"I Am For Peace....They Are For War"

"My soul has dwelt too long with one who hates peace.  I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war."  (Psalm 120:6, 7)

I saw this in the university and grad school.  I have seen this throughout the 52 years of serving the Church of Christ Jesus.  There were times when I did not respond "correctly," perhaps was unnecessarily combative myself.  But notice the words, "hates peace-- for peace-- for war."  I can say when I read our text in this, perhaps we could call, "the war capitol," I realized the cosmic struggle in which we are all involved.  It is the history of mankind.

A very sobering day today on one of the "Wall" memorial sites (Check out some photos posted to FaceBook).  There is a street there in the center of Berlin, much like Ankeny Avenue in Somerset, or Bond Street, in Johnstown, where the Wall just cut right across the street, separating me and Donny in Somerset, and me and Bob in Johnstown.  This street in Berlin runs right into the Wall, or, we could say, the Wall just cut right across it.  Yes, it was just that real here in Berlin, and I have thought so many times, "But for the grace of God...."  8 or 15 year old friends, just as Donny, Bob and I, found themselves cut off for decades when the border was closed.  Maybe it was Helmut or Karl.

I don't think I am "anything special."  As the Bible says, "It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed," all of us.  We are facing possibilities in the US which were unthinkable a couple of generations ago.  Since the 60s, however, I know that I for one have realized that America is headed for a "wall," maybe not the "wall" spoken of on our southern border, but nevertheless, a wall.  The spiritual wall has been "up" for quite a while now.  What the future holds for that "wall" or any other "wall," for that matter, no one knows.

I met with an old friend this morning; great seeing him.  He told me that the number of "Pentecostal-type" congregations in Berlin have grown a lot in recent years.  It was a blessing, since the other morning we prayed out of Psalm 86:17, "Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me."  Yes, there are people who hate the Followers of Jesus, and anything you and I are about.  They want to see us discouraged, fail, and give up.  Not so here, my friend, nor there with you.  We do not see a lot of prayers "answered," at least, not the kind of prayers we pray.  But just to know that the "full gospel" churches have been increasing in Berlin since we have been coming here regularly, well, we'll take a little of that shared blessing.

Thanks to all who have prayed and will continue to pray for our time here.  We have to leave our flat at 04:00 this coming Thursday morning, ugh.  But we have had a great time walking in Jesus' purposes.

Father, in Jesus' Name, we pray that You, "Show [Your Church] a sign for good,..because You, Lord, have helped [us] and comforted [us]."  Amen.
******************************
* I have re-thought and re-prayed about the "Word" journey of which I wrote the other day.  I am thinking now, perhaps a little more soberly, about targeting the biggest humanist strongholds in PA, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  Will let you know. 

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

In Light of My "Foreboding" Comment

There is a, "delight[] in wickedness," in America today, unlike any before this generation.  It is a cankerworm, a devouring, spreading disease in the press and the American Public.  The "public" acceptance of, "wickedness," began in an unprecedented way in Bill Clinton and has been maturing in Barack Obama.  How far this disease has "spread" and metastasized in the US will be revealed in the days ahead.
 

There is a "literalness" within the following passage which I see in this hour in the United States of America, including Christendom.

From 2 Thessalonians 2. 

1. "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 

2. not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us--- whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter--- asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.  

3. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness (lit.,'no law') is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  

4. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.... 

6. And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.  

7. For the secret power of lawlessness ('no law') is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 

8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 

9. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works.  He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 

10. and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.  They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.  

11. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 

12. and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

--
Posted By Antipas Prayer Force: to Antipas Prayer Force Devotionals at 10/16/2016 11:41:00 AM

"The Counsel of the Nations" vs "The Plans of His Heart"

"The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.  The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations."  (Psalm 33:10, 11)

Our text applies throughout history, in all generations, in all nations, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, Germany, Russia, the United States of America.  Do not ever think for a moment these Words do not rule.

"So how does this 'devotional thought' bless me?"-- one may ask.  Quite simply, Our Lord, King, Savior, Jesus the Christ, has us covered, in all "seasons" of our lives, whether we live in a land of "freedom" or a land of persecution, a condition of slavery or democracy, a nation where we can determine our government, or a nation which allows no such choice, "The counsel of the Lord stands forever...."  All of the above worldly powers have either ceased to exit, or were once seemingly all powerful, or the Earth's only "super power"; n0 matter.  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away" (Jesus).  There you have it, my friend.  Now some will ask, "If the text is true, why the famine, why the suffering, the enslavement of people groups, the Holocaust, the triumph of evil is so many places throughout so much of human history?"

I repeat, "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing...."  Has He not?  What, "counsel of the nations..," throughout human history still stands?  what, "....plans of the peoples.., from a thousand years ago are still in, "effect"?  Conversely, What, "....counsel of the Lord," does not stand?  What, "....plans of His heart," have ceased?  Be very careful how you may be tempted to answer such questions.  The truth is that none of us knows what were/are Jesus', "counsel," and, "plans," in all humanity has observed through the centuries.  (This is what makes the current American political scene so fascinating to me.)  O, yes, there will be the "experts" among us, the have-an-answer-for-everything-and-everyone, but they are not, and do not. 

My "blessing" today in this land which has given so much "good" and so much evil to the world is in Jesus Christ, "The counsel of the Lord [Jesus Christ]," and, "The plans of [Jesus'] Heart...."  I pray the same for you, no matter what nation in which you find yourself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You are, "Wonderful Counselor," and the Ultimate "Planner."  Amen.
**************************
* Well, Sarah's bag finally made it this morning.  Weather is low 50s, rainy and cool, typical Berlin weather. 
* I have posted a couple of photos to "Facebook."  Thanks for any prayers for us.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Lifetime Warranty"

"Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases!  For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men."  (Psalm 12:1)

The NKJV Bible has as the title to this Psalm, "Man's Treachery and God's Constancy."  Notice that the text in the NKJV is in the present tense, "....the godly...ceases", and, "the faithful disappear...."  Look around and, who can argue with this?

Well, it's Monday morning and I found out that I need the front brakes on the car replaced.  Monroe says they have lifetime warranty; hmm, interesting phrase, that "Lifetime Warranty."  Yet this is what, whether most admit it or not, we want from everything and everyone, "Lifetime Warranty."  There is a line in a song from the 1950s which says, "....until The Twelfth Of Never, I'll still be loving you."  I wonder of all those who sang and said this are still, "....loving you."  The truth is, very little in our lives is "lifetime-warranty," or, "The Twelfth of Never," any more for most of humanity, especially in relationships.  Sarah and I are grateful for those who have been in our lives for a long time, and seem to be of the commitment that they will be there "to the end."  Of course, we are thankful for our family members who have been there "from the beginning" in some cases, and near the beginning for others.  So thankful for all the aforementioned who have not, "....ceases!" nor are of those who, "....disappear...."  Again, thank you for not ceasing to be in our lives and not disappearing!

While the, "godly," and, "faithful," just keep disappearing, "from...men," in the moral and lifestyle sense, the reality is that sooner or later we will all physically, at least, "cease[]," and, "disappear."  Only Jesus is the "Lifetime Warranty" of the Universe.  Remember the take on John 1:1, "Before the beginning began, the Word already Was."  Micah says that, "The Word of God," Jesus, is He Who Is, "from days of eternity."  And into that, "eternity," you and I stepped when we surrendered our lives to Jesus.  Some of us who read this devotional are physically in the relative "beginning" of life; others are in the "sunset years."  No matter.  In our Lord Jesus Christ we are now of The Eternal One.  Right now, we ourselves are eternal because of our, "in Christ," and, "Christ in you," relationship.  I pray our Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit comfort you today with this refreshing Reality.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Words in Psalm 12:1, as all Your Words, are true, and I can say, Far too true.  Thank You that You Are the Ceaseless, "Ever-Present," One.  Amen.
************************
* We leave for our Berlin Mission tomorrow, October 4 and return on October 27.  Any prayers appreciated.
* Read about the increasing take over of Arab/Islamism in France 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2