What Is Our Lord Jesus "Writing" To Your Church?

"And to the...Church in_______write:_______"  (The Book of Revelation)

Well, "The Great Evangelical Recession" really hit home today when I learned that after 130 years, Park Avenue United Methodist Church, formerly Park Avenue Evangelical United Brethren, formerly Park Ave. United Brethren in Christ will be closing in June of 2020.  My Dad was the pastor from June of 1956 to June of 1964.  It is the Church I was a part of from my eighth grade through 12th grade years of high school, and two years of college.  O, yes; and I also found out that after 148 years, Trinity UM, formerly Trinity EUB, formerly Trinity Evangelical Association, the Church in whose building I was licensed to preach in May of 1964, also closed in June of last year.

This is the Church in America; this is the Church in Europe.  Now don't anyone get all spiritual on me and tell me, "Well, those are denominational churches; they were probably dead anyway."  Really?  And how much has your local church grown in the last 130 years?  Oh, wait!  It's not 130 years old, probably not even 50, and probably not even....  The proud who call themselves "Christian" had better face the reality: The Church in America is losing the battle.  We have lost several generations, and most likely will lose ensuing ones, unless....  The epicenter of the Church of Jesus Christ has shifted from "the white man's church" to the African and Asian "church." 

I am determined, only by the grace and mercy of Jesus, to continue pressing on "in the fight."  Jesus, "The Word of God," declared this Eternal Truth:  "I will build My Church," and that Church is and always has been the Glorious Church, the Overcoming Church.  It is not a one generational church, or a 148 year old church.  It is the "2ooo year" Church, rooted and founded in, "Thy Kingdom is a Kingdom of all ages, and Your Dominion endures THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS."  It is time for The Church of Jesus Christ to storm those, "gates of Hell," which Jesus tells us, "....will not prevail," or, "not be victorious."

Are you "on board?" 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I grieve for the state of the American and European Church.  "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven."  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

I May Be Nuts (No Comment)

"The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."  (Zephaniah 3:17)

Our worship, prayers, declarations, nothing can compare, in any way or fashion, with what the Living Triune God says to and about us throughout Scripture.  Just read our text several times; meditate upon it, and we can maybe begin to see just how much Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit lavishes love and grace upon us.

The Hebrew for, "rejoice," here gives the idea of, "extreme delight."  Ern Baxter once shared an observation of the Matthew 11 passage, where Jesus is rejoicing, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things...from the wise and intelligent."  He said that the Greek context actually implies that Jesus clapped His hands and jumped up and down.  "Jesus, actually did that?"  Why not?  If you take our text seriously, you will see the same "attitude" there.  Regardless, the Bible is just packed full of passages which affirm this glorious truth.  "What Wondrous Love Is This, O my soul, O, my soul,.." that the very, "Mighty One," Himself rejoices, "....over you with gladness,..quiet[s] you with His love,.." and rejoices, "....over you with singing."!!!  How dare anyone ever entertain the idea that our fellowship in the Godhead is just "a one way street."

The Blessed Trinity tells us many times throughout the, "God-Breathed," Word, to, "rejoice, praise, glory, exult."  Now here's a thought:  Maybe this is as much an invitation as a command.  The Blessed Trinity says more wonderful things to and about us than you and I can ever say about and to Him.  No matter our worship, prayers, declarations, they pale into near insignificance when compared to what our, "Good Shepherd," expresses to us and does for us.

When you worship, pray, intercede, declare, just always remember that no matter what you and I can say or express, pales in the great flight of what Jesus Christ says and expresses to us, and, has done and is continually doing for us.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to more and more appreciate that You, "....rejoice over [me].., quiet [me]..," and, "rejoice over [me] with singing."  As the song writer said, "I scarce can take it in."  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

Is It Okay?

"My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, the grave is ready for me....My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow....My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart."  (Job 17)

Some may not agree, but I have often wondered: If Jesus, Word of the Father, said that Job spoke what was right, could broken spirits find a sort of consolation in knowing that it might be okay to feel some of the things Job felt?

But of course, it is not "right" to wallow in a brokenness which defeats, leads to, "....denying the Lord Who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ, and you, forgive me if I ever seem to minimize any, "My spirit is broken...," but I'm sure you know as well as I that it is not the intent of Jesus for us to have a, "....spirit is broken," which leads to perpetual, "....my days are extinguished....My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow....My...purposes are broken off...."

There is a "brokenness" of which David speaks in Psalm 51, "A broken and a contrite heart...."  This is "right" brokeness; this is necessary for repentance; this is necessary for walking in Jesus Christ, akin to, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."  But a brokenness which leads to, "I quit," is from the pit of Hell.  You know that I know about this.  In June of 1970, I felt as Jonah, "The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.  To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever." 

As Job, I also was in, "My spirit is broken," and those "Jonah scenes" still pop up at times.  But I cannot thank our Lord Jesus Christ enough for His constant, continual, "ever-present ('muchness, abundance, well proved') help in trouble."  And, my friend, for me this is not a "yesterday experience."  It is day to day, moment by moment.  Today, anew, I celebrate the Healer of broken spirits, "He will not allow your foot to slip; He Who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He...shall neither slumber nor sleep", even when you and I do.

Father, in Jesus' Name, O Thou Healer of, "My spirit is broken," be the Healer to any who read this.  Amen. 

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Read: "South Florida Dining With Hamas And The Taliban" at:   jhs58.blogspot.com  

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"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?...For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."  (Jesus)

This is classic "lost and found."  But notice:  The shepherd went looking for the lost sheep, and in the case of the son, "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him...."  You don't see someone, "a long way off," unless you are looking for him.

The first can be classic evangelism, looking for those who have never surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.  The second is "one of our own," a fellow Follower of Jesus who went astray.  The question which looms large in me today is, What am I doing about both?  The danger in us is to accept what is, not what should be.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be a, "fisher of men," and a, "while he was afar off," actively-looking-for brother.  Amen.

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Article on Germany and illegal immigrants 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