amen.
*******
"Flotilla" Update:       apf327.blogspot

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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2