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"Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.  Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.  Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  And this is the promise that He has promised us-------- eternal life." (I John 2)

The word, "acknowledges," is from a Greek word which means, "confess, agree."  But the word can mean to most English speakers a sort of casual agreement.  The Biblical word means an aggressive embracing.  In other words, it, or rather, He is mine; I receive Him; I surrender to Him.  I acknowledge, confess, agree, "Jesus is the Christ". 

Our text tells us that, "a liar," is the person who denies this, who denies Jesus Christ.  A "truther" is the person who confesses Jesus Christ and "agrees" with Jesus Christ.  The latter has, "the Son," and, "the Father."  When the AntiChrist appears, this will be his hallmark, "denies that Jesus is the Christ," and, "denies the Son does not have the Father also."  This is the antichrist "spirit."  This is the spirit of Islam, new age, Hinduism, humanism.  The Bible tells us that it is now in the earth, and will manifest more and more until the close of the age. 

"Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning," is a foundational remedy for the lie, for denial, for turning from the Truth.  Most heard the truth, "from the beginning," not a lie.  If one denies anything of the truth, it only comes later.  "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning."  Those who once walked in Jesus Christ, "the Truth," who then fell into heresy are those who ignored, "....let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning." 

"Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning."  And what we, "heard from the beginning," is, "Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges (confesses, agrees) the Son has the Father."  If you did not hear this, "from the beginning," I suggest you have a new "beginning."  This is absolutely glorious:  We have our Father, our Son Jesus, our Holy Spirit, and equally glorious, He has us.  "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your Word, which is, "from the beginning."  Amen.

*****************************    E-MAIL ARTICLE TO A FRIEND -- Our world: Pope Francis's unfriendly    visit | JPost | Israel News -- You should check this out at,   http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Pope-Franciss-unfriendly-visit-354557  

Are We Reading The Same Bible?

"Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.  Assuredly, I say to yo that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them....Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."  (Luke 12:37 & 40)

There will be no time nor place for, "O, no, Lord; I'm not worthy."  The Word of verse 37 has nothing to do with your worthiness or my worthiness.  This has everything to do with Jesus.  After all, is this not Jesus of Calvary, Jesus of the scars in His hands, feet, brow, back, the mark of the sword still present in His side?  What an absolutely marvelous "act" of our Lord. 

And then there is Luke 12:40.  It, as well many other passages in the Gospels, reveals something else about life now and in the remaining time before the Second Appearing of Jesus Christ.  They are warnings to all, and no, not just unbelievers.  "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell....But the very hairs of your head are all numbered....Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect....And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."  If one's spiritual input is primarily "christian television," they do not know that our Lord Jesus speaks these things.  I wonder if all of Christendom is reading the same Bible.

Another one of my readings today, was 2 Peter 3.  Every time I read this I am reminded of what is still to come in the earth.  Today is "Memorial Day" in the United States.  We honor those who died to preserve America from the tyranny of evil.  Of course, any sane person hates war.  But there is a difference between hating war and denying the depravity of humanity, denying the reality that as long as there is evil in the earth, there will be wars and the need for wars.  There has been war since Cain and Abel.  And there will be war as long as this present age endures.  In fact, the Bible tells us that the close of this present age will come in the most fearful war humanity had ever seen.  2 Peter 3 tells us of what then seems to be the final destruction of the Earth as we know it.  "For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God....But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people....But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish...with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up."" (Amplified)

Now some are probably saying, "Why did you ruin my day?"  I didn't; only unreality can do that.  For some reason, I have been praying more fervently during the last few days than in recent years.  Is something about to happen, some great "prophetic" event?  I don't know.  What I do know, however, is there is a sense of urgency for the lost, lost individuals and lost nations who will, "in that Day," will deal with, "the Words of God," not only in the passages cited above, but in all of Scripture.  My hope and prayer is that you and I will, "find mercy of the Lord in that day," that you and I will, "....also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for awakening me anew in these last few days.  Amen.

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A very interesting article about Hilary Clinton @   jhs58.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

"Not To Themselves...They Were Minstering"

"To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering...."  (1 Peter 1:12)

The word translated, "ministering," is literally, "serving."  I wonder how much, "not to themselves...they were ministering/serving," has been going on over the 2000 year history of the Church.  I know the phrase is, "self-serving," but there is also much, "self-ministering." 

It is a spiritual and psychological battle to put others before ourselves.  Yet the Bible teaches such virtue, e.g., "The Good Samaritan."  I heard Ralph Bell, an associate of Billy Graham many years ago, sum up the parable.  "The priest and the Levite asked, 'What will happen to me if I stop and help this man?'  The Samaritan asked, 'What will happen to him if I don't?'"  This is an attitudinal question which we need to keep in our praying repertoire.  The Bible says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else....Who can understand it?" (NASB).  I heard a prominent preacher once say that this refers only to the unbeliever.  If that is the case, then why are so many professing "believers" wallowing in disillusionment, so many "backslidden," so many who have just given up and quit?  Why so many "ministers" who have gone astray?

You and I are called to reveal The Christ in us, "But I am among you as he who serves."  Perhaps something like, "Not to us, but to you we are ministering," should be written above the door of every church building in the world, should be on the letterhead of every mission, Christian organization.  Not just the, "O, yes, right; we are serving you," but the true meaning of these, "God-Breathed," words.  We should not have to be reminded of them.  Rather I hold on to  the promise that these words are as the Living Triune God declared/promised, "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts...."  May it be, Lord Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I never forget that my service to Your Church, indeed, to humanity is not to me but to them.  Amen.
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Read of Pope Frances' statement that he wants to be a Che Guevara to the Palestinians at:
jhs58.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

"In The Cross...Be My Glory Ever"!

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2, from one of today's readings)

It is not that we just quote John 3:16 in every testimony, every teaching, every sermon.  But it is that the Cross is central, foundational to not just our spoken witness, but to our very lives.  Any life style, any theology or philosophy not rooted in the Cross of Jesus, in the Blood of His Cross, His nail-scarred hands, feet, sword-punctured side, thorn-crowned brow and whip-scarred back is dangerous, erroneous, and ultimately fatal. 

This time in Berlin has been another reminder of the absolute evil of humanity apart from Jesus Christ.  Many Germans never thought it could happen in a million years, men, women, children slaughtered in Medieval barbaric fashion.  I repeat, however, what Billy Graham once said: "Given the right circumstances, the right situation, anyone of us is capable of anything."  I must never, ever forget that.  It is because "spiritual" people forget this truth that so many have fallen shipwrecked on the shoals of life.  And many shoals are not seen--------- until it is too late.  It is always sobering to remember Esau.  "....He found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears."

You and I need not go the way of Esau, or Germany, or the sin of any nation or people group in general.  Who we are in Jesus Christ is stated in the chapter before our text.  "But of Him (Father) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption."  I simply have no trace of this apart from, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  It would be good for all to remember our "position" in Christ, Father's purpose for His Covenant People, and the work of the Holy Spirit: "....that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord [Jesus Christ].'"

Father, in Jesus' Name, "....keep me near the Cross, there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary's Mountain.  In the Cross,..be my glory ever."  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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2