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"A Rare Prayer for the Church"

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There was always great excitement in those early meetings of the church in Jerusalem. The opposition mounted by the leaders of our people and even Roman authorities added to the thrill of gathering in the name of Jesus. Some of us met every day of the week. Our largest gatherings were on Sundays because we did not have to compete with the Sabbath services led by the priests, although many of us still preferred our Sabbath traditions. People began gathering in the outer courts of the temple at daylight. Many slaves and laborers had to work on Sunday and every other day as well. We began the day singing psalms and new hymns that were being written. We worshipped and encouraged one another for hours before the Apostles addressed the entire fellowship. On one particular Sunday, Peter stood as usual, and we all became as quiet as possible to hear what he would say.

He began, “My brothers and sisters, today I want to tell you about something Jesus did here in Jerusalem. We passed a beggar at the edge of a market who had been blind from birth. We asked Jesus, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?’ Jesus said, ‘It was not because this man sinned or because of anything his parents did. This happened so that the work of God might be revealed in his life.’

“I would like you to think about how important that man had to be in the Kingdom of God. Every evil and painful thing he had endured happened so the works of God might be revealed. You also need to see how important you must be in the Kingdom of God. Every bad thing that blind man endured happened so that the works of God might be revealed to you.

“Through the blind man Jesus gave us a parable. ‘While I am in the world,’ He said, ‘I am the light of the world.’ And He spat on the ground and made clay. He took the clay and anointed the man’s eyes, and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam where his eyes were opened. Jesus was showing us that His presence would open our eyes to the things of God even in the ordinary dirt of this world.

“We have something exciting to share with you today,” Peter said, “That man, who has not lived in the city for a while, has returned to visit his parents who often worship here with us. He came this week to visit an Apostle that he knew well. And he has agreed to speak to you this morning.” Peter then turned and welcomed a man onto the platform. All the people crowded nearer not expecting his voice to be as strong as Peter’s. His voice was not loud, but he had an anointing of the Holy Spirit similar to Peter’s, and the sound of his words carried to the far reaches of the crowd.

“My name is Liscus. Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord Jesus the Christ.” Liscus had said no more than this when the entire church began to sing.

“Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

When we came to the words,

“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind,” 

some of the ladies sang a high counterpoint to the men’s lower notes. Tears were spilling from the eyes of Liscus as the psalm concluded,

“Our Lord will reign for ever,

His Father to all generations.

Praise the Lord!”

When the congregation became silent again Liscus said “I am always thrilled to praise our Lord for all His wonderful works. One of my first vivid memories is of falling on my knees before Him.

“Our dear brother Peter was right when he said that everything that happened to me came about to reveal God’s works. However, I do not have many clear memories from the years before Jesus opened my eyes. I do remember the pain of occasionally being shoved or falling. And I remember an unnamed fear that often came over me. My clearest memories were of words and sounds that I heard. I remember my father reading the Torah on the Sabbath. I remember my mother singing over me at night. And I remember hearing the Rabbis teach when they didn't know I had snuck into the temple. But no memory is as bright in my mind as everything that has happened after Jesus came along. I remember hearing Him talk about me to His disciples even before He opened my eyes. And I remember his gentle touch as He put His hand on my shoulder and told me he was going to anoint my eyes with clay. 

“When I came back from the pool where he had sent me with my eyes open, those who had seen me begging were stunned. Some of them began to say, ‘Isn’t this the blind man who sat here begging?’ Others said, ‘It can’t be him, but he certainly looks like him.’ But I kept insisting, ‘I am the same man.’

“After I had convinced them, they took me to see the Pharisees in the yeshiva school at the temple. I don’t suppose I need to tell you that was a little frightening. They made me tell them every detail of my healing. The most outspoken of them were aghast that Jesus healed me on a Sabbath as if my healing was not an appropriate expression of worship. They said, ‘This Jesus cannot be from God. He does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others asked how a sinner could give us such signs?’ Some of the Pharisees asked what I thought about him. ‘After all,’ they said, ‘he opened your eyes.’

“‘He is a prophet.’ I answered. I didn’t know what else to call him at that time, but I knew He had to have come from God. Most of the Pharisees did not believe I had been blind until they questioned my parents. Of course, the Pharisees completely intimidated them. They brought them up and they stood them beside me at the front of the hall and demanded, ‘Is this your son whom you say was born blind. How is it that he can now see?’ What could my parents say? I had told them that Jesus healed me. But the Pharisees had made it clear that anyone who confessed that Jesus was the Messiah should be put out of the synagogues. That would have been serious in Galilee or even Alexandria. But if you were cast out of a synagogue away from Jerusalem, you could probably still sneak into the temple on holy days. Being put out here meant you were no longer considered to be an Israelite.

They said, ‘We know that this is our son. And we know he was born blind. But we don’t know how he received his sight or who healed him. Ask him. He is of age. He can speak for himself.’ I had not left the temple when the Pharisees caught up with me again. They said, ‘Give glory to God. We know this man is a sinner.’ I answered, ‘I don’t know what kind of man he is, but I do know I was blind and now see.’

“They asked me to tell them again how Jesus had opened my eyes. I said, ‘I already told you, and you wouldn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become disciples of Jesus too?’ This enraged them. ‘You are his disciple. We are disciples of Moses. We know God spoke through Moses. We don’t even know where this fellow comes from.’

“By this time I was exasperated. I said, ‘This is amazing! You don’t know where this man comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. It has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. How could he have done that if he were not from God?’ That was too much for them. They said, ‘You were born altogether in sin. And you dare to lecture us!” And they put me out permanently.

“Jesus had evidently heard that they had cast me out. He found me and asked if I believed in the Son of Man. I said, ‘Tell me who he is sir so I can believe in him.’ He said, ‘He is talking to you right now.’ I fell to my knees and worshipped Him. I continue to worship Him to this day.”

As the man stepped down we began to sing again. Before we had sung very long, John, one of the Apostles, stood up and motioned for our attention. When we had quieted down he said, “Jesus said some other things regarding this great sign that I think I should tell you. After Jesus told Liscus who He was, He said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who are blind may see, and that those who see may become blind.’ You need to know that our hearts are blind to the things of God. We can only see as Jesus opens the eyes of our hearts.

“Some of the Pharisees heard Jesus say this. They asked, ‘Are you saying we are blind?’ 

“Jesus said, ‘If you were blind you would not need to be forgiven for not seeing, but since you insist that you can see, your sin remains.’

“Earlier Jesus had said, ‘We must do the works of Him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.’ We join Jesus in doing the works of His Father. He sent Liscus to wash in the pool of Siloam. In Hebrew Siloam means “sent.” We are sent to the ends of the earth with the good news of Jesus. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might me saved through Him. 

This story was conceived from the events recorded in John Chapter 9.

Father, open our eyes that we may see your works and believe with all our hearts in you.

http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/

http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/

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http://daveswatch.com/

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#ItSeemsToMe...

employing a “Prohibition Era” strategy will never eliminate abortions.

But how much decline could be seen if the 380,000 Christian congregations each mobilized as a #PrayerCareShare movement?

•Prayer~ for people by name and need.
•Care ~ for practical and financial needs.
•Share ~ the invitation of the Gospel to be part God’s compassion community.

Could we rescue tens of thousands unborn babies?
Hundreds of thousands?

This is not oversimplification if we put as much trust in the potential of the acts of the Holy Spirit filled Church as we do the power of legislation.

Even the most restrictive law will never eliminate abortion. That should be no surprise, but that should also not be our only hope.

Those who are crying out, advocating for the unborn, should do so because they have been bestowed a divine calling.

But everyone has a calling to express God’s love with personalized prayer, hands-on care, while looking for Spirit-prompted-opportunities to share life transforming good news.

Are we preaching-to-the-choir but not equipping them to be advocates for life with those they live, work, play with?

Has our commitment to legislation made us partner with the wrong crowd? Have political alliances compromised our witness?

Does a culture that worships tolerance perceive our message as merely a thirst to control (tell women what they are not

permitted to do) rather than as our passion to advocate for not-yet-born lives (by providing safe, support-based alternatives to terminating pregnancy)?

Has our commitment to this righteous cause become infected by a spirit of self-righteousness?

Are we fooled into believing our nation can be freed from sin if we create legislative and judicial edicts forbidding such action?

Will we remember that the weapons of our warfare include love expressed through kindness, grace and forgivenes, sacrifice and generosity, hospitality; also speaking truth in love. Never letting evil defeat us, but defeating evil with good.

May God revive the Church as we choose the life of loving and committing ourselves and our churches to God.

“Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your (not yet born) descendants might live!
You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him.
This is the key to your life.”               Deuteronomy 30:19-20

The LORD himself will choose the sign.  Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel – “God is with us.”
ISAIAH 7:14 NLT

You are not alone, though you sometimes feel lonely—I am with you.
When you are unsure which way to turn, I am your Wonderful Counselor.
When you are feeling weak-kneed, I am your Mighty God.
When your life is falling apart, I am your Everlasting Father.
When you are frazzled by pandemonium, I am your Prince of Peace.
When you feel like you have made a fool of yourself, I am your Wisdom.
When you are burdened by your sinfulness, I am your Righteousness.
When you are struggling with impurity, I am your Holiness.
When you are chafing under sin’s shackles, I am your Redeemer.
When you are trying to break bad habits, I am your Liberator.
When you are needing companionship, I am your Greatest Friend.
When you are puzzled by life’s complexity, I am your Guide.
When you are wondering if you will survive difficulty, I am your Faith.
When you feel like singing the blues, I am your Jazz.
When you are tired in My work, I am your Energy.
When you are feeling guilty, I am your Defense Counsel.
When your heart is aching, I am your Comforter.
When you are disappointed, I am your Consoler.
When you are in peril, I am your Helper.
When fiery arrows of temptation are aimed at you, I am your Shield.
When you are on high seas, I am your Captain at the helm.
When you are riding an emotional roller coaster, I am your Seatmate.
When perplexing cares crowd your mind, I am your Center of Gravity.
When worry about needs steals your sleep, I am your Shepherd.
When the night seems interminable, I am your Light.
When your situation is uncertain, I am your Anchor.
When you are on sinking sand, I am your Solid Rock.
When despair threatens your soul, I am your Melody of Hope.
When tears soak your pillow, I am your Dawn.
When current events depress you, I am your Bright Morning Star.
When you feel a little down, remember your Greatest Blessing—God.                                      

                     

                                      
                                                                         (c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond 
                                                                Day 262, Gentle Whispers from Eternity 

I am shocked and grieved at the revelation of the sin of Ravi Zacharias. Ravi was a hero of mine. His demeanor and his teaching had a great influence on my life. I am aware that all of us are broken. We all sin. I am also convinced that what Ravi taught and demonstrated was from God despite the sexual sin that overtook him. But I need to say that so far believing these things has not relieved my grief at all.

The fact that Ravi was evidently involved in these things while he was being used by God flies in the face of nearly everything I believe and have taught about Christian ministry. For many years I have said holiness is the goal of ministry. True and lasting effect in ministry is in the hands of God. Rather than success, we are to seek holiness which depends entirely on our relationship with God.

Several trustworthy people have written or been interviewed about this. I would like to hear what some of them have to say. But I need to seek a personal word from God on the issue before I think about what others have to say. As I have prayed about this, God has faithfully spoken to me. There is still much that I don't have worked out, and some of what I have to say may not deal directly with the issue, but I share these things with you because I have received some peace from them.

The first truth that I can apply to myself comes from John 9:4

John 9:1-4 read,

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.’”

God's glory is the purpose of our lives. God can receive glory from whatever we see happening around us. There are at least three facets to living for the glory of God. They are waiting, watching, and working. We seldom see any good while we are in the midst of tragedy. But Paul’s statement that God works all things together for good in Romans 8:28, includes sin and its terrible effects. If you could have quoted such a verse to one of the disciples at the cross, they would not have understood. They needed to wait for His glory to be revealed.

We also need to watch for God to reveal His glory. If we do not learn to watch and pray we will miss some of the most wonderful things that God does in our lives and on the earth. 

And Jesus clearly said we must do the work that God sent Him to do. God’s work does not begin with our initiative. In John 8:28 Jesus said He did nothing on His own authority. To do the work of God we must spend time with Him learning to hear His voice.

Jesus said we must join Him in His work while it is day. I strongly suspect that we are coming into the terrible times prophesied for the last days. Even if I am mistaken, God and my doctors have been telling me my time is short. I need to keep my head down and do the work given by God to my Lord and through Him to me. 

I have come to see that even though Ravi's sin dishonors God and that his world wide ministry is likely to collapse, God will yet use these things to bring glory to His name.

http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/

http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/

Website

http://daveswatch.com/

YouTube

https://goo.gl/PyzU

Amazon Author Central page.

The LORD will settle international disputes. 
All nations will beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.
All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end. 
Come, people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
ISAIAH 2:4-5 NLT 

Military solutions fail—
     “The war to end all wars” (H. G. Wells) has not yet been fought.
Political solutions fail—
     Platforms articulate high-sounding goals, yet rarely achieve them.
Economic solutions fail—
     Rich and poor live on opposite track sides, and inequity continues.
The best humans can do to fix the world’s problems is not good enough.

The return of My Son is the ultimate solution to war.
     Millions have died in the holocaust and carnage of combat;
          but when Christ puts His foot down on the Mount of Olives,
          the human situation will at last change for the better.
     Walk in My Light and do not sit out My dance in despair—live hopefully.

The love of My Son is the ultimate solution to guilt.
     His cross work makes you more than okay—you are the apple of My eye.
     Relying on the Prince of Peace, your heart is tranquilized and poised.
     Walk in My Light and do not trudge in self-condemnation—live freely.

The power of My Son is the ultimate solution to sin.
     Addiction to evil brings misery, but Christ is the Key to freedom.
     Stay focused on Him, and you will enjoy perfect peace.
     Walk in My Light and stay out of the darkness—live victoriously.

The reign of My Son is the ultimate solution to unrest.
     Dependence on technology disappoints; so does relying on money.
     Want peace of mind? Resign as General Manager of the universe.
     Walk in My Light and do not stumble in the dark—live peacefully.

(c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Day 261,  Gentle Whispers from Eternity 

I once led a Bible Study entitled “A Day of Interruptions” from Mark 5. Jesus was interrupted by a haunted person – Legion – in Mark 5:1-20, He was interrupted by a hurting person – Jairus – in Mark 5:21-24. The Lord was interrupted by a hopeless person – a nameless woman – in Mark 5:25-34, and finally, He was interrupted by a helpless person – a nameless girl – in Mark 5:35-43. As if this was not enough, all four of these interruptions happened on the same day. So last week my schedule had me reaching the two-week mark following my second COVID vaccine, meaning I was good to go – on the road again – 95% immune. I planned to attend the Globe Life Field Collegiate Baseball Showdown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (since the church had a guest preacher scheduled, I was free to attend all three Sunday games), and finally travel to Louisiana to lead a conference on Monday evening. Then came an interruption. With several inches of snow, mixed with ice, and temperatures down to two below zero, power losses all over the city, water lines breaking, I spent seven days in my house, unable to get out of my driveway. The baseball tournament was postponed, the Sunday guest speaker cancelled, meaning I was back on for preaching Sunday morning, and the Louisiana conference was move to next Monday. Multiple days of interruptions. In the midst of my private pity party, I remembered the initiatives Jesus took in the midst of His interruptions: (1) To the haunted person, Jesus offered release. (2) To the hurting person Jesus offered relief. (3) To the hopeless person Jesus offered healing. (4) To the helpless person Jesus offered food. The next time your life is marked by interruptions, remember the initiatives Jesus took with His.

Antony moved secretly through the city. He was not exactly dressed like the Jews in the city, but he was fairly certain no one would recognize him as a Roman Centurion. Still, he was looking in every direction to avoid anyone he might know as he made his way to the home of a man named John. John already knew he was a Centurion. Antony would have to be wary of him. He was a leader in the group sometimes calling itself The Way. The rapid growth of the followers of Jesus had surprised everyone, Pilate not the least. The Tribune assumed they were dangerous. He suspected that they were raising an army. Antony did not know one way or the other.  

He was now in the shabby neighborhood where John had sent word that he was living. He had no idea how to find the house. Suddenly he noticed several people approaching him. He gripped the sword concealed under his hooded cloak. They stopped about ten paces from him. He was surprised when a woman in the group stepped forward to speak.

“Are you Antonio Longinus?”

“How did you recognize me?” He demanded. 

She said, “John sent us to find you. And you seem to be the only one hiding your identity.” Antony had begun to perspire. He was relieved to throw back his hood and feel the breeze on his face.

“Call me Antony. I need to see this man called John.”

“We are all followers of Jesus. My name is Mary Magdalene. John sent us to bring you to his home.” The woman led the group. Several men surrounded Antony as they walked. They may have been trying to shield him from view, but they made him uncomfortable. Twice they changed streets. If he had not been met he would never have found the house. They stopped at a small cottage. It appeared to be well kept. The other men remained outside as Mary brought him into the house. John welcomed him and led him to a table with chairs. Many Syrian homes had low tables or mats, and the people sat on pillows rather than chairs. An older woman sat near the table obviously to listen to them. Wine was poured for both of them. When they had both sipped a little, Antony began the conversation.

“I have felt some urgency to speak with you. I know you are one of the leaders of this new Jewish cult. My men have been at your meetings on the temple grounds. They say that you are quite resolute that this Jesus who was crucified is alive. Is that the case?” 

“It is indeed,” John said. “I was one of those who spent time with Him after He arose.”

“My fellow officers think that is ridiculous.”

“If that is the case,” John said, “Why have you come to see me today?”

Antony asked, “Do you know who I am?” John did not respond. “I am aware that what I tell you next may end my chances of learning what I am desperate to know. But you will not understand if I do not tell you everything.” John nodded to him. Antony continued. “I was there when Jesus was crucified. I was the Centurion in charge.” Antony paused to consider John’s reaction. He could make little out of his expression. “I have seen many people die in war. I could not begin to know how many. And as a Roman officer I have participated in over a hundred crucifixions. No one ever died like that man. I cannot recount all the ways his death was different including the darkness and the earthquake. Aside from those things his words and his manor were not like anything I had ever imagined. 

“I had sent men to listen every time he was in Jerusalem. I even went myself when I could. I knew that you believed that there is only one god long before I came to Roman Syria. You may be aware that Jesus healed the servant of a Roman officer in Capernaum. I spoke with him and listened to what he had come to believe. I thought about what he said and I began to wonder if it were not true. I knew that Jesus talked about coming from his father. I understood that he was talking about your god, the god who made the earth and the stars. But when Jesus prayed on the cross, I got the feeling, I suppose I knew, he was really talking to God. The men with me were affected in the same way. I admitted then that only one who came from God could die like he did. I could not forget it even though I knew he was dead. 

I did not know what to think when a squadron of guards returned from his tomb terrified but unwilling to say what had happened to them. Later, representatives from the Jewish council came to vouch for the soldiers saying they had not really gone to sleep, but they needed them to say that. Why would they need them to say that unless they knew that something they wanted to hide had taken place at the tomb? I continued to wrestle with these things not knowing what to do about it. I have heard that you say he is somehow alive again. And I thought if he was a god, or as he seemed to be saying, the Son of God. . .” Antony fell silent.

John said, “You seem to have concluded much on your own. What do you need me to tell you?”

Antony said, “I don’t know what to ask. I suppose I should start with something I think Jesus taught that made little sense to me when I heard it. I need to know about forgiveness. I need to know if I could ever be forgiven for crucifying the Son of God.”

John said, “I think you need to know why Jesus died.” Antony frowned but did not speak. John continued, “You mentioned that you heard Jesus pray from the cross. Do you remember what He prayed?”

“One of my men speaks enough Aramaic that he told me the meaning of the loudest words he prayed. He said they meant something like, ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’ Antony trembled at these words.

John said, “That is important. I will come back to that in a minute. Can you remember anything else He prayed?” Antony thought a little longer and shrugged as much to shake off some of the emotion that threatened to drown him as it was to say that he did not know. John said, “You said you knew Jesus taught about forgiveness. Do you remember anything He prayed about forgiveness while He was on the cross?”

Antony thought for a moment and said, “‘Father, forgive them.’ When he said that I think he looked at the men mocking him. He certainly looked down at me.”

John said, “I think you know or at least suspect that I was there that day. When Jesus said that, He also looked at me.”

“At you? But you were not mocking him. You did not put him on that cross. His blood could not have spilled on your hands and tunic.”

John continued, “Jesus taught us about our need for forgiveness. One of those times He said to the crowd, ‘I will soon go to Him who sent me, and you will die in your sins because where I go you cannot come.’ Jesus taught us that we are under a greater domination than that of Rome. All people are slaves to sin.”

“Antony said, “I am not sure I know what you mean.”

“I mean that sin has its grip on your heart. You have sinned all your life and cannot keep from sinning. You not only need forgiveness for crucifying Jesus, but for all the things you  have done that were wrong.”

Antony was silent until he could control his emotions. Then he said, “I know very little about the laws of your people and your god. You seem to believe that everything I do from working on Saturn’s day to missing your feasts are sin. I am sure some think it is a sin to be a Roman. Your god will surely not condemn me for all those things.”

John nodded. “I understand. But you do believe that some things are right and some are wrong, don’t you? I suspect you know there is such a thing as evil in this world.”

“I suppose I believe that,” Antony said. 

“And you have done things that you knew were wrong.” 

Antony nodded. “You are right, though I never thought of those things until we crucified Jesus. Now I have trouble sleeping.”

John paused a moment and then said, “What most sticks in your mind about being near Jesus. How did He make you feel?”

Antony said, “That is a difficult question. At the cross or from before? 

“Either,” John said.

“As we were crucifying him, I guess I felt guilty even though I was doing my duty.”

“What made you feel guilty?”

“I was thinking, ‘This man could not die like he did if he had ever done anything wrong.’ I think the people in the crowd must have felt that too, even as they mocked him.”

John said, “As you watched Him die with His clothing, His dignity and eventually his life stripped away, you couldn’t help seeing that His holiness remained. Do you know what that word means?”

“I know a little of how the Greek religions use the word.”

John explained, “Our Scriptures teach that holiness is absolute righteousness. This means more than not doing evil. Jesus said, ‘My Father is with me because I always do what pleases Him.’ But God could not be with us. None of us is holy. And if we are not forgiven, we will die in our sins and stand before a holy God. Jesus who always did what pleases God, was crucified in our place. He was rejected by God for us. He died to pay the penalty for our sins. And He rose from the grave to reconcile us to Him forever.”

“And that includes a Roman soldier?” Antony asked.

“That includes all of us. Those of us who recognize that Jesus was God with us, will not die in our sins.”

Antony said, “I need to think about this. I don’t think you know how much believing this will cost me.”

John said, “I think you have enough to digest from our talk. But I would be willing to meet with you and talk more about Jesus. I know you still have many questions.”

“That will not be possible. I am in danger from this meeting. If we began to meet regularly I would probably be put to death as a traitor. And besides, I am being transferred. I don’t even know where I will be sent.”

Before Antony could dawn his disguise and leave, John said, “You were able to understand all this about Jesus because God has been speaking to you. You came here because He drew you. Jesus told us He is the light of the world. Believing in Him begins to make sense of everything. Wherever you go you can ask God to speak to you. He will teach you. Before long many of us will be sent to places all over the empire. You will hear of us again.

The seed of his story came from John 8:28.

Lord Jesus, forgive us and transform us in Your holy presence.

http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/

http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/

Website

http://daveswatch.com/

YouTube

https://goo.gl/PyzU

Amazon Author Central page.

                                                     Set me as a seal upon thine heart . . . for love is strong as death.
                                                                                 SONG OF SOLOMON 8:6  KJV


Once upon a time—
     Before I whispered stars into being, locked planets in proper orbits,
          designed intergalactic traffic patterns,  set sun and moon in place,
          painted hopeful sunrises and victorious sunsets,
          or suspended the big blue marble you call home in space—
          I loved you with an everlasting love.
     I am the God with a heart—I am Love.
     I love you with a love that began eons before you did.
     My love for the world and for you is the greatest love story ever told.

It is a true story—no truer words were ever spoken than My promises.
     I am constructing far more than a honeymoon cottage.
     Heaven on earth will materialize—your home will not disappoint you.

It is a sacrificial story—no one ever loved you like My Son Jesus.
     He proved the depth of His love for you at a place called Skull Hill.
     Crucified by hateful hands, Jesus loved the world to His final breath.

It is a tender story—you are engaged to be married to your soul’s Lover.
     My Holy Spirit entering your heart was My first kiss.
     Cascading through your inner being is a Fountain of eternal love.

It is a hopeful story—I seal your heart in love, so you are Mine eternally.
     The King of hearts will host the Lamb’s celebrative wedding banquet.
     Nothing in the world can keep heaven’s dream for you from coming true.

It is a sweet story—your Heavenly Bridegroom’s love encircles you.
     My everlasting arms embrace you and nestle you near My heart.
     My love is infinitely patient, incredibly kind, and perfectly jealous.

It is a never-ending story—My love for you will last forever.
     I have always loved you, and I always will.
     Accept My love—and live happily ever after.

                                  (c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond 
                         Day 260,  Gentle Whispers from Eternity 

Warner Sallman  Head of Christ 

You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love,
beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.
SONG OF SONGS 4:7  THE MESSAGE

 

My heartfelt desire for you is that you reflect My beauty in every way.
     My heart yearns for you to be holy and pure in thoughts and deeds.
     My dearest dream for you is that you become like My Son.

Christ gave Himself for you to cleanse and beautify you by His lifeblood.
     He paid an awful price to free you of sin’s addictive, destructive power.
     His challenging teaching is the highway to holy joy.
     His life is the example you must follow to make My dream come true.

Ultimately you will stand in My Presence—at last like your Lord.
     Until then, I expect you to struggle daily to become more like Me.
     Otherwise, My dream of love will turn into a grotesque nightmare. 

One day I will make earth heaven and restore it to its intended joy.
     One day I will establish a Kingdom where sin is an impossibility.
     Today I am hoping you will do a little dreaming of your own—
          attempting what some call an impossible dream—living like Jesus.

I will never stop working in you until you become what I want you to be—
     unblemished by sin, unwrinkled by sloth, absolutely perfect.

Let Me tell you more about My dream for you—
     that your smile would be strong with joy—unruffled by skepticism,
     that your face would be radiant with hope—unfurrowed by worry,
     that your eyes would be sparkling with peace—undisturbed by fear,
     that your chin would be high with dignity—unintimidated by anxiety,
     that your heart would delight in My company—undistracted by rivals,
     that your mind would revel in My words—unspoiled by verbiage,
     that your behavior would reflect Christ’s lifestyle—unaltered by ego,
     that My dream would become your own—undestroyed by ambition.

I will never give up on My dream for you—you must not give up either.
     Struggle on toward Christ’s perfection—sweet dreams.
                                          

                                   (c) Pastor Johnny R. Almond
                           Day 259, Gentle Whispers from Eternity 

We came away from our study with Miriam stunned. For months several of us had been gathering at her home for study. Each week she would talk about something Jesus said. One of us might be puzzling over something Peter or one of the other apostles said about Jesus at the temple where the church was meeting. She explained and helped us see Him like we never had before. We always came away loving Jesus more than we could ever have imagined. We thought she must have been a lady of wonderful upbringing. I assumed she understood that God was our Father because she had such a wonderful earthly father. But this afternoon she told us about how she first came to know Jesus. We were all shocked at what she told us about her life.

She said she had grown up in the home of a strict Pharisee who never showed her any kindness. She was hardly more than a child when he gave her in marriage to an older man who treated her harshly. They had not been married long when he began to be unfaithful. He would be away from home for weeks at a time. She often did not have enough money to maintain the household. Then he would return with his clothes smelling of wine and perfume. 

During this time a young Pharisee befriended her. When he discovered that she did not have enough money to buy food he helped her. He began to see her everyday. He told her he was not married and that in the eyes of God she was not really married either because her husband was unfaithful. He continued to see her some even when her husband was not away. He convinced her that he would take her away from her husband and care properly for her.

He came to her home one day when her husband had beaten her. He spoke softly and comforted her. He carried her to her bed and began to treat her wounds. She told him about all the injustices her husband had foisted upon her. And they wound up in her bed. Suddenly a group of Pharisees burst into the room shouting and calling her a wicked woman. The man she had trusted joined the others in accusing her. She was hardly able to grab a covering for her body before they dragged her out into the street. They brought her to the temple courts where Jesus was teaching. 

Standing her before Jesus they said, “This woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses in the Law commanded us to stone such women. What do you say?” Instead of answering them, Jesus squatted down and began to write in the dirt. For some time they kept demanding that He answer them. 

Mariam told us, “Jesus stood up again and said, ‘Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone.’” She said, “I was terrified that I was going to be stoned to death right there on the temple grounds. Jesus then stooped back down and wrote in the dirt again. Then one of the older men who had dragged me from my house turned and walked away. Another left, and another. When Jesus stood back up all of them were gone.”

We were all silent as Miriam looked around the room at us. “Jesus asked me, ‘Is no one left to condemn you?’” Tears were running down all of our cheeks when she told us her answer. ‘No one, Lord.’ Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.’”

After I had caught my breath I asked, “What did Jesus write in the dirt?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I was too upset to read. I don’t think I even looked.” And she explained. “Of course, I do not know much about it. But later that day I was listening to His teaching and He told the crowd, ‘I am from above. You are from below, from this world.’ I immediately thought His stooping down to write. I thought then that Jesus had been demonstrating that He had to come down to our level to communicate with us. But that cannot be all He was saying.”

When she thought we had begun to understand Miriam continued, “One of the first things Jesus said to the crowd after saving me from the stoning was, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ I determined right then that I would follow Him wherever He was teaching.”

One of us said, “I wonder what made those self righteous Pharisees leave.”

Miriam answered, “They must have become aware of the absolute holiness of Jesus. No one could pretend to be righteous for long in His presence. Least of all me. I was overwhelmed by His holiness. It was very hard for me to hear Jesus say, ‘Go and sin no more.’ I knew that was impossible. I had been  thinking of all the sin that I had been pushed into by my father, my husband, and my hard life. But as I stood in His presence I knew that the problem was in my heart. That was almost enough to make me run for my life. But I didn’t think I could run far enough to get away from the guilt I felt before Him. I needed forgiveness. I stayed to hear whatever Jesus had to say. 

He addressed those of us who believed. “If you continue in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free.” Some of the people in the crowd complained that they were not slaves to anyone. Jesus explained that anyone who sinned became the slave of sin. That was my trouble. I was a slave to my sin. And I began trying to memorize as many things that Jesus said as I could.”

One of the girls asked, “Is that different now that the Spirit has come?” The church in Jerusalem was started as the Holy Spirit miraculously came to rest on those of us who followed Jesus.

Miriam said, “No not really. The Spirit does many things in us. But the main thing He does is explain to us what Jesus has said. The Spirit always makes us love Jesus more and more. Some of you have said coming to listen to me makes you love Him. That is not my doing. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in us when we gather here.”

This story is taken from the 8th chapter of The Gospel of John.

Lord Jesus, we tremble in your holiness. 

Help us saturate our lives in the love and power of Your words.

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THE FREEWILL OF MAN

Some years ago I was fellowshipping with a group of pastors. One of them spoke of a common belief that I did not think could be found in the Bible. As a joke I said, “Do you have a favorite Scripture on that?” He had a great answer. “I think that is in the same place that teaches the freewill of man.” And you can look throughout the Bible and not find a direct statement of the freewill of man. However, there are some Scriptural arguments for the free will of man. 

We can start with the command to Adam and Eve. They were clearly given a choice to obey or not obey what God told them. They did not obey. The Bible teaches that their sin brought great calamity upon the earth. This also points out that free will is not unlimited. We do not have the ability to unmake some decisions. I can choose to jump off a cliff. But once I have jumped, I cannot decide not to fall. Their decision could not be undone once they had disobeyed.

All the commands of scripture depend upon the ability to decide to obey or not. There are many examples in Scripture where people were rebuked for making foolish or evil decisions. This would be meaningless if people had no choice in these matters. Believing in Christ and yielding to His will clearly demands a decision. We must choose to give our will to Him. This makes great sense to us as well as being obvious in Scripture.

However, the Bible presents this as more complex. And while this complexity is often repugnant to us, it fits human experience. We cannot overcome sin in our lives without God’s intervention. Simple decisions and will power will not keep us from stumbling. And coming to God at all requires God’s help. Let me point out some things Jesus said. In John 6:37 He said, “All that the Father gives me* will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” In John 6:44 He made a stronger statement. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him*.” This is not the only place Jesus spoke words like this. This seems to indicate that our believing is a work of God. I cannot answer all the questions related to this. But while our will is always involved in turning to God. The will to turn to God is complex. People are foolish to speak of freewill as if such decisions were made in a vacuum. Spiritual, emotional, and worldly forces bombard us when we struggle with coming to Christ. There are decisions that we cannot flippantly decide to make. We are bound by sin. In John 8:34 Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Even as believers we continually need God to free us from sin’s bondage. Without God working in our lives we can never even want to turn from our selfish sinfulness. Those of you who are offended by the concept of predestination spoken of in Romans 8:29 and elsewhere, need to recognize that God is above time. He knows all things, and even hears and answers prayer from eternity past present and future. I am always uncomfortable when people speak lightly of freewill as if there are no parameters. We must make decisions. But many of them are not simple. This includes most spiritual decisions. 

*Italics mine

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As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

The Feast of Booths had begun before Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. He hid in the crowds listening to the people, discerning what His Father was doing in their hearts. Right in the middle of the celebration He went up into the temple and began to teach. His authority was so obvious that no one challenged him. They marveled at His teaching. 

They said, “How has this man come to know so much without studying in one of the rabbinic schools?” 

Jesus proclaimed, “My teaching is not my own, but His who sent me. If you want to do God's will, you will know whether my teaching comes from God, or whether I teach on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own seeks to glorify himself. But the one who speaks for another has no reason to lie. Moses gave you the law and none of you keep it. So why are you trying to kill me?” The people looked nervously around and saw several Pharisees in the crowd. No one dared admit that they wanted to kill him. The leaders of the people had publicly turned against Jesus at a previous feast when He healed a man on the Sabbath.

Someone in the crowd, possibly a Pharisee, shouted, “You must have a demon. Who is trying to kill you?” Most of the people trembled at this denial. Jesus ignored the comment.

“You perform circumcisions on the Sabbath for the law to be observed. Why are you upset that I made a man’s whole body well on the Sabbath? Do not judge by mere appearances but by what is true and right.”

The people began to wonder why the Pharisees had not said more. Some of them began to say, “Is this not the man they want to kill? He is speaking openly and the rulers do nothing to stop him. Could our leaders know in their hearts that he really is the Christ?”

Others were saying, “But we know where this man comes from.” They had heard rabbis teach that no one will know where the Messiah comes from when he appears. 

Jesus responded to this as He taught in the temple. “You know who I am. And you can know who sent me by what I do. I did not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, but you do not know Him. I know Him for I came from Him.” The tension continued to build. The only reason no one laid a hand on Him was because His time had not yet come.

Yet many of the people believed, saying, “When the Christ comes, will He give us more signs than this man?” When the Pharisees heard the people say this they reported to the council. And the chief priests sent officers to arrest Jesus. 

An eerie feeling filled the temple as Jesus said, “I will only be with you a little while. I must return to my Father. You will seek me and will not find me. For where I am going you cannot come.” The people questioned one another about this. “Where was he about to go? The whole crowd was mesmerised as Jesus promised those who would believe that their souls would cease to hunger and thirst. He said rivers of living water would flow from within them. 

As the feast came to an end the officers returned to the council. The chief priests demanded, “Why did you not arrest him?”

The officers looked sheepishly at one another. The ranking officer among them said, “No one ever spoke like this man.” 

The Pharisees scorned them. “Have you been deceived as well? This rabble who do not know the law are cursed.” When Nicodemus, one of their number, said that they had never really given Jesus a hearing, they scorned him as well. “ Are you from Galilee too?” they asked.

This story was taken from John 7:14-46

Lord, you speak to us like no one ever has. Saturate our lives with your teaching,

so that rivers of living water may flow from us.

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If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great. 
PROVERBS 24:10 NLT

High-pressure situations give you a chance to experience My grace.
     Trouble is good for you—if you get to know Me better in the process.

It is not a question of if, but when trouble will come your way.
     When it does, you will unravel if you depend on your own ingenuity.
     The Empowering One living within you is your Secret of survival.
     You are ready for anything the world throws at you in His strength.

Attempt to steer your own course when you encounter high seas,
     and your small boat will be demolished on the rocks.
     Let Me have the helm, and you will celebrate tranquil harbors.
     Grace-less, you cannot do anything; grace-full, you can do everything.
     Rely on My omnipotence—I will see you through any emergency.
     When you are exhausted, focus on Jesus and you can finish the race.

I have been managing the universe for eons, without fainting.
     I have untiringly directed intergalactic traffic patterns, through all time.
     When you are tired and worn out, My strength is still available.
     When your energy is depleted, Mine is undiminished.
     Though you are weary, you do not have to give up if you trust Me.

Adversity University graduates honor students.
     Frightening thunderstorms paint beautiful rainbows.
     Tough situations develop uncompromising character.
     Crises prove your mettle.
     Running the Faith Marathon trains you to persevere.
     Stress keeps kites flying high in the air.
     Headwinds lift wings to get aircraft off the runway.
     A crucible transforms crude ore into pure gold.
     Coal under pressure changes into diamonds.
     Grace under pressure leads to glory.

                                           

                                            (c) Johnny R. Almond
                               Pastor, Hull's Memorial Baptist Church 
                                Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity 

After the large group of disciples deserted him Jesus ministered only in Galilee for some time. He did not go at all into Judea because the Jewish hierarchy were threatening to kill him. With the Feast of Booths at hand Jesus went back to his childhood home in Nazareth. There he found his brothers and sisters and their families gathered. His oldest brother, Joseph, welcomed him. 

“Jesus! We are glad to see you. We are preparing to go to Jerusalem for the feast and were expecting to see you there.”

Jesus said, “I sent my disciples on to Jerusalem with their families. I think I would rather stay here where it is quiet.” 

His brother James said, “We have been talking about this, Jesus. You need to go up to Jerusalem. We hear that you are doing amazing miracles. We still cannot figure out how you could have produced wine when they ran out at that wedding in Cana. Some people are saying you turned the water in the stone jars into wine.” 

Joseph said, “Listen, if you really do these things, you need to go where your followers will see what you do. No one who is trying to become prominent should work in secret.”

Jesus answered, “You don’t understand the situation. Timing is crucial for me. The time is always right for you. The world cannot hate you. Your lives reflect the world around us. The world hates me because everything I do and say testifies that their works are evil. You go on to the feast. I am not going up to the feast with you. My time has not yet fully come.”

After the rest of the family left Jesus began to pray. After a few moments he heard someone talking outside the house. He went to the door and saw his mother and his youngest brother talking to his Aunt Susanna and her son David. As Susanna and her son turned to go Jesus stepped out to meet Mary and Simon.

“What is happening? Why have you not started for Jerusalem?” Mary sent Simon into the house with directions to get some things. 

To Jesus she said “We were all meeting at the synagogue to travel together. And Susanna's son Jesse arrived with a donkey cart. That meant we could take a few more things for the journey. Susanna and David returned for a skin of wine. And I came back for some blankets and a round of cheese. Are you sure you won’t go with us to the feast?”

“No, mother. I cannot go until the timing is right.”

“I suppose I understand, son. But you said your time had not yet come at the wedding feast. And God still honored what you did.”

“I know mother. But I would not have done anything then without my Father’s prompting. I am afraid my brothers did not understand that at all.”

“I know, son. They never understood your motivations. Your father and I have not always understood. But your brothers and sisters were not shown God’s plan by an angel as Joseph and I were. It was more than your brothers could understand, when you stood in the synagogue and said the prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled in you. It is difficult for them to believe the brother that they have known all their lives came from God.” 

Jesus nodded his understanding. “Be assured that my Heavenly Father is speaking to them. In time, they will come to believe.” As They were talking Simon came out of the house loaded down with blankets, and Susanna and David came back along the road. 

Mary put her hand on his arm and said, “It is not for me to say, but I think God’s time for you is very near. You must pray about coming to the feast in order to be ready when your time does come.” Jesus said goodbye and returned to the house to pray. 

After a while, he too arose and started north on the road to Jerusalem. He did not join a group for the journey. He entered the city secretly to observe what was being said. The people were all whispering about him. But no one dared speak of Jesus openly because the chief priests and rabbis were so angry.

Some of the people were saying, “He is a good man.” 

Others said, “When the messiah comes will he show us more signs than this man?”

Still others argued, “It doesn’t matter how many miracles he does, he is leading the people astray. Don’t all of our leaders oppose him?”

This story was based on certain things in John 7:1-13.

Father, the world hates us more and more as we draw nearer to You. Help us be sensitive to Your timing and your prompting in our lives.

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                                                                Choose a good reputation over great riches,
                                                for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold.
                                                                              PROVERBS 22:1 NLT    


Choose reverence, not egotism—gain a reputation for godliness.
     If you were self-made, that would relieve Me of a great responsibility!
     No matter what others do, make the personal choice to serve Jehovah.

Choose carefulness, not carelessness—gain a reputation for prudence.
     See the “bridge-out” sign; take precautions, or you will be sorry.
     Watch your step—a roaring lion is on the prowl for victims to shred. 

Choose worship, not arrogance—gain a reputation for humility.
     Fear Me, then you will not have to fear disgrace or death.
     Draw close and I will be real to you; honor Me and I will honor you.

Choose generosity, not stinginess—gain a reputation for compassion.
     Feed the poor, for someday your stomach may be growling in hunger.
     Scatter seeds of kindness everywhere and the harvest will be joyful.

Choose purity, not lust—gain a reputation for fidelity.
     Run from temptation—never saunter through hell’s red light district.
     Shun pornography and all sexual sin—do not desecrate My sanctuary!

Choose trust, not doubt—gain a reputation for faith.
     Lean your complete personality on Me in absolute confidence.
     Then My power, wisdom, and goodness will see you through anything.

Choose calm, not anger—gain a reputation for peacemaking.
     Avoid short-tempered fools—run with dogs, and you will get their fleas. 
     Troublemakers are the Devil’s children; peacemakers are Mine.

A sterling reputation is better than winning the lottery.
     A good name is more valuable than money invested in the bank.
     Choose wisely—and you will earn a choice reputation.
 
                                

                         (c)  Pastor Johnny R. Almond
               Day 255, Gentle Whispers from Eternity 

(It has been 4 weeks since I posted one of these stories based upon the signs of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. This story is actually a continuation of a supposed gathering of the disciples who were at table when Jesus first instituted the Lord’s Supper, now a full year later.)

We sat together for a while after we had eaten, all of us reluctant to leave the fellowship. Thomas spoke up.

“I’ve been thinking about those men who quarreled with Jesus the day after He fed the multitude. They all would have said with force that they believed in Jesus. But Jesus knows our hearts. He knew they didn’t really believe. Their faith was in what they wanted. They only believed in Jesus as long as they thought they could control Him. It desturbed them when He said He was the Son of God. He was more than someone they could use to get whatever they wanted.

Philip spoke up. “I suppose the same was true of Judas. I for one never saw that he was about to betray Jesus. But Jesus knew.”

James (the younger) said, “When Jesus gave us the power to heal and cast out demons, he didn’t exclude Judas. I partnered with him when we went from town to town. Judas did everything Jesus told us to do. That included miracles that I hardly had enough faith to attempt. 

Andrew said, “I remember Judas questioning some things Jesus did, but I was questioning too. He once said he wondered how Jesus came from heaven if his parents still lived in Nazareth. But he immediately said, even though we didn’t understand many things, he knew we could trust Jesus.

Matthew said, “When all the others had abandoned Jesus, as John reminded us tonight, Judas stayed with us. He seemed to be quite as stirred as I when Peter said to the Lord, ‘You have the words of eternal life. And we know and believe that you are the Holy One of God.’”

Peter nodded and said, “Of course, Jesus often warned us that one of us was going to betray him. I think Judas must have told himself that if Jesus really knew that he was the betrayer, He would have sent him away. I certainly would have. For that matter, even though I declared then that we believed, I may have been the weakest of all. On the night of the supper he told me I would deny him. And even after I did, he brought me back.”

Thomas said, “All of us wondered why Jesus did not send us away, me most of all in the end.”

John said, “His clearest word about Judas was on the night of the supper. But even though I was leaning on Jesus, I didn’t understand what He was saying. In fact, when He said it was the one sharing the plate with Him, I was afraid it was me. I do think He was warning all of us that our faith was weak.”

Peter said, “I think Judas may have understood on that night. By then he must have thought he had to go through with it. Of course the devil had him by then. This reminds me that Jesus clearly told us that we need God working in us to believe. We cannot do it on our own. I suppose God had to be working in us from before we were born, for any of us to trust Him.

The idea for this story came from John 6:60-71.

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If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,
how much more true that the wicked and the sinner will get what they deserve.
PROVERBS 11:31 NLT
 

What you think, you become.
     What you speak echoes in your own soul.
     What you do ricochets to help or to haunt, to bless or to curse you.

I wrote the principle of cause and effect into the code of the universe.
     I wove the law of the harvest into the moral fabric of life.
     You invariably reap what you sow.
     Want a different crop? Plant different seed.

Proverbs state the case succinctly.
     Humility precedes wisdom—conceit sets people up for disgrace.
     Honesty builds a good reputation—treachery is self-destructive.
     Godliness lifts the spirit—evil burdens souls with crushing guilt.
     The quest for Christlikeness frees—selfish ambition traps.
     Uncompromising righteousness safeguards—wickedness troubles.
     Careful speech enhances friendship—careless words break hearts.
     Kindness nourishes life—cruelty is deadly.
     Integrity will not go unrewarded—perversity will not go unpunished.
     Believers look forward to heaven—skeptics have hell to pay.
     Openhearted generosity increases wealth—stinginess impoverishes.
     Searching for goodness leads to joy—seeking evil leads to despair.
     Trusting Me brings security—trusting money fosters insecurity.
     Saints will be recompensed—sinners will get what is coming to them.

Every action rebounds with an equal and opposite reaction.
     This is true in the moral realm, not just in physics.
     Things do not happen by chance—what goes around, comes around.
     Your circumstances result from your character and conduct.
     Virtue leads to victory—vice leads to defeat.
     These connections are evident now—or will be crystal clear someday.

    
                                           

                                              (c) Johnny R. Almond 
                               Pastor, Hull's Memorial Baptist Church 
                               Author,  Gentle Whispers from Eternity