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July 22 “Noah”

Noah

Many people, when they consider the stories of Noah and Lot, get distracted by details we cannot know and questions we can never answer.
If we take Jesus’ the words as He spoke them, we can avoid those dead-end discussions. Jesus is talking about the future, not the past. Moral and social conditions prevalent in those days will return in the last days. When we see these things, we can know that Jesus is coming soon.

The Days of Noah
Jesus said this:

“…as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man…”

What was the moral and social climate in those days and how will it be replicated in the Last Days? The desires of the flesh were the driving issues in life: eating, drinking, and sex. The spiritual realities of life were deemphasized to the point of exclusion.

We live at the end of what is called Modernity, the modern age. The term many use is Post-modern. This is the age of the physical and the mental with the issues of spirituality shunted to the periphery. Officially, that is according to science, secular education, and contemporary philosophies, man is not a spiritual being at all. He is an animal. This idea has so many expressions:

  • There is no such thing as an eternal spirit.
  • We and everything around us are the results of blind chance.
  • There is no God, no judgment, no afterlife.
  • The only reality is what we see and measure.
  • Truth and morality are what we want them to be.
  • Life has no meaning beyond the meaning we give it.
  • We are creatures of instinct. Our physical urges cannot be controlled.
  • Ends always justify any means necessary for self-fulfillment.

The results of such beliefs are everywhere. The Days of Noah have returned. It is more important for us to understand these things than to puzzle ourselves over how many animals there were in the ark, etc. Jesus is coming soon!

The Days of Lot
Instead of pouring out judgment on the whole sinful world, the Lord judged these two cities for their wickedness. Jesus said that these sins would also return in the Last Days, and they have. This is the age of pleasure.

  • Whatever the body craves is the order of the day.
  • Right and wrong do not enter into the consideration of celebrants today.
  • Lust is the driving force, lust in all its forms and expressions.
  • The creativity of man, which is a gift from God, has fallen so far that artists in all media compete to create the most vile entertainments. Corruption sells. Profanity pours from ruined hearts.
  • Laughter is no longer a medicine for the soul; it is a device for the derision of all that is holy.

In the words of Isaiah, “…he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.”

He came. He’ll come again.
We must consider these unpleasant things. They, too are His story for the story does not end with the four Gospels, or the Book of Acts. It continues into the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book in the Bible. His return will be a time of separation. Those who believe will be taken and those who do not will be left behind. Today we can see the extreme relevance of the ancient words of Jesus about the days of Noah and Lot. They have, indeed, returned. Let us be ready for we know that soon Jesus also will return as promised.

Scriptures:
Luke: 17:26-37
And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
Isaiah 59:12-15 NKJV
For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And as for our iniquities, we know them: In transgressing and lying against the Lord, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to be ready when You return. I want to be found faithful in the work You have given me to do. I see this world and its wickedness. Holy Spirit, help me to never be comfortable with the iniquity of this age. May profanity always wound my heart. May obscenities offend my spirit. May I weep over the moral state of the world around me, the injustice, the hate, and the pain and suffering they cause. May Your story always be on my lips. Your are the only hope, Lord Jesus! Even so, Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Song:
Even So, Lord Jesus, Come
Words and Music: Terry MacAlmon

Even so, come Lord Jesus, come.
Even so, take Your Bride away;
How my soul longs to be with You my Lord.
Even so, even so, come Lord Jesus, come.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
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July 21 “Rejected!”

Rejected!

In baseball, there is a play called the “sacrifice.”
With a bunt or a ground ball or a high fly ball to the outfield, a batter gives himself up as an out to advance a baserunner or to score a man from third base. One player suffers a loss to advance the winning cause of the whole team. Just so, in life there are sacrifices, temporary losses that eventually secure a larger win.

The Sacrifices of Jesus
In the earthly ministry of Jesus, there were many, many victories. He began in His home region of Galilee teaching and working miracles and multitudes followed Him. Of course, there were local rejections:

  • There was that awful day in Nazareth where the people in His own synagogue rioted and threatened to throw Him off a cliff, and there were
  • those foolish town elders in Capernaum who sent Him away after He delivered the town demoniac, but who’s counting, right?

For the most part, like the 5000+ plus multitude who filled their bellies in the wilderness, people went away healed and happy. The victories outnumbered the sacrifices.

We should not forget the constant rejection of Jesus by the leaders of the people; it was nearly unanimous, with only the occasional priest or Pharisee or lawyer who expressed interest in the Good News of the Kingdom of God. As Jesus said, He had come to divide those who believed from those who refused to believe.

The Road to Jerusalem
In Dr. Luke’s narrative, Jesus turned away from the adoring crowds and turned toward the Cross. This was His sacrifice play, a personal loss of great and terrible cost for the good of all people who would believe in Him. He tried to prepare His men for the horrors ahead. It was not an easy thing to do. For one thing, the “Day of the Lord” has many seemingly contradictory aspects. In this place, Jesus refers to His return with the image of a flash of lightning that illumines the whole world from horizon to horizon. In other places, He depicts His return as a “Thief in the night.” (Luke 12:39-40) Our job is not to choose one or the other but to believe both.

A line had been crossed.
With this turn in the journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus crossed a line; things were going to be different from there on to the conclusion. Rejection would increase and acceptance would retreat. For a while, Jesus would remain with them every day, teaching, healing, touching, loving them at close range. A time was coming when His presence with them would be spiritual, not physical. There were so many details about the New Covenant in His blood but they would have to wait until the extreme rejection did its work. He tried to warn them:

“The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man,
and you will not see it.”

In those days, it was crucial that Christ-followers know the facts and know them well. It was a day of revelation and deception: the Truth revealed by the Spirit and horrible lies marketed by the merchants of hell. It was up to believers to fill their hearts and brains with the truth about Jesus and to walk close in His steps.

Those days are these days. We celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus in the light of His ultimate victory.

Scriptures:
Luke: 17:22-25
Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are with me today! Not in the way that You were with the Twelve as You walked the dusty pathways of human existence, but in spiritual ways that are just as thrilling. You promised never to leave me or forsake me and it is so. Following You, I have a story to tell, Good News to share, and a healing touch to administer to the people in my path. Many will reject You and Your story but some will believe and come alongside me to share this journey to glory. I, too, will be a willing sacrifice to see the ultimate victory—the Thief in the Night and the heaven-to-earth stroke of lightning. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!

Song:
Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus
Traditional

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
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July 20 “Within”

Within

Long before maps and GPS, the Kingdom of God could be located with ease.
It is not a continent or country. It is not an island or mountain range. Its borders do not change as armies march over them. The Kingdom of God has a native tongue—Truth! There is a national culture—Spirit!

When will the Kingdom come?
Everybody wanted to know—the disciples, the critics, the people, everybody. This, of course, was the direct result of all the “Messiah” talk. When Messiah comes, he will overthrow the Romans! It will be a restored Kingdom of Israel like David, like Solomon, the world bringing tribute to Jerusalem. The Temple would be restored to the center of the world as it should be. The Chosen People of God will rule the earth in benevolence and peace with Messiah on His rightful throne. The nation of Israel will be a kingdom of priests unto the whole world, bringing all the Gentiles to the knowledge of God, as promised at Mt. Sanai. (Exodus 19:6)

How do we find the Kingdom?
This Kingdom of God was in everyone’s best interest but there was a problem.

“The kingdom of God does not come with observation…”

Normal processes of inquiry do not reveal the time of the Kingdom. Friends and forbears may share anecdotes, inspiring us with their experiences but testimonies do not locate the Kingdom for us. The Bible is all about the Kingdom of God, providing us with its borders of truth so that we know when we have transgressed into error and exited the Kingdom. Awaiting the revelation, we must see into the spirit realm for this Kingdom is not of this world. It stands pristine, unblemished by sin, pure and centered on the Throne of God where angels declare in unceasing song, “Holy, holy, holy!”

The New and Living Way
When the Pharisees asked this of Jesus, the plan for its revelation was in progress. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, the courts of men, the cross, and to an empty tomb. He would open a “new and living way” to God, replacing the old and dying ways of types and shadows with present realities.

  • The Living Word would apply the truth of the written Word.
  • The one Final Spotless Lamb would take the place of the countless animal sacrifices.
  • The heavy veil in the Temple separating God from the People of God would be forever rent.

So where is this Kingdom?
It dwells within us, beyond the mountain ranges of faith, across the tossing seas of circumstances, over the River of the Spirit and into the realm of the Splendor of His Holiness! Without fail, we locate the Kingdom of God within our hearts. This is the unchanging truth.

  • The Kingdom of God is in the Church because Jesus reigns in the hearts of believers.
  • Until we draw our last breath on earth Jesus reigns in our hearts.
  • Until Jesus reigns for 1000 years of peace, He reigns in our hearts.

So, the Kingdom of God within us is “already, but not yet,” as theologians like to say. It is and will forever be a Kingdom of Peace. Here and now in our hearts and soon in the whole world.

Scriptures:
Luke: 17:20-21
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today, our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom and the power and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen!

Song:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Traditional

King of kings and Lord of lords,
Glory! Hallelujah!
King of kings and Lord of lords,
Glory! Hallelujah!
Jesus, Prince of Peace!
Glory! Hallelujah!
Jesus, Prince of Peace!
King of kings and Lord of lords,
Glory! Hallelujah!

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
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July 18 “Duty”

Duty

There were times when the Disciples asked Jesus for one thing and received something else entirely—or did they?
It is easy to understand why the Twelve would ask Jesus to increase their faith. His faith never wavered while theirs seem to come and go. On one assignment, as when they led the 70 disciples, demons were subject to them and sicknesses fled at their touch. At other times, demons were intransigent and immovable at their command. Why? It was a mystery that made life a public risk. It is one thing to have a demon depart at one’s command and another thing entirely to have one snarl back and stay put. So, they came to Jesus:

“Increase our faith.”

More Mustard Seeds
Of course, when they asked Jesus a question, the answer was sure to be an adventure they did not expect. He reviewed the lesson of faith the size of a mustard seed, so tiny yet so powerful. This time, instead aiming this faith at a mountain, it was a nearby mulberry tree. With mustard seed faith they could command it to be uprooted and transplanted in the sea.

Yes! That was it. That was the kind of faith they wanted more of, the spectacular, the crisis kind of faith that overcomes obstacles in memorable moments! But, Jesus spoke of a different kind of faith, an ordinary faith, a daily, moment-to-moment kind of faith.

The Faithful Servant
Jesus asked them a rhetorical question about servants, slaves really, and their masters.

  • When a servant comes in from a day in the fields, hot, tired, spent in the service of his duties, does he kick off his sandals and join the master at the dinner table for a relaxing meal prepared by other servants? That was a foolish notion.
  • When the servant comes in from a day in the fields, he is commanded to prepare a meal for the master and then eat later if there is anything left.

Does the master commend the servant for this second shift? Of course not. He was only doing his duty and had earned no such commendation.

The Duty of Faith
Mountains and mulberry trees get cast into the sea when mustard seed faith meets a crisis, but an every day kind of faith is the duty of the servant of the Lord. There are no crowds looking on, no accolades to be won, and no celebrity to be gained. There is just work, the work of the Kingdom of God. The work of both the field and the kitchen requires faith of mustard seed proportions, too.

Duty-faith is routine not remarkable, expected not extraordinary, and it is on-the-job and not optional. Each of us has a set of duties to perform each day. These things–Worship, Word, and Prayer–must be our daily tasks. They are not spectacular but they are powerful, essential, and they enable success, public and private, throughout the day.

The Witness of the Spirit
These spiritual duties connect our human spirit with God’s Holy Spirit resulting in blessings that are remarkable, extraordinary, and on-the-job. We have within us, not just the words of Jesus, “Well done!” or “She has done what she could!” “You’ve done a beautiful thing to me.” but the witness of the Spirit that we are not just His servants, but His family! And so we cry, “Abba Father!” And as King David advised Solomon, we simply “do the work.”

Scriptures:
Luke: 17:5-10
And the apostles said to the Lord, So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'”
Galatians 4:1-7
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
1 Chronicles 28:20
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there is work to be done for You today! I want to be faithful and do this work. I don’t seek adoring crowds or approving experts, I simply want to serve You in the ordinary things of everyday life. I sense Your Holy Spirit speaking in my spirit that I am Your child, a trusted member of Your family, a player on Your holy team. Help me find the courage and strength to do the work today! For Your Glory, Lord. All for You! Amen.

Song:
Every Day with Jesus
Traditional

Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.
Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more.
Jesus saves and keeps me. He’s the one I’m working for!
Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
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The Path of Life: Unanswered

As this Fathers’ Day closes, it is good for us to enter into our night’s rest remembering the faithfulness of God, even though some things for which we have prayed have not yet come to be. https://tinyurl.com/yf46wrst

Integrity:   Tested

Unanswered

We live with unanswered questions—things we wonder about but never understand sing an unending drone tone in the back of our minds. Little things almost unrelated to the question will bring the unanswered question to the front of the mind and, turn it over how we might, no answer is found. Something distracts us and we go to whatever is next hoping that we will understand it. We don’t want to think of things without answers, problems with no solution, dilemmas that defy our wisdom, and life-riddles that we cannot seem to solve.

Believers in the Lord Jesus also live with unanswered prayers. It is not a secret nor is it a shame that we have prayed for things and not received them. It is just a fact of life—of Christian life.

This fact itself is an unanswered question. The Scripture, even the words of Jesus, could not be clearer or less ambiguous. In Matthew, Mark and several times in John, Jesus said something to the effect that all we have to do is ask and we shall receive. Later James and John qualified this promise by adding the provision that you must ask according to God’s will.

But “God’s will” is really not an answer to the problem of unanswered prayer. When we have prayed for something that clearly is the will of God and there is no answer, does that impugn the character of God?

The enemy, who is the accuser of the brethren, will certainly seize the unanswered question with an accusation that God is not really to be trusted. He does not deal evenhandedly with people: some people get answers to prayer and others do not.

This accusation that God is not really good and doesn’t necessarily tell the truth goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. It was a lie then and it is still a lie. Perhaps that is why the highest moments of glory in the Old Testament seemed always to feature a song about the eternal goodness of God—“The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever!”

Come to think of it, that is still the theme of worship.

It is Satan’s business to falsely accuse God as well as us. But Satan is and always will be liar.
So what do we do about unanswered prayer? When Jesus said “Ask!” He was really saying, “Ask and keep on asking.” In other words

  • Don’t give up on prayer!
  • Have faith in the Character of God the Father, “He knows our needs!”
  • We are in God’s hands and He is not all perplexed at what to do next.
  • Examine the unanswered request to see if it is consistent with the Word of God.
  • Search your heart and place your motives before the Lord for His approval. You may be surprised at what the Spirit reveals.

The reasons for unanswered prayers may be many:

    • It is out of God’s will for us.
    • It is delayed waiting on God’s time.
    • It is denied because of danger God sees that we do not see, or perhaps,
    • It is denied because God has something better for us.

Passing the Integrity Test

Meanwhile, remember all the answered prayers, recount the faithfulness of God, and recite the promises of God. These things build your faith while you are waiting for the answer to come.

You’ll find your answered prayers far outnumber the unanswered ones.

Prayer: Lord, I remember so many prayers that you have answered for me. I rehearse in my heart the scriptures that declare Your faithfulness to hear my prayers and supply me with what I need to do Your will. Help me rest in that faithfulness all through this night. In Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Scriptures

Read Psalm 35 NIV
“Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn. Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother.”

John 14:13-14 NIV
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

James 4:2-4 NKJV
Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

1 John 5:14-15 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.

Songs of Hope

We’ll Talk It Over
Words and Music: Ira Stanphill

1. Tho’ shadows deepen, and my heart bleeds,
I will not question the way He leads;
This side of Heaven we know in part,
I will not question a broken heart.

Refrain:
We’ll talk it over in the bye and bye.
We’ll talk it over, my Lord and I.
I’ll ask the reasons – He’ll tell me why,
When we talk it over in the bye and bye.

2.I’ll trust His leading, He’ll never fail,
Thru darkest tunnels or misty vales.
Obey his bidding and faithful be,
Tho’ only one step ahead I see.

Refrain

3. I’ll hide my heartache behind a smile
And wait for reasons ’til after while.
And tho’ He try me, I know I’ll find
That all my burdens are silver lined.

Refrain

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place
Text: Eliza E. Hewitt; Music: Andre Gretry

1. My faith has found a resting place, Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One, His wounds for me shall plead.

Refrain: I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me.

2. Enough for me that Jesus saves, This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him, He’ll never cast me out.

Refrain

3. My heart is leaning on the Word, The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior’s Name, Salvation through His blood.

Refrain

4. My great Physician heals the sick, The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed, For me His life He gave.

Refrain

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June 6 “Prophets”

Prophets

For those who are sensitive to the voice of the Spirit of God, no day is just another day.
Every day holds some hidden delight to be enjoyed, some enrichment of the soul available to anyone who really watches and listens.

In the Temple
Two ancient servants of God were allowed living quarters somewhere within the Temple courts. They had earned these accommodations through faithful living and a singular focus on Messiah.

  • Simeon had a promise from God that with his own eyes he would see Messiah. Every day he surveilled the Temple court where babies were dedicated. As his years piled up, his expectation also grew. Any day might be the day!
  • Anna, a widow of some 84 years and a prophetess, lived in the Temple courts as well. She was renowned for her spirituality, fasting and praying continually for Messiah to come. She too, watched the place of dedication every day knowing that one day He would come.

It is inevitable that two such Temple fixtures would have known each other. They must have crossed paths every day, encouraging each other to be faithful in all things. Messiah is near!

The Dedication of Jesus
Eight days after His birth in Bethlehem, Jesus was presented for circumcision and dedication in the Temple. Before they reached the appointed place, Simeon met them and Anna followed at an appropriate distance. The old man took the child from Mary’s arms without the slightest protest from Joseph—he was learning to let God handle things! Joseph and Mary took a step back as Simeon took the Baby Jesus and lifted him toward heaven. Just as Zacharias had done for his son, John. Prophecies began to flow from Simeon.

Simeon’s Song
Regular visitors to the Temple found the old man mildly amusing and he regularly drew a small audience. All the priests and their wives knew of Simeon’s promise. He began this way:

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word”

His audience stopped to listen to the strange old man. Strange old men speaking to the People of God was part of their heritage.

“for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

A child had never been so tenderly and securely held by an old man as was Jesus that day. Reluctantly, Simeon handed Jesus back to Mary. As he did, Simeon prophesied about the ministry of Jesus

“Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign which will be spoken against…”

In midsentence, the Spirit spoke to Simeon about Mary. Her life was not to be an easy one.

“…yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also…”

Anna’s Song
As Simeon handed Jesus back to Mary, Anna began to sing, her thin soprano lifted high above the din of the Temple courts. Her words were not recorded for us except to say that she gave thanks to God and encouraged others to pay attention to this child. Redemption for Israel would be found in Him.

Scriptures:
Luke: 2:21-38
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord “), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, remind me from time to time that the whole story is not right in front of me. You are at work in unseen ways and always to my benefit. Joseph and Mary were simply doing what they were supposed to do and You sent them two surprise messengers to confirm them in their faith in You. Help me watch today for those You send to me. Let me hear Your voice in their words and take the strength and hope I need for today’s obedience. Amen and Amen.

Song:
Run, Run, Run!
Words and Music: Jimmy and Carol Owens from “The Glory of Christmas”

The Spirit stirs within my heart, He whispers in my ear.
He sings at last, at last He’s come. The Christ of God is here.
Run, run, run, run to hold Him in your arms!
To look into salvation’s eyes and kiss God’s baby Son.

O be consoled Jerusalem, your waiting time is done.
God’s glory rests on Israel. The Light of the world has come.
Run, run, run, run to hold Him in your arms!
To look into salvation’s eyes and kiss God’s baby Son.

Within a tiny frame of flesh all strength and wisdom lie.
The mighty host and lovers of God who bow before Him cry:
Run, run, run, run to hold Him in your arms!
To look into salvation’s eyes and kiss God’s baby Son.

Come see the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings.
The One whose birth joined heaven and earth as Prophet, Priest and King.
Run, run, run, run to hold Him in your arms!
To look into salvation’s eyes and kiss God’s baby Son.

<em>Semper Reformanda!</em>
<em>Stephen Phifer</em>
</div>
<em> © 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved</em>

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Uncategorized

November 30 “Follow”

Follow

The call to follow Jesus and be His disciple is not a call to comparison.
Is this why Jesus repeatedly questioned Peter about the measure of his love? Our love for God is not measured by that of others. Nor is this love measured against the love of things. The measure of our love of God is our love for His People. The Gospel calls all people to love God but many will not. We must love all people but our embrace of the Church is a deeper one. “Feed My sheep—tend My lambs—feed My sheep” must ring in our ears and propel our hearts.

John and Peter
As the morning sun continued its climb, Peter saw John standing by. His mind flashed back to their last supper and he remembered John leaning on Jesus. Did Peter envy the relationship John had with Jesus? Something prompted his question.

“But Lord, what about this man?”

It is a sad truth than men compete with each other and it may have been so with these two. Jesus had just predicted that Peter would someday follow Him in crucifixion. Peter wanted to know how John would fare in the days to come.

Jesus would entertain no such competition.

“If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

God’s plan for John was of no consequence to His plan for Peter. Peter’s job was to follow Jesus. Period. End of sentence. It is the same for us.

Rumors
Unauthorized versions of this conversation went out misquoting Jesus to say that John would not die until Jesus returned. This is not what He said; Jesus said, “If…” We know that John was the last of the disciples to die. He lived to see a vision of the end-times and relate that vision to us in the Book of Revelation. In fact, the full record of the Jesus Story as told by John could be considered that book and the three letters John wrote to the church as well as his gospel account.

John’s Summation
There was so much more that Jesus said and did than could ever be written in a single book. Our job and our joy is to read and read and read again the primary resources that tell us the Jesus Story. The whole Bible is about Him.

  • He is the Living Word discovered in the supernatural pages of the Written Word.
  • He is seen in type and shadow in the Old Testament Law and Histories.
  • He is seen in what are called “theophanies” where the “Angel of the Lord” or some other divine, pre-incarnate Son of God visits the earth.
  • He is celebrated as “The Lord” in the Psalms and other poetic books.
  • He is the animating spirit of the prophets as they call the nation back to God and to His Covenant.
  • He is Messiah, predicted to come and arriving on the scene, as the Old Covenant changed into the New Covenant.
  • He is the hero of the Gospels and the book of Acts.
  • His ways are the thesis of the New Testament letters.
  • He is King of kings and Lord of lords in John’s Revelation.

Our job is to know and to follow Jesus.

Do not be ashamed!
Do not shrink back from the Jesus Story. It is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. Read it again and again. Seek the Christ of the Story, follow Him in all things. He wants to walk with you and in you by His Spirit. Live His story and others will find Him, too.

Scriptures:
John 21:20-25
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Romans 1:16-17 NKJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Psalm 40:6-8 NKJV
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
Hebrews 10:5-7 NKJV
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come — In the volume of the book it is written of Me — To do Your will, O God.'”
John 6:28-29 NKJV
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Prayer: 
Lord Jesus, as the Psalmist and the writer to the Hebrews said, You have come “in the volume of the book written of You.” Thank You for words, for language that narrows truth down to a human tongue and for Your Word, which transcends all human language or thought. Though Your ways are indeed higher than mine and past finding out, Your Spirit enables me to understand holy things and, more than that, to appropriate them into my life. Tune my heart to heaven today so that I might sing with angels as I walk this earth with You. Amen. Alleluia!

Song:
Wonderful Words of Life
Words and Music: P. P. Bliss

1. Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty:

Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.

2. Christ, the blessed One, gives to all, wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the laving call, wonderful words of life;
all so freely given, wooing us to heaven:

Refrain

3. Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Uncategorized

Thursday Trials

Trials

Irony of ironies: Jesus the Good, Jesus the Righteous, Jesus the Just—standing in the judgment halls of bad men, sinful men, and unjust systems both political and religious. 

Has the world ever seen such restraint on the part of any defendant?  Not only was He innocent of the charges made against Him, He commanded an unseen corps of warrior angels, ten thousand in number, ready to spring to His rescue with the slightest signal from their Master.  But they were not given the order to rescue, to defend, or even to secure Jesus from further injustice.  I am sure angel-heads shook in dismay.  What was the Father’s plan? Why was such a thing happening before their eyes?  If angels have ever breathed hard, it must have been then; angel-muscles rippling with angel-weapons tightly gripped and at the ready.

There was to be no rescue.  Jesus was taken before the religious authorities, Anna and his son-in-law, Caiaphas, the High Priest.  The whole governing council of the Jews gathered for an illegal middle-of-the-night trial.  Their witnesses could not get their stories straight as Jesus stood before them as silent as a lamb before the sacrificial knife.  Finally He was asked to testify against Himself which he readily did: “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  

There followed sudden cries of official outrage and the requisite moans grief that could barely mask their inner delight at His words.  Tearing their robes in dramatic demonstration of their political advantage, they declared Him death-worthy, slapped Him around, taunted Him and sent Him to Pilate.

Pilate had several official duties he would rather start his day with than another Jewish rabble-rouser, but he had little choice to go along with these fanatics in their bloody, arrogant (one God!) religion.  His job was to keep them happy.

Weary from the abuse, the chains, and the lack of sleep, Jesus was dragged before Pilate.  He must not have looked like much of a threat to Rome.  Pilate tried to make sense of it but it made no sense at all. When accused by the Jews, Jesus did not answer.  It was clear to Pilate the man was innocent of any crime against Rome.  Pilate took Jesus inside away from the crowd and asked Him directly, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus told Pilate about His Kingdom—it was of a different sort—a peaceable Kingdom of might and power and justice—not a Kingdom of this world—a Kingdom built not on lies or power but on truth.  For ages we have been intrigued by Pilate’s answer, “What is truth?”

The Governor tried to release Jesus but the people would have none of it.  They wanted His blood, even if charged to their own accounts. In an ironic act of blasphemy the Children of Abraham confessed they had no King but Caesar.

Pilate gave in to their demands and turned Jesus over to the soldiers. He went by the book ordering Jesus to be whipped.  The soldiers were as creative as they were brutal.  They put a purple robe on Jesus and wove a crown of thrones and rammed it onto His head so recently bloodied by the sweat in the Garden of Prayer.

Angels wept.  The disciples hid.  Pilate washed his hands. The rabid crowd raged.

The soldiers led Him away to be crucified.

Scriptures:

Lam 2:18 NIV

The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, he has let the enemy gloat over you, he has exalted the horn of your foes. The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. O wall of the Daughter of Zion, let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest.

Matt 26:57-27:31

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled… Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”  “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied… Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.  Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”…  Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.  

John 18:28-19:18 NIV

Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor…

Pilate … summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”  Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”  “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”  They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.  Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.  The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.

…  When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”  As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”…When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. … “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”  From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free…But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.” We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.  Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me walk worthy of You. (1 Thess 2:11-12 KJV)

Semper Reformanda!

Stephen Phifer