"And of His Kingdom There Shall Be No End"

"....They had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive."

(Acts 25:19-- NIV)

 

You've got to love it!  Paul's testimony came through in power.  But it was not to end here.  Before he completed his service in this life Paul had an assignment with the Emperor in Rome.  We are not a part of a kingdom which has limitations.

 

As I was reading the latter chapters of Acts recently, I realized again just how strategic was Paul's assignment in Rome.  You may recall my synopsis of Acts--- From Jerusalem to Rome.  Study Acts and you will see the "battle plan" of the Kingdom to take over the Empire.  "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar...."  It was not Agrippa, Festus, nor even Paul's appeal which took him to Rome.  It was King Jesus, Lord of Empires! 

 

Most don't interpret it this way, but in just three short centuries the Followers of Jesus Christ, those who were described as turning the world upside down, had done it, converted the Emperor and became the official religion of the Empire.  Now some, even evangelicals, don't agree with this.  They have been duped by "higher education" to believe that it was all politics, intrigue, not real conversions, yada, yada, yada.  Fact:  The Obedient to Jesus Christ triumphed in the super power.

 

I think the reason that most do not interpret Church History this way is that it judges us today who have lost the "empire."  We relegate religion to one isolated segment of a culture, and all the rest, viz., the political, education,   

entertainment, social, etc., to the reprobates of society.  Don't believe it for a moment.  This is just convenient "tele-religion."  You and I were given an assignment: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...."  In other words, "Go and take over."  Jesus did not send us out to fail, to compromise, to settle for, as did the Jews recorded in Judges, sharing the nations with the idol worshippers.

 

Sarah and I go tomorrow to one of the major capitols of the world, and I have just returned from The Capitol of the world, Jerusalem.  It all began 30 years ago with the words spoken to Paul by our Lord Jesus, and given to me on a plane as I was landing in Washington, DC.  "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."  The moment I finished reading this text, I looked out of the plane window and saw the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, and the White House.  I had spent my life bearing witness in the "religious" community.  Now it was time to, "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes."  The mission has been primarily one of prayer and intercession.  While I was with Vivian, one of CCE's servants in Jerusalem, a friend of hers, after hearing of our year in Berlin as intercessors, said to me, "Thank you so much for what you did there.  I have heard and been seeing good things in the German Government."  We returned 10 years ago from that year in Berlin.  It was a great encouragement to me, yet met with the same "surprise" as Ed's "thirty years ago" comment.

 

I will access e-mail from Internet cafes from time to time, but will probably not be in regular contact, which is probably good after this long epistle.  Your prayers for me in Israel were answered in ways I good never have imagined.  Whoever is praying, keep at it!  You are so much a part of all we do.  We look forward to being in touch, hopefully, even get together upon our return.  "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you....Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, by your grace and mercy fulfill Your Purposes in me.  Amen.

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Don't miss the prophetic at:    www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

 

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Contrary to Popular Opinion, Life is "Just As He Said"

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." (Matthew 28:6- NIV)

 

Everything is, "just as He said."  His earthly walk in "The Land," His teachings, His works, rejection by "His own," His death, resurrection, ascension, and return, all have been and will be, "just as He said."  Jesus said, "and the Scripture cannot be broken," or, they cannot be, "set aside or cancelled, or broken, or annulled" (Amplified).  Jesus, is the very "Word of God," and nothing he has said or will say will ever be, just as He Himself, "set aside or cancelled, or broken, or annulled."  As I have just come back from Israel and we are now getting ready to leave for Berlin and Albania, I have looked back on my life and can heartily say, "All of my life has been,'just as He said.'" 

 

Life on this Planet is, "just as He said," always has been, always will be, "up to the day" of His return.  Then eternal life will rule, "as He said."  Let the naysayers scoff and ridicule.  After they are dead and gone, the universe will still declare, "See, it is 'just as He said.'" 

 

Psalm 37 says, "Do not fret....Trust....Delight....Commit....Rest in the LORD" Jesus Christ.  Why can we do this?  Because of the great promise of our text.  Jesus' resurrection occurred because He said it would.  And be assured; everything else He said will happen------------ "just as He said."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the confidence that life is "as He said."  Amen.

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If you did not yet view the video of the Israeli and German Commanders at Gleis (track) 17 in Berlin, I encourage you to view it.  Also, I have posted some interesting facts about the Berlin Wall.  Both can be found at:

www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

 

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Scatter the Nations That Delight in War"

"Rebuke these enemy nations....Scatter the nations that delight in war." (Psalm 69:30, NLT)

David is described in Scripture as, "a man of war."  David's reign in Israel was fraught with wars and peril, but he was victorious over his enemies.  "I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed."  The result of this life style was a free and peaceful kingdom for Solomon.

It is the reality of life, whether some are willing to admit it or not, that if any people are free today it is only because people fought and won wars.  The war protesters of the 1960s could protest the war, but they were only able to do that because people fought wars and won.  I cannot think of a major war in American history which, if we had lost, we would still be a land of freedom.  America's loss in Viet Nam was not due to the soldiers in the field.  It was the criminal behavior of politicians who were indecisive and allowed the military to fight with only a portion of its capabilities.  America lost the will to continue, and left.  The enemies left behind in Korea and Viet Nam were not strong enough to pursue us to our homeland (9/11/2001?). That was not true, however, of the British, the Mexicans, or the German.  If the United States had lost those wars, we would not be flying "Old Glory."

The Bible declares, "The LORD is a man of war."  In Psalm 2 our Father says to the Son, Jesus, "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel."  Centuries later, in this time/space world, we see our "LORD" Jesus Christ warring through the temptations and attacks of Satan through the Garden, the trials, the Cross, the grave, the resurrection, right into the Throne room of the Universe so that you and I could be free from sin, death and the grave to "reign in life" in His free and peaceful Kingdom. 

Beware of the deception of "feel-good" theologians.  They ignore the fact that there is just no peace and freedom without pain, suffering,
and death, whether warring against "these enemy nations...that delight in war," or Satan and His demonic forces.  We simply cannot compartmentalize life.  No matter what the conflict, victory in any "realm" is only in Jesus Christ.  The Bible declares, "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength...."  We will win only because, "The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."  So, "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  Let all that you do be done with love."

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me from compartmentalizing life.  Amen. 
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Devotional Archive:          http://apfdevotionals.blogspot.com
News, Commentary:          www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The Church Being The Church

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
(Galatians. 6:2)

I read a, "thank you for your love and support," from a member of our congregation this morning.  It was a demonstration of the Church being the Church.  This is a fulfillment of our text.  It is a testimony to any local church when the world observes the Body of Christ, "bear one another's burdens."  Whose burdens are you bearing today?

Frankly, the world is not impressed when a person bears the burdens of his "physical" family.  "Do not even the tax collectors do the same?"  But when the unbelieving community observes the Church caring for the Church, there is a modern fulfillment of the Word of Jesus, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  It is not, "By your worship, preaching, missions activity, giving to the poor, etc."  All this is expected of "Church people."  But when the world sees love, not just in word, but in deed, for "one another," they just may want to come and see what is the reason for this.  

There are, however, many organizations, religions, etc., which demonstrate "love" and "care" for "one another."  This means nothing for salvation or eternal life.  It is only when all of this is done, "in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him," that keeps everything we do as a local church from just being another lodge.  I can remember liberal theologians in my seminary taking great issue with me on this point.  They were just humanists.  Humanitarianism is not the love of the Church.  "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith [in Jesus] working through love [in Jesus]."

Congratulations, CCE, you are doing the work of "faith working through love--bearing one another burdens."

Father, I pray that my personal life will reflect the example of my local church family.  Amen.
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*     Please don't forget to pray for my mission, October 16 through 25
*     Devotional Archive:          http://apfdevotionals.blogspot.com
*     News, Commentary:          www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com


"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2