"Not To Themselves...They Were Minstering"

"To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering...."  (1 Peter 1:12)

The word translated, "ministering," is literally, "serving."  I wonder how much, "not to themselves...they were ministering/serving," has been going on over the 2000 year history of the Church.  I know the phrase is, "self-serving," but there is also much, "self-ministering." 

It is a spiritual and psychological battle to put others before ourselves.  Yet the Bible teaches such virtue, e.g., "The Good Samaritan."  I heard Ralph Bell, an associate of Billy Graham many years ago, sum up the parable.  "The priest and the Levite asked, 'What will happen to me if I stop and help this man?'  The Samaritan asked, 'What will happen to him if I don't?'"  This is an attitudinal question which we need to keep in our praying repertoire.  The Bible says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else....Who can understand it?" (NASB).  I heard a prominent preacher once say that this refers only to the unbeliever.  If that is the case, then why are so many professing "believers" wallowing in disillusionment, so many "backslidden," so many who have just given up and quit?  Why so many "ministers" who have gone astray?

You and I are called to reveal The Christ in us, "But I am among you as he who serves."  Perhaps something like, "Not to us, but to you we are ministering," should be written above the door of every church building in the world, should be on the letterhead of every mission, Christian organization.  Not just the, "O, yes, right; we are serving you," but the true meaning of these, "God-Breathed," words.  We should not have to be reminded of them.  Rather I hold on to  the promise that these words are as the Living Triune God declared/promised, "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts...."  May it be, Lord Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I never forget that my service to Your Church, indeed, to humanity is not to me but to them.  Amen.
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Read of Pope Frances' statement that he wants to be a Che Guevara to the Palestinians 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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"In The Cross...Be My Glory Ever"!

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2, from one of today's readings)

It is not that we just quote John 3:16 in every testimony, every teaching, every sermon.  But it is that the Cross is central, foundational to not just our spoken witness, but to our very lives.  Any life style, any theology or philosophy not rooted in the Cross of Jesus, in the Blood of His Cross, His nail-scarred hands, feet, sword-punctured side, thorn-crowned brow and whip-scarred back is dangerous, erroneous, and ultimately fatal. 

This time in Berlin has been another reminder of the absolute evil of humanity apart from Jesus Christ.  Many Germans never thought it could happen in a million years, men, women, children slaughtered in Medieval barbaric fashion.  I repeat, however, what Billy Graham once said: "Given the right circumstances, the right situation, anyone of us is capable of anything."  I must never, ever forget that.  It is because "spiritual" people forget this truth that so many have fallen shipwrecked on the shoals of life.  And many shoals are not seen--------- until it is too late.  It is always sobering to remember Esau.  "....He found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears."

You and I need not go the way of Esau, or Germany, or the sin of any nation or people group in general.  Who we are in Jesus Christ is stated in the chapter before our text.  "But of Him (Father) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption."  I simply have no trace of this apart from, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  It would be good for all to remember our "position" in Christ, Father's purpose for His Covenant People, and the work of the Holy Spirit: "....that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord [Jesus Christ].'"

Father, in Jesus' Name, "....keep me near the Cross, there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary's Mountain.  In the Cross,..be my glory ever."  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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Fwd: itinerary

"Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness...."  (Deuteronomy 9:6, From today's Pentateuch-History Section)

The following is my reply to an itinerary letter sent by the couple leading the American Team whom Sarah and I will join next week.  I thought you might find interesting what I shared with them.

Donald and Marlis:

I don't know if I ever told you, but I visited Herrnhut during the communist era in September of 1988.  I was the only one staying in the hotel at the time.  Of course the DDR required a reservation, which meant much more than Americans understand about "reservation."  I had made the reservation from here in Berlin.  The communist officials had prepared a great dinner and accommodation;  you could tell they weren't used to many visitors.  Before I went to the hotel, I was sort of wondering around the town for a few minutes, when I stopped to talk to a man working in his garden.  He was one of the elders in the Unitas Fratrum, literally, Unity of the Brethren (Moravian) Congregation!  I might add that "unity" in Jesus was the foundational desire and pursuit of the Herrnhut Community.  This Moravian elder gave me a complete tour of the town and Moravian Cemetery where Zinzendorf is buried.  Later I drove down the road a short distance to the church building in Berthelsdorf in which the famous August 13, 1727 communion service took place, the gathering which "sparked" the 120 year /24/7 prayer "watch of the Lord."  The door to the building was locked, but about a year and a half later, just a few months after the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe, I went back, tried the door, and it was unlocked!  I was actually able to stand in the centuries-old pulpit.  The original church building was burned during the Hussite Wars of the early 15th century, and rebuilt in 1595.  I have a copy of one of the original hymnals.  What a glorious time.

Woody

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Most of you know of the famous Moravian Revival of the 18th and 19th centuries.  Count Zinzendorf was only in his twenties when this revival began.  Perhaps a little known fact about him is that the Saxony Government actually banished him from Saxony in 1736, but in 1749 begged him to come back and establish other communities just like the one in Herrnhut.  Would to our Lord Jesus Christ there were more people like him today, people begged by governments, people in whom Jesus Christ was so evident that governments would want them to replicate themselves and their communities/churches in other cities and towns. 

I have absolutely no doubt that Zinzendorf would agree with today's text, that whatever revivals, whatever "great things" we see is not due to, "[]our righteousness."  Whatever, "good land we possess (is) because of [Jesus'] righteousness."  Jesus is the, "Author and Perfecter of  faith."  Jesus is, "the Author and Perfecter of," any and all we do which has any lasting value and power.  I will continue to pray, praise, confess the Scriptures.  But in and through it all, "Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness," but because of Jesus, Who Is, "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I will remain faithful to do as You commanded, "that men should always pray and never give up," while always remembering, whatever "happens" is because of Your Righteousness, Who is 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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

What Does "The Grace of God" Teach?

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us...."  (Titus 2:11, 12a)

The word for, "teaching," means, "discipline, educate, train."  This is the "work" of, "the  grace of God," in our text.  

Now most people probably do not consider, "the grace of God," as that which is, "teaching us."  Grace is often defined as "unmerited favor," which to many is code for, "Do whatever your heart desires.  After all, Christ died for our sins; everything's forgiven.  You don't have to do all that works stuff."  This twisting of the Scriptures is an attempt to justify a self-serving life, rather than a Jesus-serving life.  "The grace of God...teach[es] us," so much more than "only believe." 

Let me share what the succeeding passage says, "the grace of God," is, "teaching us."
    1.     "Deny[] ungodliness
    2.    "Deny[]..."worldly lusts"
    3.    We should "live soberly"
    4.    We should "live godly in the present age"
    5     We should be, "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great                God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem                us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people,                        zealous for good works." 

What so many neglect to walk in is the purpose for Christ's death and resurrection.  The CEV puts it this way, "He gave Himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure.  He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right."  I can hear some say, "That's a works religion."  And that is, what?  Bad?  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." 

A lot of Christians are good talkers.  Their worship, praise, witnessing, are full of talk.  But people do not see talk.  They only see what those words produce in my life.  My talk does not glorify my, "Father which is in Heaven."  Only my, "good works," can do that.  (Sorry)

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be more of a doer than a talker.  Amen.           

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Please remember to pray for us on our mission to Berlin/Bosnia, May 1-20.  Among other prayers you may be led to pray, please pray that our, "light so shine before men, that they may see []our good works and glorify []our Father in heaven."

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.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2