April 30 – May 6 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
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Daily Meditations
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:
personal testimonies
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. |
Seeking the Spirit of the Kingdom, chapter one
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Important messages
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
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Daily Meditations
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:
Daily Meditations
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
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Important messages
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" |
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
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Daily Meditations
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:
Important messages
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:
personal testimonies
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:
Daily Meditations
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.
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