"Proclaim The Kingdom...And Heal the SIck"

"....He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick."  (Luke 9:2)

We tend to do neither today.  Why?

Let's face it: "the Kingdom of God," just does not "sell."  It's certainly not "seeker friendly," nor does it make me the center of things; the King is.  What the King says, goes.  We have not vote in what He does.  Who today wants to hear of a king and some kingdom?!?  Who wants the thought that Jesus Christ is King, and we His subjects?  Who does not want a "say in the matter?"  And perhaps even greater than the aforementioned, "The Kingdom of God," is far beyond the control of ANYONE, any apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor/teacher, bishop, church board, or "generals of intercession," period. 

Then there is the, "....heal the sick."  It is frankly embarrassing to pray for someone's healing, only to see that they are not healed.  We can mumbo-jumbo any theology all we want.  The truth is that even with the great "faith-healers" of the Twentieth Century, most in their meetings were not healed.  I was in meetings where most of those seeking healing left without anything "happening."  I confess that there have been too many times that I have not prayed for people because I didn't expect anything to happen-- horrendous. 

So, now what do we do?  Well, we do what our Lord Jesus commands and sends us to do.  The old cliche could apply here: "Ours is not to reason why.  Ours is but to do or die."  I don't preach much any more; but that's no excuse.  I am now writing this for, well, I don't know how many.  I want to, however, as one translation says, "....proclaim the Kingdom of God."  I want to, "heal the sick."  Notice that Jesus does not say, "Pray for the sick," rather, "heal the sick", but that's another discussion.  Please send me a prayer request.  I will pray for you, no matter what the request, no matter if I "look good" or not.  Let's get over this degeneration (forgive me if "degeneration" seems a little too harsh) of "the Faith."  Jesus is King of, "the Kingdom of God."  I am Jesus', "bond-slave."   And that, my friend, is Bible.

Father, in Jesus' Name, how we do "pick and choose" what we want to "proclaim" and do.  Holy Spirit, I need you.  Amen.
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Fall 2017 Mission:  Berlin/Wittenberge, October 28-Novenmber 15
 

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

A New Take On Slavery

"O Lord, how manifold are Your works!  In wisdom, Y0u have made them all.  The earth is full of Your possessions--..."  (Psalm 104:24)

This, of course, includes you and me, and everyone on the planet, everything in and on the planet---------- "....full of Your possessions."

The sad state of most humans is that they have never "staked their claim" to being Jesus', "possessions."  Adam is referred to as, "the son of God," in Luke's Gospel, which means, he was born directly of the Blessed Trinity, had no human father nor mother.  Humanity rebelled in Adam and Eve, however, and lost the inheritance of the Living Triune God.  Humanity was given an opportunity to regain "Paradise Lost" in and through the Blood of Jesus Christ, but has, by in large, rejected this marvelous "Amazing Grace."

There is no doubt in Biblical Theology that not only, "The Earth is the Lord's..," but as the Great "Developer" of the Universe, Father, King Jesus, Holy Spirit, it is quite true that, "the [Universe] is the Lord's."  Now we can argue, reason, ask the never-ending "whys" of life, but the Bible is quite clear, "Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases."  This reality is repeated over and over again in the Bible.  This is what words like, "King," and, "Lord," mean. 

Anyone who follows Jesus are just as Romans 1:1 says.  I am, "a bond-slave of Jesus Christ," or has the word for, "bond-slaves," in the Greek means, "without any ownership rights of my own."  Frankly, I'm tired of "property rights."  You and I are Jesus', "possessions", and I say with the old song, "I'm not my own; I belong to Jesus.  He purchased me; I'm all His."  I gladly go to the doorpost and ask Jesus to put His, "awl," in my ear, just as the foreshadow of our "bond slave," position in Jesus Christ says in Exodus 21:6, "....His  master shall bring him to...the door or the doorpost.  And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve Him permanently."  I'm in.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I regret and repent of ever asserting any "property rights."  I'm Your servant, "permanently."   Amen.
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* Please continue to pray for Sarah's sciatica. 

* Please pray for our mission to Germany, October 28-November 15.  Please pray especially for our train connection to Wittenberge.
 

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

"....Darkness Is My Closest Friend"?

"You have taken from me friend and neighbor-- darkness is my closest friend." (Psalm 88:18, NIV)

Many have been there; many are there.  But you and I know Who is Our, "closest friend."

"....darkness is my closet friend."  I felt this way at a period in my life.  Sometimes it tries to come back.  I can honestly say, however, that it is not my strength which overcomes that, "darkness".  It is simply and powerfully the "Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ."

What about you today?  Does it seem as though, "....darkness is my closest friend," to you?  The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ to all who trust Him is that you and I have, "....the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God...."  And when is seems as though, "....darkness is my closest friend", we need not fear.  The power to overcome that, "darkness" is in such promises, "For it is the God Who commanded light to shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

So to you and me today, when it seems that only, "....darkness is my closest friend," then, as always, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His Wonderful Face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."  The song is just another way to continually remind us of the Biblical injunction for total-victory living, "Looking unto Jesus."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that, as you said to Pilate, "You could have no power at all...unless it had been given you from above," so with me.  Amen.

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Please keep our upcoming Mission to Germany, October 28-November 15 in your praying.  We pray that Sarah's sciatica will be gone by then, even sooner!

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

Knowing Or Recognizing

"But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand His plan...." (Micah 4:12a, NIV)

People may not, "know the thoughts of the Lord",..nor, "understand His plan,.." but we can recognize them if we are open to Jesus, if we are open to the Holy Spirit, if our desire is to know our Father's purposes.

Mostly I can say that I do not have the "full grasp" of His, "thoughts," and, "His plan."  But I have experienced that many times I can recognize them.  I think the word "recognize" is better anyway.  The "well-I-know-what-God-is-doing" mentality has too much of the "leading" attitude about it, even a smugness.  "Recognition" has more of the idea that Jesus is Lord, Jesus is leading, Jesus is in charge.  He leads; I follow, or, I recognize.

It is not, "Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be known."  It is, "Thy will be done..."  Too many want to, "know the thoughts of the Lord", and, "understand His plan," before they are "done."  The reason is that they can't tolerate any uncertainty in life.  This is not faith.  This is a desire for some sort of "guarantee" that things will work out just fine, and I will know all of this before anything happens.  It is sort of like Peter saying to the Lord as he was about to step out of the boat, "I need some guarantee that this will work."  The only guarantee Peter had was the Word of Jesus.  And that, my friend, is all you and I need.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I eagerly do want to know Your, "thoughts," and, "plan."  But I accept such knowledge in Your time.  Amen.
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Please continue to pray for Sarah.  It seems to be sciatica.

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