"What Has The Righteous Done?"

"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  (Psalm 11:3, NIV)

I have written on this before, as you know, but in view of the July 4th celebrations in America I thought it good to refer to our text again.  One commentary says, "Literally, 'The foundations (that is, of good order and law) will be destroyed, what has the righteous done (to sustain them)?'  All his efforts have failed."  No one can argue that this is not the case in the United States of America.  I do, however, continue to pray for my country mostly, however, "with the spirit."  Prayer, "with my understanding," just does not have as many words as it once did.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not an option, not an additional means of grace, but "included," if you will, in what it means to be, "in Christ."  Personally, I cannot imagine life without the Hollowed Presence of His Blessed Majesty, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit praying in my spirit, viz., praying, "in an unknown tongue."  I just seem more and more at a loss as to how to pray for America.

I pray that while Americans celebrate the great gift of Jesus to us, this great country which has meant literal survival to most on Planet Earth, that our celebration of Father, Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit will exceed all other celebrations.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit so that I can pray Your Heart.  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

"Set" Yourself Aright

"The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed...."  (Psalm 2:2)

Every time, it seems, as I come to Psalm 2 the world keeps manifesting our text more and more.  The human race is on a collision course with the close of the age.  The Bible says that the Devil will ratchet up his activity, so too his servants.  What we have witnessed in the United States of America just in this past week will, as Paul told Timothy, "go from bad to worse." 

I think it "deliberate" that our Lord Jesus starts the Book of Psalms with describing the, "Blessed...man."  It is the man/woman who, "in His Law...meditates day and night."  While that may seem absurd to people living in comfort, the more evil rears its ugly head, perhaps the more the Church will be a, "day and night," people.  There is no other "remedy" for this sin-sick world.

Let, "The kings of the earth set themselves...against the Lord and His Christ."  The days are coming when they will have no more opportunity to, "set themselves."  You and I, however, are "set" in Our Father, in the Son Jesus, in the Holy Spirit.  Remember; while, "The kings of the earth...and the rulers take counsel together," you and I are of those who, "....dwell in the secret place of the Most High."  We, "abide under the Shadow of the Almighty."  The admonition, the command to kings and judges in this Psalm is the same for you and me, indeed, all humanity, "Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him,"--------the Son,------------ Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for my place in You.  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

The "Reward" Is For "....What They Have Done"

"Look, I am coming soon!  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll....Look, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done." (Revelation 22:7 & 12, NIV)

"I am coming soon!....I am coming soon!"  I think Jesus wants us to know that He is, "coming soon!" 

Notice that it is, "the one who keeps," literally, "the one who is keeping," who is, "Blessed."  And the reward?--- "....according to what they have done."  There is much more emphasis in the Bible on what you and I do than what we say.  Saying is always easier than doing.

It is going to be more and more of a challenge to, "keep[] the words of the prophecy written in this scroll," because the Devil knows that his time is short.  We are living in a dramatic culture shift in the US and Europe.  The barbarians are winning, murdering the unborn, exalting homosexual relations and, as one of my Eastern European friends said recently, "America is spitting in the face of God."  And what is going on now in the Middle East is throwback to the Middle Ages, plundering, pillaging, over running.  This is not the world of my Dad and Mom.  The barbarians are winning the culture war on most of Planet Earth, and most embarrassingly in America, because the Church just talks, dances, and "declares."

Jesus says in our text, "My reward is with Me," because Jesus is the, "reward."  As the world plunges deeper and deeper into the abyss of barbarism, you and I will need to make daily, perhaps even hourly decisions.  The barbarians will not give up, will not quit; and if you and I are to survive, neither must we.  Courage, my friend.  Be one of those who is, "keeping the Words," when Jesus appears again.  "I am coming soon!  And My reward is with Me."  Do not let compromise and, "friendship of the world," rob you of the Reward.  "The time is short."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Even so come, Lord 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

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