"I Will Destroy The Wisdom Of The Wise"

"For message ('word') of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:  'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'" (1 Corinthians 1:18, 19--NIV)

If you really look at "news events" around the world, you see the accuracy of the Bible.  Those who attempt to put doubt in the minds of humanity about, "The Words of God," are not match for the declarations of the Godhead.

You know as well as I that every day there is an attempt by the Enemy to get you and me to doubt the Bible's "reliability," and "truthfulness" and "accuracy" and all the other human demands, which are nothing but man's feeble attempt to justify his meager existence and reasonings.  Back to our text: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."  Jesus has been doing this from the beginning.  Needless to say that Jesus, "Who is made to us Wisdom from God," tells us in the Proverbs to, "Get wisdom."  Notice, however, you and I, and every other personage on the planet, has to, "Get wisdom."  We are not born with it.  The, "Wisdom from God," is only in Jesus Christ.

Reject at every turn any attempt to rely on, "the wisdom of the wise," and, "the intelligence of the intelligent...."  The Living Triune God, "will frustrate," us at every turn in that endeavor.  Believe, "The Word of God."  Accept, "The Word of God," as our wisdom and intelligence and we will live overcomingly in Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your great, "frustration," ministry.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Enter...His Gates With Thanksgiving"

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His Name."  ((Psalm 100:4)

Much talk in these days about "praise and worship."  Here, the Holy Spirit includes in the journey, "thanksgiving," and, I might add, with equal importance. 

The longer I live, the more I realize just how much I have for which to be thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ.  But don't just "realize it."  Do it.

Father, in Jesus' Name, my thanksgiving is boundless.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Always Providing"

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed...." (Luke 4:18, from today's Gospel reading)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,..." to do everything you and I need, everything.  So why do so many lack so much?

Jesus is for, "....the poor;...the brokenhearted,..the captives..., the blind,...the oppressed...," and in Jesus' being for for us, He does our text.  The declaration encompasses our whole being.  Jesus is Our Complete Provider.  If these Words apply to any reading this, I remind us all that Jesus is for us.  This text is for you and me today, "to have and to hold."  Just as Jesus provided for Mary and John from His Cross, Jesus is the "Always Providing One."  

If you and I do not accept these Words, well, we just need to remind ourselves that God is He, "....who cannot lie...."  Maybe what is needed for us, at least at times, is the persistence of the widow before the judge.  The Word for, "wear me out," in the passage literally means, "to hit under the eye."  Could, "....take it by force," apply to some of us?

Don't be discouraged, my friend.  Those long awaited Promises of the Savior are yours and mine.  Maybe we need to "suck it up" and once again do what we did so long ago-- remember?  We believed Jesus.  We "pressed in" to Jesus.  That child-like faith did so much, didn't it.  Rekindle it, in Jesus' Name!

Father, in Jesus' Name, be will all who are worn out.  Renew them in Your Words, Your Holy Spirit.  May that anointing, which You said is our too, be upon us all, the anointing to obey, receive and walk in.  Amen.

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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

The Pittsburgh Declaration

(Some have asked me for a copy of this.  I'm sending it to all on my email list)

To the Jewish Community of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

We know that the Jewish people throughout the centuries have borne the greatest discrimination, the worst persecution, and the most barbaric atrocities of any people group.  We are aware that much of this has been done by those who called themselves Christians, sometimes while calling upon the Name of Jesus.  While those of us standing here with you today deplore and condemn in the strongest terms and way those crimes perpetrated against the Jewish People throughout history, we nonetheless ask for your forgiveness for all of the crimes perpetrated against you which were perpetrated by those calling themselves Christian.  These atrocities in no way reflect Jesus, Who Himself a Jew, embraced the Law and the Prophets.  As His Followers, we too affirm them and embrace them, and in that affirming and embracing we say to you and to the world that we will stand with the Jewish people as long as we have breath.

The concentration camps in Europe stand as silent sentinels to the past barbarity of the human race, not just Christians.  Anti-Semitism knows no ethnic, creedal, or political bounds.  But we repeat the words engraved and openly displayed at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial: "Never Again."  By that we mean we are yours.  You will never be attacked as a people while we who are Christians stand by and do nothing.

We covenant with you that while others have stood silent during your times of suffering, we, the Community of those who follow Jesus, will never be silent, never abandon you, and covenant to supply you quarter should any present or future

events make that necessary.  Our prayer, as part of the Christian Community in Pittsburgh, is that you will always remember this commitment we make to you this First Day of May, 2011.

(Composed by Woody Barnette, April, 2011)

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