Jesus Is Always The Problem

"And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth."  (Exodus 23:13)

A corresponding New Testament passage is 1 Cor. 8:5, 6, "For even if there are so-called gods,..yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."  Notice the wonderful clarity of stating just Who is God-- "the Father,..and one Lord Jesus Christ." 

If this is not clearly stated and lived out as the Community of the Redeemed, we are in violation of our text, and, the world will never have a "clear presentation of the Gospel."  I'm telling you today that to "marginalize" Jesus, as is the trend more and more in modern Christendom, is to by default, "mention the name of other gods...."  If Jesus Christ is not central, fundamental, in all we do and say, we are, "mention[ing] the name of other gods."

"Broken record?"  I won't fix it.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that You cleared up the confusion of mankind as to who You Are in Jesus.  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

"Your Work...Your Labor...Your Endurance"

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:3, NIV)

"....your work produced by faith."  This is not just "church work."  This is life work.  It is impossible to live life in Jesus Christ without believing and obeying Jesus Christ, which is the definition of, "faith."  Every day you and I are bombarded by, "principalities and powers," by the, "spiritual forces of wickedness," whose sole purpose is to, "deny the faith," which is another way to say, "I give up."  Fight on, my dear Family Member.

"....your labor prompted by love...."  This is the call of life in Jesus Christ.  All thoughts, all words, all, "labor," whether Church, "missions," work place, family relationships, are commanded by our Lord Jesus to just, "as I have loved you."  Life must be, "prompted by agape," or all is empty humanism.

"your endurance."  The Word, "endurance," is most often translated, "perseverance."  The dictionary defines, "perseverance," as "doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success."  What an example of much of life.  Remember when you "got saved?"  Most thought that the "change" people talked about would occur, if not right away, at least by next week.  Yes, some experienced a flood of "answered prayers," admiration of some, etc. 

Then one day we "woke up."  We looked around and noticed that there was much of life which still needed, "....produced by faith,..prompted by love,...endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of those seasons in which I despised the "time-process" in life.  Amen.

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Sarah is having some tests on January 24.  Please pray for all results to be negative.

 

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 Prayer Book For You and Me

"Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?  The goodness of God endures continually.  Your tongue devises destruction.., like a sharp razor, working deceitfully....But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever."  (Psalm 52)

The Psalms are not for Bible studies and sermons.  They are for you and me, right here, right there, house, office, vehicle, wherever that may be, in whatever we go through.  

I read Psalms 51-55 this morning.  I have pointed out before that David prayed/sang some of these Psalms while there were those who were pursuing him.  In the case of today's text, someone was out to kill him!  If you want to know the "correct" way to pray when people and life are against you, pray the Psalms.  Of course, we don't pray in the spirit of "go get 'em."  We pray that in Jesus' deliverance from our enemies, the enemies themselves will come to know Jesus, "Whom to know is life Eternal."  The phrase, "Then they shall know that I am the Lord," appears over 25 times just in the Book of Ezekiel.  This is the objective of the Godhead for humanity.  It must also be ours.

If you want to take a lesson from yourself as to "how to pray," pray the way you pray when you are alone, not in the "prayer meeting."  Now I am not saying that we cannot pray "sincere" prayers with others, yet you know as well as I do that there is a desperation, a I-don't-have-to-word-this-just-so about our praying when alone.  As an example, I find myself using the word "please" more when I'm alone.  Perhaps it shows a weak, dependent desperation, a helplessness which other "powerful prayers" do not.

Hey, you, "green olive tree in the House of God," pray "your heart out" today!

Father, in Jesus' Name, please let this sink in for my friend and me.  Amen.

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If you want to see the judgment on the Democrat Party, go to:

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

"Men-Pleasers" Or "God-Pleasers"

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."  (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Don't be fooled.  If a person seeks to please people, they can be very "successful."  They can fill church buildings & stadiums, be very successful in business, win popularity contests.  It is a dangerous reality that too often people equate large churches and "ministries" with "favor," or "anointing," or whatever.  Beware associating hoopla with, "....approved by God...."

The question occurred to me as I read our text this morning.  Is everything I do, "....approved by God," or, "....pleasing men"?  Is Jesus Christ my Lord, or humanity?  (The answer may not be as "obvious" as one may think.)  With what attitude do we begin each day?  When we are in the "marked place," are we of those living and speaking as, "....approved by God", or, "....as pleasing men"?  It is written of Enoch, "He pleased God."  What greater words can be said of one?!? 

So there we have it today, "....approved by God," or, "....pleasing men."  Which will it be?

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for bring this reminder today.  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