Recent Posts
Lowell Brueckner

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

April 30 – May 6 Daily Meditations in the Psalms

Labels:




April 30

Psalms 36:6, 12

6.  Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
12.  There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

     We must go to the Bible to learn the two most fatal consequences for sin: a) The Lake of Fire – an eternity of unspeakable, undying torment, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Here is a destiny of darkness, without the faintest ray of light or hope, into which God will cast billions of unredeemed sinners, to be forever separated from His presence and future world. Their sin will never again bring its filthy stench to God’s holy nostrils. b) The Cross of Christ – the deepest judgment of all. A revelation of the cross has brought salvation to hundreds of thousands, as the full impact of the sacrifice of the Son of God crushes the soul. When I see Heaven’s jewel, Heaven’s sweetest joy, separated from His beloved Father, under the smiting fury of the full wrath of God, for and because of my sin, that will break me once and for all from my blindness to the awfulness of my sinful state.
“I saw one hanging on a tree, in agony and blood
Who fixed His languid eyes on me, as near the cross I stood
Sure, never till my latest breath, can I forget that look
It seemed to charge me with His death, tho’ not a word He spoke
Alas! I knew not what I did-but now my tears are vain
Where shall my trembling soul be hid, for I the Lord have slain.”
      So wrote the blood-washed slave trader, who also penned, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”

Trip to Croatia

Labels:



On April 10 I boarded a plane at the nearby Vigo airport and at 8:20 that evening I landed in Zagreb, Croatia. My friend, Segundo, was there to meet me and I stayed with him and his wife, Susana, until Saturday morning. On Friday, Segundo asked me to do three meetings with the young men and ladies in the center, along with the couples that lead the work. I saw rapt attention to the Word of God, sometimes accompanied by tears. 

Slave in Borovo, in a photo taken about 15 years ago.
On Saturday, Slave came to take me to Osijek and with him was the man, who was to be my host during my stay. I came to know Slave through our son, Dan, when he and Shelley were missionaries in Macedonia. Dan encouraged young men to launch into full-time ministry and Slave, along with others, went to Osijek for Bible training. There he met Lovorka, a Croatian girl and now they have four children. Dan and I, along with Herman Williams and Tom Kyle, came several times, on Slave’s invitation, to minister in the Osijek area. It had been about 13 years since my last trip. On that trip I had an attack of pancreatitis and was in the hospital for six days, an unforgettable experience.

Seeking the Spirit of the Kingdom, chapter one

Labels:



CHAPTER 1

THE HOLY SPIRIT VERSUS MAN

SPIRITUAL SLAVERY

Paul had a clear revelation of the incomparable value of the benefits that Christ purchased for those that believed in Him. It made Paul a fiery enemy of every obstacle and deceit that would rob the Christian of anything that God has for him. If in the time of the apostles there existed the potential for believers to be detoured from the clear way, powerfully marked by someone so anointed as the Apostle Paul, think of the possibilities of that happening in these days of apostasy. These are times particularly influenced by manipulations of men, who do not have five percent of the biblical revelation or authority that Paul had.

For this reason, in the first verse of his letter to the Galatians, he enters powerfully into the theme, with which he will deal. He uses a parenthetical phrase that is not found in any other of his writings – “Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man…)”. With these words, he launches an attack against the principle source of an element that threatened the faith, liberty, grace, and work of the Spirit in them. This threat was based on a doctrine and an effort merely human, deficient of true spiritual power and contrary to Jesus’ gospel. Paul affirmed that he, who had taken the gospel to them, was a “sent one” (meaning of the word “apostle”) by Jesus Christ and the Father. He was not a representative of men or any movement produced by them. His coming to the Galatians had not been made possible through an effort supported by human beings.

April 23 – 29 Daily Meditations in the Psalms

Labels:



 April 23

Psalms 36:1-3

1.  The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2.  For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3.  The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

   There is nothing about an unregenerate man that is credible. “The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit” (verse 3). As he sees himself in his own eyes, so he will communicate with his lips. He will attempt to convey a flattered image of himself. How can you believe him? Hear what the friendly neighbor says about you in the privacy of his own home, when your dog digs up his flower garden. The cheerful words of the corner grocer are for his good customers, the ones who feed his family and help him fulfill his life’s dreams. See the amicable smile erase from the face of the commentator as the TV camera swings around and he is off the air. Come backstage and watch the preacher/entertainer change his demeanor as he discusses business with his staff.
     “He hath left off to be wise, and do good.” Outside of heart-felt, God-breathed Christianity, there has been no real wisdom or goodness in this world since Adam. How can we think anything good can be derived from it? The “all truth is God’s truth” adage is subject to how one defines the word “truth”. It is better to start with the true God and learn truth from His word, the Bible, than to start with that which society may call truth and try to find something of God in it. The world’s society left wisdom and goodness far behind when it forsook obedience to Him.


April 24

Psalms 36:4a

4.  He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

     God judges thoughts and intents, as well as deeds. The most wonderful deeds can come from the most horrible motives. Most pleasant words can hide the most terrible thoughts. Saul, the king, was one whose words and thoughts did not coincide. Saul said David could have his daughter as wife, but Saul thought to make David fall (see 1 Samuel 18:22, 25). The sharp sword of the word of God penetrates the deep, unseen regions and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. He who handles the word of God is expected to go beneath the apparent and superficial and reveal the secrets of the heart, if he expects the unconverted to confess, “God is in you, of a truth.”


April 16 - 22 Daily Meditations in the Psalms

Labels:

I am sorry that I am two days late posting these Psalms. I thought that this series started on the 18th. My apologies…



April 16

Psalms 35:1-10

1.  Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2.  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3.  Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4.  Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5.  Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
6.  Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7.  For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8.  Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9.  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10.  All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

     What we examine today is not self-defense or self-vindication. The Bible exploits no such thing. Here is a man firmly and intrinsically identified with his message and ministry. He was God’s man, His ambassador, with His heart. Therefore, his enemies were God’s enemies. Jesus said, “And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.” It is clear also that these are not common personal enemies with a simple grudge against another man. These are mad, devilish rebels, who are using David in order to attack His God. They pursue the eternal destruction of souls.
     The Almighty has a shield, buckler, and spear. Who can stand before Him? All the threats of the enemy come to nothing and they are caught in their own net. It is cause for joy for those, whom God defends, because victory is certain. Salvation is of the Lord and He helps the poor and needy to triumph over the strong spoiler. They have no other recourse, but to hope in the Lord. Are we weak enough to qualify for divine help? It is a most fortunate position in which to be.


Seeking the Spirit of the Kingdom... Introduction

Labels:

SEEKING THE SPIRIT OF THE KINGDOM

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”
Zechariah 4:6

INTRODUCTION:

THE ONLY WAY TO SERVE GOD

You are reading the introduction to
this book, "Seeking the Spirit of the
Kingdom"
Mathematical answers are the results of rigid and precise deductions. Working with this subject, we soon discover that one can arrive at countless answers to any problem, but only one is correct. This science is intolerant and requires exact solutions. It does not respect personal opinion or many points of view. Its laws and rules cannot be altered in the least, so the best way to work with it is by learning and applying the correct formulas. If we do not, all efforts will result in failure and, in some cases, disaster.

NASA understands the exactitude that this science demands. Every time that a shuttle returns from space it must make contact with earth’s atmosphere at an exact geometrical angle. If the angle is less than required, the apparatus cannot enter and will simply bounce back into space. If an attempt is made at a more direct angle, the craft will enter all right, but it will be the end of it and its cargo, whether that cargo is people or material. The intense heat caused by friction will incinerate and annihilate it. You see, the laws that rule Mathematics cannot be ignored, because they allow no place for carelessness.

April 9 – 15 Daily Meditations in the Psalms

Labels:




April 9

Psalms 32:8-11

8.  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9.  Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10.  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11.  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

     The Lord Himself interrupts the Psalm and David’s prayer. Prayer, you see, is a two-way street. Says the Lord, “Let’s go on to instruction and guidance in my way.” He teaches that bits and bridles are for self-willed animals, forced restraints to keep them from their wild ways. God’s salvation is for the broken and contrite heart. It is broken to the extent that it doesn’t even need outward restraints. God desires people who obey from the heart, through the slightest prompting. His wish is their command. Romans six proves that Christ Jesus has dealt a death-blow to the old man with his selfish, rebellious ways.
     Trust is the crux of this whole matter of doing business with God. The merciful work of Jesus is fulfilled in righteousness in those who wholly cast themselves upon Him. At the completion of that work, there is cause for joy in excess. We stand complete and accepted without reservation before the Almighty.


Seeking the King of the Kingdom, chapter seven

Labels:



7. CHRIST, THE ADVERSARY WITH THE SWORD

“The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this… ‘I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans (which thing I hate KJV). Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.”Revelation 2:12, 14-16

What we will consider in this last chapter is something different from that, which we have presented in the other six, and along with the content, the book must undergo a certain change of temper or mood. The theme continues to concentrate on the person of the Angel of the Lord, the same Lord Jesus Christ, but now we are going to see Him trying very serious matters that have put the souls of many in imminent danger. If we are going to be faithful and balanced in our presentation, then we must see Him also, as He will be presented in this chapter.

We have days ahead of us that are extremely dangerous. At this moment, the people of God are exposed to elements that never appeared before, in all the history of the church. Many of those, who are coming to know the gospel in this generation, are not aware that it is so and cannot see the seriousness of the situation. They have known no other spiritual atmosphere and therefore believe it to be normal. It is not normal! Many, who have decided to enter into the gospel, in truth have never been born again of the Spirit of God and their lives testify that no miracle of regeneration has taken place. The church today expects these spiritual goats to behave like sheep, while the only hope for them is a change of nature.

Old Photos

Labels:




For the most part, we want to share the Word with you on this blog, but we also would like that you come to know us a little. A few days ago, I found some photos in our store room that I hadn’t seen for years. You will see us as we were when we lived in Mexico and you will also see some of our friends from that same period. There are also a few taken after that time. 

 




I am not sure how many children we had as we launched this trip from Minnesota to Mexico. There were at least five, so you can see that we were well loaded. There was baggage on top, bicycles behind and seven people, at least, inside. One time, we also carried a trail bike in front.





For a few years, I had a single-engine plane that was very useful for flying over mountainous terrain, where there were few roads, and fewer still that were in good shape. The ways that God provided for these things were astounding and you might find it difficult to believe that this Cessna 182 cost me a total of $1,200. No, I didn’t order that paint job, it was like that when I got the plane from another missionary. But, it is one of my favorite verses.


April 2 – 8 Daily Meditations in the Psalms

Labels:




April 2

Psalms 30:1-4

1.  I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2.  O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3.  O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4.  Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

     This is a Psalm of celebration and victory. If there is to be any lifting, God has to do it. Let us not be delving into a work that belongs exclusively to Him. No amount of pep talks, positive thinking, and motivational stimulus can do more than lift us by our bootstraps.
     When his battles were over, David stood as perhaps the greatest king of his day, a testimony to the One in Whom he trusted. David cried unto the Lord. He saved David from death, lifted and healed him. It was unquestionably a work of God, without interference from man and therefore, He reaped the praise and man did not. David invites his people to join him in honoring the Lord. They are holy ones, who remember His holiness. What God desires to be the overriding characteristic of men is also the most celebrated attribute of God. We can be happy, when we see God takes steps in our lives, so that we might acquire holiness, for that is a sign of His favor. An uncaring God would leave us as we are.