"And If That Had Been Too Little, I...Would Have Given You...More!"

"....I anointed you king over Israel, and delivered you from the hand of Saul.... And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!" (2 Samuel 12)

But it's never enough, is it? (Genesis 3) 

2 Samuel reveals that although David had what any of his era could ever want, it obviously was not enough for David.  Every quarter as I read of David's downfall, it is depressing.  I know this is not what you probably want in a devotional, but it is the reality of far too many Kingdom People throughout history.  Yet, though depressing, there are lessons which you and I can learn from David's life, and learning is one of the purposes of God's Words.

David had it all, one could say.  He was a mighty warrior.  It is recorded that he, "had God's heart."  He left to his son, Solomon, the greatest extent of the Kingdom Israel has ever known.  He is called, "the sweet Psalmist of Israel."  But one day, one very "fateful" day, he broke covenant with his God.  He allowed his base nature to get the better of him, and as the Word says, "Know that your sin will find you" (CEB).  Now the Bible tells us that, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law", yet the Scriptures (and life) just won't stop showing us all that there is a price for sin.  Yes, Nathan told David that his sin was forgiven, that he would not die as a result of it, but he also uttered those frightful words, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house."

Now what possible "devotional thought" can I share with you from the life of David, a man who started out with such "promise," so successful in everything he did, yet, in the vernacular, "blew it"?  First a warning and exhortation that no matter what the self-appointed theologians may preach and teach, we do pay for our sins in this life, or to put it another way, sin has consequences which once set in motion cannot be reversed.  We are forgiven, but forgiveness does not erase those consequences.  Yet, in face of the reality of all this, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has... predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved....In whom (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. and Col.).

David probably thought he was beyond and above the sin which he saw in so many others.  My encouragement to you and me today is that we never so think, but rather obey the Words of God, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise."  May our Lord Jesus grant us the grace to so walk the reminder of this day---------------- and all days.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I am thankful that you put on my heart so many years ago to never be selective in my Bible reading.  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

Do You Need Comfort Today? (Some Corrections to First Posting)

"I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them....Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart....Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight."  (Psalm 119:52, 111, 143, NIV)

What are you "going through" right now?  I don't mean a "season" you are in, or some long standing, "trouble and distress," but right now, in this moment as you read this, do you need, "comfort.., joy.., delight"?    

I have found over the last almost 45 years that, "comfort," and, "joy," and, "delight," are not feel good nouns, and don't come to me in great meetings, gatherings, etc.  If people base their "religious experience" upon such, they are in for very great disappointment.  "Your ancient laws,...Your statutes,...Your commands," are empowering; what more can I say?  You may not always get duck bumps when you read them.  You may actually get bored while reading them, or don't understand them, or think, "O, I have read these words so many times and nothing has changed."  All are lies of The Enemy, lies which our finite minds are all too many times willing to embrace.

Today I simply repeat perhaps what you may think I have said far too many times, but here it is again.  The, "ancient laws," the, "statutes," the, "commands," of the Word of God, Jesus, have sustained me to this very moment.  "I find comfort in them....They are the joy of my heart...and...give me delight."  I am not aware of how Jesus does this or how "it works," but I can tell you that whatever, "comfort.., joy.., delight," I have today comes from Jesus', "ancient laws,..statutes..,commands."  

I have no doubt that this is the reason so many in Christendom fell prey to the hermeneutics which came out of Germany in the latter half of the 19th century.  It came in the form of high sounding words such as "form criticism" and "higher criticism."  One can debate various legitimacies of this approach to the Bible, but after I went through them, after "much learning" in the university and graduate school, the passing of our son brought me back to the thinking/living of our text.  I found indeed, "....Your ancient laws...comfort."   

I had and still do not have satisfactory answers for those who keep asking questions about the Bible, e.g., "What good is it to read Leviticus, or the genealogies, or the outdated ceremonial laws," and, "How do we really know if the documents are reliable and not changed by men over the centuries."  To quote an old movie line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't____"  I was and still am a desperate person, prone to sin, doubt, and uncertainty about life as much as many.  But this one thing I know, and by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I will never depart from It/Him, "I REMEMBER YOUR ANCIENT LAWS, AND I FIND COMFORT IN THEM."!!  Try an experiment today.  If you have never done this, pray through Psalm 119.  I'm sure you will find a prayer for whatever you are going through.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I may not know nor understand much.  But this one thing I know, You and Your Words, "comfort."  Amen.

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

Our Mission to Berlin/East Europe is tentatively set for the month of March, 2015.  Also, don't forget our plans for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in Germany, October 2017

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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Posted By Antipas Prayer Force: to Antipas Prayer Force Devotionals at 11/24/2014 01:25:00 PM

Do You Nee Comfort Today?

"I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them....Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart....Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight."  (Psalm 119:52, 111, 143, NIV)

What are you "going through" right now?  I don't mean a "season" you are in, or some long standing, "trouble and distress," but right now, in this moment as you read this, do you need, "comfort.., joy.., delight"?    

I have found over the last almost 45 years that, "comfort," and, "joy," and, "delight," are not feel good nouns, and don't come to me in great meetings, gatherings, etc.  If people base their "religious experience" upon such, they are in for very great disappointment.  "Your ancient laws,...Your statutues,...Your commands," are empowering; what more can I say?  You may not always get duck bumps when you read them.  You may actually get bored while reading them, or don't understand them, or think, "O, I have read these words so many times and nothing has changed."  All are lies of The Enemy, lies which our finite minds are all too many times willing to embrace.

Today I simply repeat perhaps what you may think I have said far too many times, but here it is again.  The, "ancient laws," the, "statutes," the, "commands," of the Word of God, Jesus, have sustained me to this very moment.  "I find comfort in them....They are the joy of my heart...and...give me delight."  I am not aware of how Jesus does this or how "it works," but I can tell you that whatever, "comfort.., joy.., delight," I have today comes from Jesus', "ancient laws,..statutes..,commands."  

I have no doubt that this is the reason so many in Christendom fell prey to the hermeneutics which came out of Germany in the latter half of the 19th century.  It came in the form of high sounding words such as "form criticism" and "higher criticism."  One can debate various legitimacies of this approach to the Bible, but after I went through them, after "much learning" in the university and graduate school, the passing of our son brought me back to the thinking/living of our text.  I found indeed, "....Your ancient laws...comfort."   

I had and still do not have satisfactory answers for those who keep asking questions about the Bible, e.g., "What good is it to read Leviticus, or the genealogies, or the outdated ceremonial laws," and, "How do we really know if the documents are reliable and not changed by men over the centuries."  To quote an old movie line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't____"  I was and still am a desperate person, prone to sin, doubt, and uncertainty about life as much as many.  But this one thing I know, and by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I will never depart from It/Him, "I REMEMBER YOUR ANCIENT LAWS, AND I FIND COMFORT IN THEM."!!  Try an experiment today.  If you have never done this, pray through Psalm 119.  I'm sure you will find a prayer for whatever you are going through.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I may not know nor understand much.  But this one thing I know, You and Your Words, "comfort."  Amen.

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

Our Mission to Berlin/East Europe is tentatively set for the month of March, 2015.  Also, don't forget our plans for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in Germany, October 2017

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

"Serious, Watchful, Self-Controlled, Sober-Minded, Self-Restrained"

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." (1 Peter 4:7)

Okay, this is our "default" version, the NKJV.  But let me share with you some other versions.  "We are near the end of all things now, and you should therefore be calm, self-controlled men of prayer" (Phillips).  "The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer" (NASB).  "The end of all things is near.  Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray" (NIV).  "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers" (ESV).  "But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer" (Amplified.

The message is clear, at least to me.  When you see, "The end...is near," pray.  Don't panic and be fearful, rather, "be calm."  Only pressing in to Jesus, which is another way of describing prayer, will keep me "serious and watchful," will keep me, "calm, self-controlled."  Only Jesus, living and reigning in me, can keep me, "of sound judgment and sober spirit," keep me, "alert and of sober mind," and, "self-restrained and alert."  All of these commands demand our choice to obey, and only in Jesus Christ do I have the grace and power to so walk.

According to Strong's, the word translated, "end," can mean, "the principle end, purpose, consummation (the end-goal, purpose) such as closure with all its results."  We are two thousand years "closer" to the "closure" of this present age, than when Peter penned this to the First Century Church.  Events are accelerating an an ever-increasing speed.  Just as Israel was called to be a witness nation, so too is the Church called to be a witness nation.  In all my praying for governments I have no illusion that it is not ultimately nations which will affect the destiny of mankind; it's the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the Church, "calm, self-controlled men of prayer."  It is the Church, "....of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer."  It's the Church, "self- restrained and alert... for... prayer."  

You and I may not be "big names" in the Church/Kingdom, but those are not whom Jesus calls.  Neither is the command of Peter to just a few select "intercessors."  Our text is to all members of Christ's Church.  Along with "folded-hands" praying, pray at the sink; pray in you car; pray in the shower; pray walking between meetings.  Be "creative" in this.  The Lord Jesus Christ is with and in you; "therefore...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, in Your Holy Spirit keep this command before me, more regularly than just every three months.  Amen.

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

Right now we are praying and planning for a March Mission

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