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Watchman
Sentinel
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
58trojan23 sent you a video: "APF DEVOTIONAL"
Self Preservation Or Jesus Preservation
"And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' So Peter went out and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:61, 62)
Mark's testimony is a little different from Matthew's and Luke's. Allow me to digress here for a moment. Bertrand Russell once used differing accounts of the same events in the Gospels to justify his atheism. Others too have noticed what they perceived to be "irregularities" in the Bible and have, "denied the faith." They too are like Russell who once said, "I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong." Both perceptions of Russell seem to be very liberal, very open-minded, admirable, to most. To me they reveal a person who never met Jesus.
Varying accounts of the same event is like asking several people what they saw of that event. They will have consistencies, but not exact verbatim accounts; in most cases we would call that "scripted." As for Russell's "....never die for my beliefs..," again, open minded, admirable, but very akin to John Lennon, who once said, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first- rock and roll or Christianity"; hence, "Imagine."
Back to our text--- No one wants to consider the possibility of what Peter did. It may take subtle forms in us, but it has happened to the very vast majority of us. Peter's denial was based on one reality which all of us have to battle, self preservation. He probably knew that Jesus would be condemned to death; Peter would have none of that for himself. Now most, dare I say all, Americans have never faced a possible death sentence because of our relationship with Jesus as Peter did. I have, however, met those who have, and I can say that one feels very humbled in their presence. Yet I also realize that they are no different from you and me. The same power of God which enabled them to fight through to victory dwells in all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.
Today, most Followers of Jesus will have ample opportunities and in so many different ways to deny or affirm their obedience, love, and loyalty to Jesus. Which path will you choose?
Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess I have denied You by silence. May it never happen again. Amen.
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Read of One Demagogue and One Survivor: www.jerberwash.blogspot.com
Today, most Followers of Jesus will have ample opportunities and in so many different ways to deny or affirm their obedience, love, and loyalty to Jesus. Which path will you choose?
Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess I have denied You by silence. May it never happen again. Amen.
********************
Read of One Demagogue and One Survivor: www.jerberwash.blogspot.com
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
Monday, March 5, 2012
58trojan23 sent you a video: "APF DEVOTIONAL"
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| 58trojan23 has shared a video with you on YouTube: | |
| © 2012 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066 | |
Battleground, Earth
"Your hand will find all Your enemies....The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them....Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power." (From Psalm 21)
This is a prayer of the warrior/shepherd/king who was also called, "the sweet psalmist of Israel." This is attack mode and worship in the same praise gathering. Most people cannot handle both; it must be for them one or the other. For most, the warrior and, "sweet psalmist of Israel," cannot coexist.
The Bible is not a religious book for religious people to have "feel-good" religious experiences. It is the factual up-to-the minute best seller on the human condition, on man's relationship with the Living Triune God through the centuries, the good and the bad. My purpose in sharing these devotionals with you is to share what I see God the Holy Spirit is, "saying to the Churches," and, to the human race as a whole throughout man's existence on Planet Earth. This morning I read in the news that Russia, at an alarming rate, is heading back to the old "KGB" days, while America is once again vilifying any who dare question the free, government funded contraception/murder of the unborn. And just yesterday the American President deceived a recent pro Israel rally about his intentions towards Israel. This is just some of the "state of the world," as we approach the Spring time of the year. Do not despair; the Bible has just the right warrior, "sweet psalmist," prayers for whatever are the Enemy's intentions.
If you ever wonder why some of the Psalm prayers are so violent, I submit to you that the human race is the battleground between Jesus Christ and Satan, the battle for the "hearts and minds of men," the eternal souls of the human race. Now our Lord Jesus won the war in, "the blood of His cross," His death and resurrection. The battle, however, still goes on because man must choose w/Whom he will serve; and the majority of the human race has, as Romans 1 declares, "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.... Furthermore, 2 Thess. 2:9-12 tells us, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie."
If you ever wonder why some of the Psalm prayers are so violent, I submit to you that the human race is the battleground between Jesus Christ and Satan, the battle for the "hearts and minds of men," the eternal souls of the human race. Now our Lord Jesus won the war in, "the blood of His cross," His death and resurrection. The battle, however, still goes on because man must choose w/Whom he will serve; and the majority of the human race has, as Romans 1 declares, "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.... Furthermore, 2 Thess. 2:9-12 tells us, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie."
Those whose lives are living examples of, "the love of the truth," will pray, "the Words of God." This is "right" praying; this is "battleground Earth," praying. This is not praying our "feelings" or preclusions. This is praying His declared victory.
Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, pray in me Your Will. Amen.
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Read of the Growing Danger in Russia: www.jerberwash.blogspot.com
If you have never seen the Prophet Video, "The Rape of Europe," I highly encourage you to view it so you can pray more "effectively" for our upcoming Mission to Berlin:
Unreached People Group: www.unreachedpeoples.blogspot.com
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
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