Seizing the Kingdom

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

One of Jesus' sayings it's hard to understand is Matthew 11:12: " From the days of John the Baptist
until now the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force."  (NASB)

I'm still not understanding that saying, which came to mind as I was pondering what Jesus taught
about the Kingdom of God.  But there are some things about it I'm storing for future meditation.

First, that Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven as present on earth.  That's where John the Baptist
was. That's where Jesus is as he speaks,  That's where the men who wish to seize the Kingdom are.

Second, that He speaks of a specific period of time regards the Kingdom on earth: " From the days of
John the Baptist until now..."  So I'm not sure how much we can rightly characterize any other time as
being one in which "violent men take  [the Kingdom]  by force."

It's worth noting, and pondering, the parallel saying of Luke 16:16: "The Law and the Prophets were
proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the Kingdom of God has been preached, and
everyone is forcing his way into it."

Jesus seems to emphasize in the latter the "dispensational" change from "the Law and the Prophets"
to "the gospel of the Kingdom of God."  But in both verses, the action of men towards the Kingdom is
the same: that men "seize it" or "enter it by force" is the same Greek verb, biazetai.  And maybe that
verb was the most surprising thing about Jesus' teaching.

One lexicon says that the Greek verb is used "both times positively" in these verses.  Strong's agrees
that it means "...the most ardent zeal and the intensest exertion" by those who desire to enter into the
Kingdom: and that any sense of the Kingdom's being forcefully taken by its enemies "...agrees neither
with the time when Christ spoke the words, nor with the context."

(I'm curious now why the Bible's translators found "violent" a suitable English word for Jesus' charac-
terization of those determined to enter the Kingdom ?  They had to have known that, in English, the
primary sense of the word is of a "hostile take-over.")

The word translated in Matthew as "violent men" (biastai) is related to the verb in both verses.  Again,
the lexicon gives this unique occurrence of the word the sense of "forceful," and Strong's glosses it as
one who "...strive[s]...with the utmost eagerness and effort."  And Luke may present an illuminative
difference between the two verses, in putting no emphasis at all on the character of those who lay
hold of the Kingdom: rather, "everyone" is.

But Jesus' other teaching about entering the Kingdom comes to mind, where He says people must enter
"like a child" (Luke 18:17, Mark 10:15, Matthew 18:3).  It's another strike against the "enemy" reading
reading of biazetai.

My 10-year old grandson came to mind.  We've only recently gotten to see him for any length of time, and
at the moment he's all about crawdad-traps.  I'm not quite sure how that became his obsession, or why.
I had to think about catching crawdads to eat when I was a kid, but I think he's wanting to sell them to
local bait-shops.

When we saw him, he showed me online the wire crawdad-traps his stepdad had ordered for him.  I told
him how impressed I was with their simple functionality, and that they were fairly inexpensive.  Told him
too that some people build their own crawdad-traps: and he had to hear what those looked like, and how
they worked.

Immediately he was determined that we build our own crawdad-traps.  I couldn't dissuade him with any
arguments: that his "professional" traps were already on their way and would be here within days, that
it was a waste of money to buy wood and wire to build our own, that the wire "professional" traps were
more durable than any we could make, that I'm the most unskilled carpenter there could be...

When his siter was driving him home, he was able to persuade her to stop in a hardware store and buy
him wood and wire-mesh to build his own traps.

My grandson gives me some insight on desire that's simultaneously "violent" and child-like.  He's com-
pletely, maddeningly, single-minded in what he wants.  He won't be turned from it by any other consid-
erations.  And he wants everyone around him involved with him in it.

"The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"Hard to Know Truth" ?

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

It's not the first time I've heard it.

To something I'd posted on facebook, about some idiocy the current president or his faction had
said or done, a supposed-Christian "friend" of a "friend" opined that it was hard to know for sure
what was true.

I think it was the kind of response that was intended to signal disagreement, when a supporter
of the current president can't really DENY the stupid thing he said or did.  A lame answer, but one
by which a "conservative" can keep his ideological credentials unsullied.  (For "conservatives" well
know that the rest of the pack will eat them alive the minute they deviate from the True Faith.)

I've heard it before . . . but for some reason it particularly enraged me this time.  I'm afraid I let the
gentleman have both barrels.  I responded to his comment,

"Can't agree.  Jesus said "I AM...The Truth..." (john 14:6). Jesus said satan is "...the father of lies..."
(John 8:44). I John 2:21 says "no lie is of the truth," There's NO possibility of confusing lies and Truth:
God is not a God of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33)."

In the past, I'd always thought the "hard-to-know-what's-true" folks were speaking honestly: that they
wanted to know what's true, but weren't sure how to find out.  So some years ago I'd put together a
list of a half-dozen reliable fact-checking websites where people can begin their own research, and
I'd pass it on to anyone who complained it was hard to know what's true, and any friend who'd been
deceived to post or e-mail an untruth.

With the blessed exception of one long-time friend who's a pastor, I don't think anyone I provided with
those fact-checking tools bothered.  From their subsequent and continuing facebook-posts and e-mails,
it was clear they did no fact-checking of the memes and opinions they put forward as true, and wanted
their "friends" to believe were true.  I have to conclude they had no real desire to know what's true.

I have to conclude the complaint that "it's hard to know what's true" is exactly what the facebook "friend"
intended, an excuse...for being too lazy to find out truth, or for not loving truth enough to seek it out, or for
believing a lie instead of truth.

The latter I think is rather frequent.  When Jesis says "I AM The Truth," it means He IS...if I may so put it...
the Reality in which we live (and He also says He IS "The Life.").  It's hard to miss Him.  Believing Reality
is other than He IS...a lie...can only be a deliberate choice-of-will.

God harshly judges those who "suppress the truth in unrighteousness," because "God made it evident to
them" and within them (Romans 1:18,19).  They are consequently "without excuse" (v. 20).  It's not merely
God's righteous judgement on those who worship idols, but on all who self-will to believe what is not true:
the climate-change deniers and  Holocaust-deniers of our time, and those who claim the current president
is a Christian.

Even in the simplest terms of human discourse, why should we believe the much-(self) vaunted "Evangelicals"
who claim to "know Jesus," and from the other side of their mouths excuse their believing lies because "it's
hard to know what's true."  God says they are "without excuse."

God promises His most furious and harsh judgement on those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
I quite doubt coronavirus is that: at least yet, or completely.  But whatever, and whenever, God determines,
His judgement is always righteous, and entirely right.  And none can argue that he was unable to know what
was Truth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Christian Culture

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Simple definition: culture is the "customs, arts, and social institutions" of a people.  Much could
be added to that definition, I'm sure.  But in essence, what people do, and the ways they do,
constitute their "culture."

It's common today to hear Christians denigrate our secular "culture," and contrast themselves...
flatteringly, of course...with it.  True, as far as it goes.

Scripture certainly draws an absolute line between walking in God's ways, and "turning to our
own ways."  In Isaiah 53:6's prophecy of Jesus, the latter is the very definition of "sin: "All we
like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid
on him the iniquity of us all."

But the contrast Christians today draw between themselves and "the world" is often a dishonest
one.  There's a self-conscious (and let's face it, often-combative) "Christian culture" in America
today which defines itself in terms of human culture, especially human politico-social culture.

A friend told me once he considered that "no one can be a Christian unless they're a conservative."
My friend (and still my friend) is not an ignorant nor a stupid man: and he's probably a good deal
more honest about things than most of his faction.  It was nonethesless stunning to hear the core-
doctrine of "Christian conservatism" so blatantly proclaimed.

Which raises the question: if "Christian conservatism" so proudly contrasts itself in human politico-
social terms, against other human politico-social "cultures"...how is it in any way godly ?

The only contrast that truly exists is between God's ways and the "way that seemeth right to a man"
(Proverbs 14:12).  And no greater contrast could exist than that between the Kingdom of God Jesus
proclaimed, and the "people-rule" worldview of today's politico-social "Christian culture."

Indeed, "Christian culture" may the the enemy's most successful lie going.  The deceived "Christians"
ensnared in it believe, and assure themselves, they are doing God's work, God's way.

How then will people, so deceived they believe their own ways are God's ways, ever realize they must
repent of their ways, and be saved ?

As Proverbs 14:12 warns, "the way that seemeth right to a man" is, at its end, the "way of death."


                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Healing: Making Excuses

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

I'm continuing to meditate on our brother Tim's series "To Live Is Christ."  As he writes there,
healing all comes down to "God's word and God's will:" and Tim powerfully affirms that God says
He desires to heal, and will.

Read here.

We probably all have people we're praying healing for: so this is God's good news to us !...if we
will receive it.

What's painfully clear is that we often choose not to receive it.  The first response of those who
hear that good news... including ourselves...is that it's "TOO good to believe."

I find it interesting that we justify our unbelief as "religious:" that if we are not healed it shows
that healing is not "God's will."  The scriptures Tim posted, showing what God says about that,
should emphatically convince us otherwise.

But most interesting is that our "religious" excuse lays claim to the greatest truth of "I AM"...
His absolute sovereignty.  We pride ourselves that our belief in God's sovereignty is so great
we can even forgive Him not doing what He says He wills to, and promises to.  Proud to show
our great love for Him, we want to give God an excuse for not healing.

Does "absolute sovereignty" mean God can choose to not heal ?  Of course.  But He says He
chooses to.

And let's be honest about our excuse.  We don't actually make it to forgive God (could anything
be more perverse than the idea we should, or have standing to, forgive God !?!?); we're actually
trying to excuse ourselves our unbelief.

Will we receive what our sovereign King wills and promises, when we entrench ourselves in a
dishonest (not to say "blasphemous") excuse for our lack of faith in Him ?

A father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, and the boy began "terrible convulsions"
in Jesus' Presence.  The father begged Jesus, "...if You can do anything, take pity on us and
help us !"

Jesus said, " 'If you can ?'  All things are possible to him who believes."  Perhaps our first prayer
for healing must be as honest and desperate as the father's plea to Jesus:  "Immediately the boy’s
father cried out and said, 'I do believe; help Thou my unbelief !'..."  (Mark 9:17-27)

That seems the first prayer we should pray for healing.  But we can't pray it until we stop deceiving
ourselves about our own unbelief.


                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Do-It-Yourself Prophecy

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

It's certainly not the full-blown charismata of "prophecy"...not the spiritual gift of devoted listening
to God, and being commissioned by Him, at the time He directs, to publicly announce His words
with a authoritative, "Thus sayeth the Lord God..."

But any Christian who truly knows God, and knowsHis ways in their reality, can, in some small part,
"predict" the future.  God will do what He says He'll do: and anyone who knows what He says He'll
do and believes Him, can "predict" it with complete certainty.

God says He will not be mocked.  When the self-exalting "son of the devil" (John 8:44) who is our
current president announces to the entire world that Jesus' teaching is false, we can "predict" that
God will swiftly vindicate Jesus.

That much is certain.  The only question is how many spiritually-deceived Christians have gone over
to the enemy because of their politics, and will be standing with him when God pours out His wrath.


                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

False "Patriots"

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

I've often wanted to ask supporters of the current president, "Would you make a business-deal
with this man ?"  I presume most of those folks are smart enough to know better, and love their
money too much to want to lose it.

I've often thought I'd like to ask those folks if they'd want their daughter to marry the man.  I think
most of them probably love their daughter, and want her to be safe and happy; and would NEVER
want her to marry the current president.

Yet his supporters say they want the man to lead our country, set our nation's course, and determine
America's fate, because they "love" America.

The current president's supporters make themselves willfully blind to reality: but everyone who's less
self-deceived than they are can see that their "patriotism" is hypocrisy and lies.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Satan Stalks the National Prayer Breakfast

Date:  6 February 2020

Place:  National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, D.C.

Theme:  Jesus’ Teaching to “Love Your Enemies”

The current president says he doesn't agree with that teaching, and uses the occasion to attack and
threaten those he (in his self-proclaimed “great and unparalleled wisdom”) considers his enemies.

Christians, wake up !!  You cannot smile and applaud satan’s counter-“gospel,” like the “Christians”

in this photo, and claim that you are Jesus’ follower.

President Addresses National Prayer Breakfast                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                              

The Wisdom of Timeliness

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Derek Prince Ministries' letter this week, and Brother Derek's "legacy" teaching it introduced,
seemed so immediate and personal to me that I've been able to think of nothing else !

The teaching letter was on "reigning with Christ:" and after citing the scriptures which tell us
we will, Brother Derek talked about how we prepare ourselves for that high calling God has
prepared for us.

The first preparation was self-examination on this question: "Is God's Purpose Our Purpose ?"

I haven't read any further yet.  God impressed on my mind that that's not only a true teaching,
but also one I need to respond to now, before going any farther.  We have before us every day
the negative example on that score of "conservative Christians;" so God also impressed on me
that I need to examine all the ideas by which, and for which, I live and work.

(And "God's purpose" is of course the central point on which Brother Derek's seminal teaching
of 40 years ago, "Agreeing With God," was structured.)

So I've really only read in full the introductory letter.  And I note too that it offers another free
pamphlet of Brother Derek's teaching called "Take Heed That You Are Not Deceived."  Nothing
could be more relevant to my recent Bible-study readings and meditations on I John, and their
parallels in Matthew 24: for in the latter, Jesus' discourse on the end-times, and repeatedly
warns the disciples (and us) to not be deceived.

The introductory letter goes on to say the free pamphlet "...expands on one of Derek's key points:
developing a love for truth:"  which is probably my greatest touchstone of all.

Nothing could be more immediately applicable to this time than loving truth, and being on guard
against deception.

And the introductory letter mentions in passing a verse I'd never noticed, on "timeliness:"

Among those who joined David when he was hiding out from King Saul were the sons of Issachar,
"...men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do" (I Chronicles 12:32).

And that verse immediately resonated for me with Jesus' vehement words to the people of His time,
for their failure to understand the times, and what they should do:

"You hypocrites !  You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but
why do you not analyze this present time ?"  (Luke 12:56)

AMEN !! 

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
 

Accountability

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Musing about the Watergate hearings at the time they were happening, I became convinced that
accountability is a "Christian principle."  That was when I was a relatively-new believer.  Having
now spent almost a half-century in this walk, the way I'd put it is that accountability is inherent
in God's covenant with His people, sealed in Christ's blood.

But America's current rulers continue to show that they don't much believe in accountability.  They
certainly don't believe that the authority they hold is God's Authority, given to them by God, for
them to "minister" the same way God does: doing good to their people, and punishing evil-doers
(Romans 13:1-4).

What America's current rulers say they believe instead is that they are accountable to "the people"
of America.  Democracy, that "the people rule," implicitly denies God's rule, of course: but even in
that contrary human system of government, the traditional belief was that rulers must do good to
their people, and punish evil-doers.

And that is the covenant America's current rulers have taken an oath to perform.  Professing their
adherence to that human system, our current "conservative" rulers have extolled the traditionalist
principle that, in "government of the people," those who govern the people are accountable to the
people, to do the peoples' will.

But in the continuing impeachment trial, "conservatives" continue to show their hypocrisy toward
their professed belief.  Yesterday, by refusing to hear known evidence of their president's wrong-
doing, in his trial for wrong-doing; when over 70% of "the people" say that evidence must be heard.

It's clear our "conservative" rulers consider themselves unaccountable to God, claiming their authority
is not established by Him.  Clearly they don't hold themselves accountable to truthfully stating their
political principles.  And it's crystal clear they don't believe they are accountable to "the people."

Most clearly of all, they believe they are accountable to their president: a man whose belief is that he
is completely unaccountable.  Even more than his lackeys, the current president shows by his every
deed that he despises God's Authority, and recognizes none other over him.  Our "conservative" rulers
obsequiously demonstrate their absolute agreement with him.

The current president famously said during his 2016 campaign that "I could stand in the middle of
5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose voters."  His words evince two spiritual propo-
sitions, both false: that he is accountable to no authority, and he can consequently get away with
anything he chooses to do.  The current ruling faction continues to signal their full agreement with
him.

He and his current ruling faction will be greatly surprised, and very sorry, when they finally learn that
God says otherwise.  But I think it's notable too the contempt for "voters" ("the people") that the current
president showed in his comment: that Americans are either too stupid to know the difference between
right and wrong, or too morally neglectful to care.

I know some of the current president's voters.  And in this single comment, and this one comment alone,
the current president has told the truth.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Righteousness exalts a nation

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.  (NASB)

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.  (NIV)

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.  (KJV)

Righteousness [moral and spiritual integrity and virtuous character] exalts a nation,
 But sin is a disgrace to any people.  (Amplified Bible)

Doing what is right lifts people up. But sin brings judgment to any nation.  (NIRV)

A nation is exalted by the righteousness of its people, but sin heaps disgrace upon the land.  (TPT)

Doing what is right makes a nation great, but sin will bring disgrace to any people.  (NCV)

Uprightness raiseth up the nation; sin maketh people into wretches.  (Wycliffe)

Living according to God’s instructions makes a nation great,

but sin colors those who commit it with disgrace.  (The Voice)

Doing right brings honor to a nation, but sin brings disgrace.  (CEV)

Justice exalts a nation, but sin is a people’s disgrace.  (NABRE)

                                                                                                     --  Proverbs 14:34

I often compare different translations of the Bible, even translations I don't use,
to get the full nuances of what God says.

But whatever translation a person uses, it's clear what God says makes a nation great.

Poor America !! . . . choosing to believe politicians' lies rather than God.