Purpose of Prophecy... to Reveal Jesus

Thursday   12-31-15  (Motel 6, Roseburg, Oregon)

Scripture reading:  Rev 19 - 22

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Rev 19:10  Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, "No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." NLT

Rev 19:10 “...worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” KJV

Rev 19:10  “Worship God. The purpose of all prophecy and of all I have shown you is to tell about Jesus."  TLB

O.  The first words of this book, as written in the original Greek are “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”  It is like a title or an expression of purpose.  The King James Version is, in my estimation, the best attempt we have to follow the original script ‘word for word’.  In Rev 19:10 The Living Bible translators the above words to mean that the purpose of all these prophecies is to tell about Jesus.  Sometimes when the verb “to be” is used, the subject and object can be reversed without doing damage to the meaning.  This is what The Living Bible does for us here.  Something like “The spirit (meaning the purpose) of prophecy... is to reveal Jesus.”

A.  Evangelist Roger Houtsma was coming to Argentina for a pastors’ seminar and a stadium meeting.  When he arrived with his team at the Buenos Aires airport he surprised me with, “I am counting on you to teach a session of the seminar.”  I had previously turned him down due to my heavy schedule.  Imagining many hours of necessary preparation, I asked him, “What subject would you want me to teach on?” His answer was instant, “Jesus!  Just Jesus!”  That just happened to be my favorite subject so I took him up on it.  I’m not an expert on eschatology... nor in any other subject, but I love to preach and teach about “Jesus”. 

P.  Heavenly Father, bring me back to the central figure of Your Bible.  May my “prophesying” (preaching) be a revelation of Your Son Jesus Christ.  Fill me mouth with Holy Spirit inspired words that will draw a clear picture of Who He is, His miracle birth, His life dedicated to reach out to the needy, His sacrificial death that purchased Eternal Life for us, His glorious resurrection and His commission to His Church.  Amen.

Ralph

A Hawaiian Guitar in Heaven?

Wednesday   12-30-15  (Home in Modesto)

Scripture reading:  Rev 15 - 18

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Rev 15:2-4  They were all holding harps that God had given them.  And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your actions, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed." NLT

O.  God was handing out harps to this great international group of worshipers.  John looked on.  He may have seen many types of stringed instruments.  To him any stringed instrument was a harp. The song of Moses, who represents the Old Testament’s age of Law is now combined with the song of the Lamb who represents the New Testament age of Grace and all nations, Jews and gentiles will worship the just and true King of all nations. 

A.  The first instrument I started to learn to play was the piano... a wonderful stringed instrument.  Then when I was 16 I heard the Hawaiian guitar for the first time and wanted to buy one.  In those days my father had never heard a Hawaiian guitar played in a church.  They were used primarily for dance music.  He was not to keen on me purchasing and learning one of these.  But I was permitted to purchase a nice 6 string Gibson and matching amp that a friend had for sale.  I did not know how to play it yet, but carried the guitar and amp upstairs to me room in the unfinished attic.  I knelt beside them and placed my hands on them and dedicated them to play only music that would glorify my Lord.  That was 68 years ago... and although I am no expert, God has allowed me to make music to Him in several countries.

P.  Lord, I was only a happy-go-lucky kid when I dedicated this instrument to You, but You had helped me get my priorities right.  More recently when I asked Your permission to carry my Hawaiian guitar to heaven, I think I heard You say, “I’ve got something better than that waiting for You up here!”  I can’t wait to see what kind of harps You are handing out in heaven. What music we will make before Your throne!  Maybe we can get together a little band... and make some good new worship music for Moses’ and the Lamb’s choir.  Whatever... I know You will have glorious music in heaven.  Amen 

Ralph

Open Temple, Ark in plain View

Tuesday   12-29-15  (Home in Modesto) 

Scripture reading:  Rev 10 - 14

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Rev 11:19  Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared; there was a great hailstorm, and the world was shaken by a mighty earthquake. NLT

O.  There are only 2 mentions of the ark of the covenant in the New Testament.  One is in Hebrews 9:1-10 in which the writer describes the old covenant of limited priestly access to God and then contrasts that to the new covenant of an open access for all through Christ.  In the old covenant (testament) the ark of God, representing His Holiness in the tabernacle and later in the temple was always hidden from view behind a great thick curtain.  Now in John’s vision he sees the heavenly temple and the ark of the covenant is in plain view. 

A.  John’s vision is so powerful, so detailed and complicated that it makes my head spin.  I confess I cannot unravel its contents to set dates and times for future happenings.  Yet there are significant statements and symbols that are unmistakable.  The gospel accounts tell us the huge curtain was ripped from top to bottom the moment Jesus cried His dying words, “It is finished!”  And in that moment He purchased for me entrance into God’s Holy presence.

P.  Lord Jesus, today I have no excuse to ignore the access to the Holy of Holies, the throne room of my Heavenly Father.  Your sacrifice opened up the way for sinners to enter in where even the high priests of the Old Covenant entered with fear and trembling.  So I come, just as I am... with soiled clothing and sin-tainted soul and I rejoice to find Your covering and cleansing at the entrance... where once death was waiting to destroy me.  Thank You, Jesus.  No curtain!  John could see the ark in plain view inside the open temple!  Amen.

Ralph

John stood before the Throne and wept

Sunday   12-28-15  (Home in Modesto) 

Scripture reading:  Rev 5 - 9

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Rev 5:4-5  Then I wept* because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals." NLT

I wept and wept NIV  And I wept much KJV  Then I began to weep greatly NASU Then I wept with disappointment  TLB  And I began to weep greatly  NASB

O.  The NLT translation simply says “...I wept...”  All 9 other translations I have in my computer say something like “...I wept and wept...”  “... I began to weep greatly...”  John, the author, wasn’t just shedding a few tears or sobs here.  He was weeping and weeping... weeping greatly.  Obviously he was seeing and understanding more than he has been able to communicate here.  Perhaps John had seen that this scroll represented the destiny of all mankind, sinners bound for judgment without mercy... all of us without hope.  But then into this hopelessness steps the Lamb of God, looking all beat up like dead... yet very much alive.  He is found worthy to take the scroll of coming judgment, open it and put into action God, the Father’s plan of redemption.  John dries his tears as he sees the Lamb.  Hope rises as God’s grace and mercy is applied where only judgment was deserved.   

A.  Were it not for the Lamb of God that was slain and rose again in victory with ugly scars eternally marking his crucified and risen body... were it not for His loving sacrifice, I would be weeping and weeping greatly, too... for a terrible eternity of judgment would be awaiting me, and all of us undeserving sinners.

P.  Father, I cannot claim the slightest worthiness of Your grace and mercy.  I know what I deserve if should I stand at Your great judgment seat.  But I need not weep.  I can now rejoice for the Your Sacrificial Lamb has taken my sentence of guilt.  He was pure and sinless, but He took my beating, my condemnation and lifted me out to safety before I could fall in the horrible pit prepared for the devil and his angels... far from Your Holy presence.  I thank You again, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Ralph

“Look, Jesus is coming in the clouds!”

Sunday   12-27-15  Felton, California (Home in Modesto) 

Scripture reading:  Rev 1 - 4

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Rev 1:7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him — even those who pierced him.  NLT

O.  The people of this globe are going to experience some powerful scenes somewhere in God’s perfect timing.  Galatians 4:4 tells us that the newborn Savior was born exactly on time.  The prophecies had been made many centuries earlier and many, even among the religious Jews, had probably lost all hope of the coming Messiah. 

A.  Now John, in his Revelation of Jesus, is encouraging me to be ready.  He is coming again on the clouds, just as He had left.  Many of us understand that first there will be an earlier moment when all those how are ready will be caught away to meet Jesus in the air.  But we all must be ready however He chooses to show up.

I was serving as Assistant Pastor with Rev. Mel Woods in Orangevale, CA.  John, the father of a young family had just been saved out of a life of drunkenness.  I had him and several youth in my car along with my wife, Frances.  It was night.  I remember we were heading south on Hazel Avenue less than a mile from the church.  Somebody happened to be looking up at the sky and yelled, “Look, Jesus is coming in the clouds!”  I looked and saw.  I pulled the car off the road and screech to a stop.  We all jumped out of the car.  There high in the sky was a bright opening in the clouds and a shining figure standing on the cloud.  We stood in awe for a minute or so and the cloud formation changed slightly and we suddenly realized that this shining “figure” was the tip of the point of a bright crescent moon.  The clouds had hidden the moon, all but this tip.  False alarm!  Yes, but one of these days He IS coming back. 

P.  Even so come, Lord Jesus!  You knew that we would all think You are delaying Your second coming.  Centuries have passed.  You are always coming “soon”, but I guess “soon” means one thing to me and another to You.  May my heart always be looking for You, waiting, anxious... for I am confident that in Your perfect timing You will come back.  Amen.

Ralph

Balance and Symmetry

Saturday   12-26-15  Felton, California (Ron and Elisabet’s home)

Scripture reading:  Ps 117   Ps 119:81-176   2^nd John   3^rd John

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Ps 117:1-2  Praise the LORD, all you nations.  Praise him, all you people of the earth.  For he loves us with unfailing love; the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.  Praise the LORD!  NLT

O.  That’s the whole psalm!  And if you count all the chapters in the Bible, you will find that there are 594 chapters before this tiny chapter and 594 chapters after it.*  It is also the shortest chapter in the Bible.  The whole Book before and after revolves on this axle... All the nations and all the peoples of the earth are called to praise the LORD for He loves them all and He remains faithful forever!

A.  We know that the chapters and verses of the Bible were not made by God, but certainly when those chapters were made, nobody was counting them.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  I find balance and symmetry in the Word of God from the beginning to the final ‘Amen’. 

My little Felipe claims he set out to memorize the whole Bible.  He wanted to know how it started... so I gave him Genesis 1:1.  Then he wanted to know what the end was like so he would know it when he got there.  I told him, “It ends with ‘Amen.’  So he goes; “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... Amen.”  Then he says, “I almost have it memorized.  All I lack is the part in the middle!”  You gotta give him some slack.  He’s just a “dummy” you know.  If he ever finds out that Psalm 117 is in the middle, I just know he is going to want to memorize it next.

P.  Father Your Word, Your revelation to us humans is balanced from start to finish.  It is worth of memorizing life-changing portions, lots of them... so as to recall them in moments of weeping and in moments of great joy.  I will praise You today, for Your wonderful Christmas gift... You gave Your only Son!  Amen.

Ralph

“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!”  (2 Cor 9:15)   

*http://www.housetohouse.com/biblequestions.aspx?Letter=all&Question=4330

Balance and Symmetry

Saturday   12-26-15  Felton, California (Ron and Elisabet’s home) 

Scripture reading:  Ps 117   Ps 119:81-176   2^nd John   3^rd John

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Ps 117:1-2  Praise the LORD, all you nations.  Praise him, all you people of the earth.  For he loves us with unfailing love; the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.  Praise the LORD!  NLT

O.  That’s the whole psalm!  And if you count all the chapters in the Bible, you will find that there are 594 chapters before this tiny chapter and 594 chapters after it.*  It is also the shortest chapter in the Bible.  The whole Book before and after revolves on this axle... All the nations and all the peoples of the earth are called to praise the LORD for He loves them all and He remains faithful forever!

A.  We know that the chapters and verses of the Bible were not made by God, but certainly when those chapters were made, nobody was counting them.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  I find balance and symmetry in the Word of God from the beginning to the final ‘Amen’. 

My little Felipe claims he set out to memorize the whole Bible.  He wanted to know how it started... so I gave him Genesis 1:1.  Then he wanted to know what the end was like so he would know it when he got there.  I told him, “It ends with ‘Amen.’  So he goes; “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... Amen.”  Then he says, “I almost have it memorized.  All I lack is the part in the middle!”  You gotta give him some slack.  He’s just a “dummy” you know.  If he ever finds out that Psalm 117 is in the middle, I just know he is going to want to memorize it next.

P.  Father Your Word, Your revelation to us humans is balanced from start to finish.  It is worth of memorizing life-changing portions, lots of them... so as to recall them in moments of weeping and in moments of great joy.  I will praise You today, for Your wonderful Christmas gift... You gave Your only Son!  Amen.

Ralph

“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!”  (2 Cor 9:15)   

*http://www.housetohouse.com/biblequestions.aspx?Letter=all&Question=4330

“It’s a lot more fun to give than to receive.”* Jesus

Friday   12-25-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    1 John 1 - 5

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  1 John 4:9-12  God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.  NLT

O.  God, Who lives so far removed from this sinful world, loved us, His rebellious, sinful created beings... enough to send His Son into this tangled mess.  He showed us what real love is.  Real love gives its best.  God gave us the only thing He could not create nor replenish... His only Son.  His Son is presented as “begotten,” simply a word that expresses He was not a “created” being.  God gave us His best gift possible.  I might think, “Yes, but He knew He would get Him back.”  True, but His Son would now never be the same.  The Lamb of God carried His mortal scars back into the heavenly realm... eternally scarred for me. (Rev. 5:6)

A.  Today is Christmas Day.  It is a special day of the year when loving parents spend all they can to gift their best gifts to the children.  Parents become givers, kids become receivers.  Real love gives. “God is Love”. (1.John 4:8)  God gave... sacrificially.  It is the very nature of God to give.  And once I have opened my heart to His Spirit, His love in me produces that same generous, giving spirit.  And then “behold” I discover the marvelous truth that is it is more fun to give than to receive.*   

P.  Heavenly Father, my sinful, selfish nature makes me like to be on the receiving end.  As a baby I scream, “Mine!” and grab it away.  Later I see things I wish I had.  Your Bible uses the nasty term “lust for.”  I think they would be fun to have.  I think I “need” one of those.  But in a few days they are stacked up in the garage with dozens of other trinkets that I thought I had to have.  But what a switch!  You make us into “givers”... because You are the best Giver of all.  And like Your Son, edged on by Your Spirit we give and give again... until there is no more left to give... so we give our very lives away and discover:  Now that is real fun!*  Amen.

Ralph

* ...remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It’s a lot more fun to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35  NUHV  (New Unauthorized Hiatt Version)

He prepared breakfast to heal a wound

Thursday   12-24-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 19 - 21

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 21:9-11  When they got there, they saw that a charcoal fire was burning and fish were frying over it, and there was bread.  "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said.  So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore.  NLT

O.  Now we know that this was the resurrected Christ.  In His glorified body He was able to appear at special moments in different locations.  Yet I wonder how long Jesus was waiting there on the shore for an encounter with this little band of disciples.   Where did He get the bread He was toasting and the fish that were frying over the coals?  Did He fish for them or did He just call them over to Him?  And coals?  Did He gather wood and somehow build a fire without a match?  It takes time to make coals.  One thing we know, at the exact moment that Peter and his gang went silently rowing by... dragging a net about 100 yards from the shore, Jesus was ready with breakfast for several hungry men.  He was on a mission to rescue a friend, Simon Peter.

A.  When I love someone, truly love them and something has become between us... when I have offended him or her or they have offended me... how much do I go out of my way to meet them and make it right?  If they have cursed and denied that they even know me... would I rise early and prepare them a nice breakfast... just for the chance to call that one back into the loving fellowship that we had shared earlier?  Jesus did.

P.  Oh God, I am a blunder-buss, quite like Simon Peter.  I have hurt my brother.  I was not careful with my words.  He is in pain and I am broken.  Too much is at stake to let it slide.  Someone has to break the silence.  Can it be me?  Can I find a solitary lake shore where he will pass by in the dawn?  Can I go out of my way and do something really special to help mend that wound?  I plead for wisdom to heal these wounds and Your special love that will help me use my words more carefully in the future.  Amen.

Ralph

Jesus destroyed the evidence against Peter

Wednesday   12-23-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 15 - 18

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 18:10-11  Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup the Father has given me"

Luke 22:49-51 ...they exclaimed, "Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!" And one of them slashed at the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus said, "Don't resist anymore." And he touched the place where the man's ear had been and healed him.

Mark 14:47  But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant.

Matt 26:51  One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant. NLT

O.  It is dark there in the garden of Gethsemane.  Here comes a mob with temple guards and armed soldiers to take Jesus prisoner.  The captain holds up a torch to see the faces in the dark.  Jesus steps forward, “Who are you seeking?”  “I am he!”  And suddenly they find themselves picking themselves up off the ground.  Now somebody grabs Jesus and our brave Peter steps forward and swings his very sharp sword at the nearest guy in the darkness.  Obviously Peter wasn’t aiming to take off the fellow’s ear.  The guy ducked or it would have been his head.

Each of the four gospel writers relate this incident.   Only John tell us “who-done-it”.  It had to be Peter!  Only Luke, the medical doctor mentions that Jesus touched and healed that man’s ear.  I wonder if Jesus picked up the ear and dusted it off and put it in its place... Who knows?

A.  Now let’s suppose that Marchus decides to bring Peter to court for attempted murder.  Marchus explains to the judge what happened.  “I was just standing there in the darkness and that man took a sword and whacked off my ear.  If I hadn’t ducked it would have been my head.  Can you imagine, oh judge, what it feels like to see your ear flying through the air and hitting the ground?  It was terrible!”  “You ask which ear?  This one right here.” And he tugs on his healed right ear.  The judge yells, “Get out of here!  You have no case!” and orders him out of the court for “lack of evidence.”  Jesus destroyed the evidence against Simon Peter.  And His death on the cross destroyed the evidence against me!

P.  Lord, I remember when President Nixon tried to destroy the tape recorded evidence against himself.  When he was unsuccessful the ugly tapes of his voice were broadcast on the air for every citizen in the USA to hear.  His own words condemned him.  Jesus, I am so thankful that You totally destroyed the evidence of my sin.   You took it upon Yourself, as if it were You that had sinned, and left it nailed to that cross and buried in the sea of God’s forgetfulness forever.  What a relief!  Amen. 

Ralph

My Hour of Glory

Tuesday   12-22-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 12 - 14

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 12:23-25  Jesus replied, "The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.  The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone — a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels — a plentiful harvest of new lives.  Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 

John 13:31-32  As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, "The time has come for me, the Son of Man, to enter into my glory, and God will receive glory because of all that happens to me.  And God will bring me into my glory very soon.  NLT

O.  Jesus has repeatedly spoken of “His hour” or the “Hour when the Son of Man will be glorified.”  It was not the hour when He entered the city on a donkey and crowds surrounded him praising God for their King.  That hour had already passed.  But now as He approaches the hour of His crucifixion, He clarifies that His hour of glory is linked to His death.  He will be lifted up upon a cruel cross and draw all men unto Him.  Can it be that my Jesus lived for and often spoke of the hour of His humiliation and His cruel death as His most glorious moment?  He sweats blood.  His hour had finally come.

A.  I was in my second term as a missionary and was invited to preach to a great international congress of 6,000 youth leaders in Venezuela.  Was that the hour of my glory?  Or was it when I was preaching in a tiny crowded house on stilts to 13 people, some standing, others sitting on the floor with only a kerosene lamp for light?  Is my “hour of glory” attached to how many thousands were in the crowd applauding my message?  My Jesus suffered extreme pain, humiliation and death and He calls it His “Hour of Glory”! 

P.  Wonderful Lord Jesus, in following You I have found that “up is down”, “high is low” and glorification is often found in humiliation.  So one more time, Jesus, take me to the cross... the ugly cross that You made beautiful.  I cast my little seed to the ground, stomp it into the soil and let it die.  And may that become “my hour of glory” too.  For with that death You promise me “much fruit”.  Amen.

Ralph

The Jesus-kind-of-trouble

Monday   12-21-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 9 - 11

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 11:46-50  But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation. "What are we going to do?" they asked each other. "This man certainly performs many miraculous signs.  If we leave him alone, the whole nation will follow him, and then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation."  And one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, "How can you be so stupid?  Why should the whole nation be destroyed? Let this one man die for the people." NLT

O.  The religious leaders call a high caucus.  “This Jesus guy is nothing but a trouble maker.  Look at the mess He is making.  He calls Himself the Son of God and has the audacity to call us ‘a brood a snakes’.  He accuses us of ‘walking around with flowing robes with our nose in the air looking very religious, but cheating poor widows out of their money.’  The worst part is He keeps doing miracles. 

Can you believe He broke the Sabbath again last week by making mud and smearing it on the eyes of a man born blind, and if that wasn’t bad enough he sent the blind guy to wash it off at the pool of Siloam and now he can see.  This is getting out of hand. 

Now, hear this!  Yesterday He called a dead man out of his tomb... four days dead!  And the dead man, wrapped like a mummy with even his face covered... comes stumbling out of his cave tomb!  We’ve got to stop this!  Too many people are believing Him to be the Messiah... and we’re going to lose our religious position.  If the Roman government authorities ever think He might be our awaited Messiah, we are all dead meat.  Raise your hands all who think we should ‘eliminate’ Him.”

A.  Our tent crusade had gone beyond our intended 30 days in Merlo.  This was a sin-cursed area.  Alcoholics, addicts, criminals and all other kinds of sinners were filling the tent and placing an “ex” in front of their former life styles.  The huge canvass on the dirt floor in front of the platform was a moving sea of little kids enjoying my dummy, Felipe.  This was getting out of hand!

A little girl came early to the tent.  She was crying her heart out.  With tears she told us that the priest had visited the local school and prohibited all children from ever going to the tent again.  “But I love Jesus and want to follow Him!” she sobbed. 

There was no doubt.  We were trouble makers.  That tent meeting lasted 20 months!* 

P.  Lord, if all goes as planned, I will be back in Argentina in mid February until mid June.  Help me to make lots of the “Jesus-kind-of-trouble.”  The High Priest and his cohorts voted to kill You.  But then came resurrection, and in a few weeks a Holy Spirit Pentecost exploded into thousands of converts.  Jesus, giver of life... we need another resurrection.  We need another Holy Spirit explosion.  Maybe we need to stir up some “Jesus-kind-of-trouble” in the USA.  Amen.

Ralph

* I am writing a book and hope to publish it in 2016.  The rest of the Merlo story will be there for those interested.

A Fountain Designed to “Flow Out”

Sunday   12-20-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 7 - 8

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 7:37-39  On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "If you are thirsty, come to me!   If you believe in me, come and drink!  For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within." (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him...)  NLT

O.  It is the final day of the festivals.  Jesus knows that He will soon be crucified.  He stands amid the huge crowds that form around the temple in Jerusalem and shouts a “final invitation” to these weary Jewish faithfuls.  His words are reminiscent of the Prophet Isaiah: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  (Isa 55:1-2) NIV

A.  Jesus promises me much more than a religion.  He offers me a deep, living spiritual experience.  God plants His Spirit within me and “Living Water” will flow out from within me to others.  This “Water” that gives life will flow out from me and from all who follow Jesus... to bless thirsty souls.  His Spirit is inside me right now!  It is pushing me to let it flow out to a thirsty world around me.  How long can I remain silent?

P.  Lord Jesus, You have placed a living fountain inside me.  Living water, within me pushes me to let it flow out.  That fountain was never designed to just satisfy my thirst alone.  The word “fountain” suggests continual flow.  It suggests abundance.  Your life giving flow is already inside me.  I must not, I dare not hold it back.  I must open the flood gates and let it out to flow freely, offering to quench the thirst of souls that are looking in all the wrong places to satisfy their deep, spiritual thirst.  Amen.

Ralph

His light shined ‘for a while’

Saturday   12-19-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 5 - 6

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 5:35  John shone brightly for a while, and you benefited and rejoiced. NLT

O.  “For a while.” John the Baptist’s ministry was limited to a relatively short time.  Apparently he became famous about the time Jesus turned 30 years old.  He was a flash of bright light in a world of darkness.  Four hundred years had passed since the Prophet Malachi had been on the scene.  The Old Testament scriptures were taught in the synagogues, but the teachers did not speak with authority like John and later like Jesus.* John bursts on the scenery out in some desert place probably preaching to a handful.  He looked different, dressed differently, ate differently and seemed to resemble Elijah who prophesied almost 900 years earlier.  His fame attracted great multitudes.  His name was on the lips of thousands of people.  But as suddenly as he had burst upon the scene, his bright light is snuffed out by King Herod.  John had been too powerful, too revealing of sin.  His words spoken in the desert had shaken the palace of a pitifully small king... and whose wife brought down the axe.  

A.  Now I am here on this planet “for a while.”  How long?  I cannot tell.  Jesus Christ is calling on me to be a light in a dark world.  John was a flash in the dark.  He was here... and then he was gone.  But nobody ever forgot that bright flash of “Holy Spirit-Light” that drove strong men to their knees in repentance and pulled them to bury their sins under the waters of the Jordan River. 

P.  Oh God!  How much longer do I have?  I thought it was all over five years ago.  I was retired, at the end of my usefulness and ready to let my flickering candle flame to turn into smoke and then... silence.  But You crashed again into my fading life.  You gave me a new start, a new assignment, a new ministry.  You lit my candle again.  And I can hear You saying today, “It’s not over yet.  There is still darkness out there that is awaiting the light.  Your little insignificant candle can become a bright flash of light that may still set aflame a hundred candles more and one of them may become like John the Baptist who will shake his or her world.  So go for it!”  And I respond, “Amen, Lord so be it!”

Ralph

*Matt 7:29 “...he (Jesus) taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” NIV  (Jesus, please give me some of that.) 

Lady, you are looking at Him!

Friday   12-18-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 2 - 4

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 4:25-26  The woman said, "I know the Messiah will come — the one who is called Christ.  When he comes, he will explain everything to us."  Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!"  NLT

O.  Jesus did not go around proclaiming to everyone that He was the Messiah.  He often referred to Himself as the Son of Man.  John the Baptist called Him the Son of God.  Jesus also, when counseling with Nicodemus, referred to Himself as the Son of God whose address was in Heaven, but had been sent to earth.  The Jews were awaiting the coming Messiah prophesied by many OT prophets.  But He knew the religious Jews would be disappointed in Him... for they interpreted these prophecies as a political messiah.  But His kingdom was not of this world.  Jesus asked His own disciples to discover His identity for themselves, which they did and He confirmed it to them.  But here, in front of a woman living in sin and by Jewish law condemned to die under a rain of stones, He identifies Himself.  “Lady, You are talking about the coming Messiah?  Well, You are looking at Him!”

A. “Who is this Jesus?”  He is either the “Logos”, the “Word” as expressed in John chapter one, the Son of Man, the Messiah and the only eternal Son of God... all of those... or He is a liar and an impostor.  Will I take Him at His word?  My whole life here on earth and my eternal destiny hangs in the balance.  For me and for each of us, we must answer, “Who is this Jesus?”

P.  Lord Jesus, You have proved Your identity to me over and again.  You have carried me through thick and thin.  You have taken away the heavy burden of my sins.  I will receive You for Who You say You are and trust You with my eternal soul.  In return, You have given me a wonderful, fulfilling life here on earth and the promise of Heaven.  What more could I ask?   Amen.

Ralph

Too Deep for My Mind to Fathom

Thursday   12-17-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    2 Peter 1 - 3   John 1

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 1:1-4  In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. NLT

O.  The Apostle John, just a humble fisherman, kicks off his Holy Spirit inspired presentation of Jesus with simple words to describe incredibly deep and wondrous concepts. Undeniably Jesus is the “Logos,” the“Word” of which he writes.  He is both with God and He is God!  Who can diagnose that?!  We know that God created the heavens and the earth.  And Jesus is now declared to be the Creator of everything.  He is the source of both Life and Light.  Anyone who chooses to deny the full deity of Jesus Christ (such as the Jehovah Witnesses) has to jettison the Gospel of John and many other scriptures.

A.  Dr. Milliken was an 82 year old theologian.  He was one of the three founders of Western Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary on the slopes of Mt. Tabor in Portland, Oregon.  I was an 18 year old student.  He was my professor in the original Greek used in the writing of most of the New Testament.  We all purchased a copy of the New Testament in Greek.  I still have it and am holding it in my hand.  It is old and frayed at the edges.  I admit it was Greek to me!  But it soon began to blossom into majestic concepts.

Dr. Milliken took us straight to John 1:1.  He explained that Luke was a doctor and used a doctor’s more ample vocabulary, but John was a fisherman and used simple words... better for beginners like us.  But within one month or less we students were well aware that John took us very deep with his simple language.

P.  Oh Lord, You know that I never became fluent with my reading of the Koiné Greek.  But I learned just enough to fall in love with the masterful Gospel of John.  Every Bible I have owned always wears out first around John’s Gospel.  In its heart is found the verse that has inspired my life’s direction... and is already on my tombstone.* I fall prostrate on my face before You, My Creator and My Savior.  I admit that my finite mind cannot untangle the depths of your Being, but I know that when I look at You, Jesus... I am looking at the Father.  And I worship You!  Amen.

Ralph

*(John 12:24)  

Rocky talks about Stones.

Wednesday   12-16-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    1 Peter 1 - 5

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  1 Peter 2:4-5  “Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him. And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple.”

Vs 6 “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone...”  (from Isa.28:16)

Vs 7 "The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone."  (from Psalm 118:22)

Vs 8 “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall."  (Isa. 8:14)

O.  At birth he had been named “Simon”, but Jesus renamed him “Peter”, (Rocky).  And when Peter declared Him to be the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus said, “Upon this Rock I will build my Church.”  Upon what Rock?  Peter?  He later showed himself as weak as a fragile flower, wilting before a maiden that accused him of being a follower of Christ.  But when the Holy Spirit came upon him on the Day of Pentecost he became a true “Rock”.  Now years later “Rocky” clarifies for all of us that he is not the cornerstone of the Church and never was.  He is just one of us all... as living stones.  Jesus is the cornerstone, the firm foundation of the Church.  He was rejected by the builders and now has become a stumbling stone to many.

A.  As a living stone I, too, form part of the structure of the Church.  Others will build upon my life and testimony.  If I crumble under the weight, others will fall.    

(I am impressed by how Peter so freely quotes Old Testament scriptures, borrowing from the writings of Isaiah, Hosea, the Psalms of David and the Proverbs of Solomon to support his declarations.  Awesome!)

P.  Lord Jesus, I confess that this has been an important factor when I have been tempted to crumble before some temptation to sin.  You have reminded me that so many beautiful young Christians are resting on my testimony.  If I should crumble, they may fall.  I have a responsibility to support others as a living stone in Your building.  Oh God!  Give me the courage and strength to support them and to lead many to be added as living stones in Your Temple.  Amen.

Ralph

I was very impressed two months ago while ministering in Segovia, Spain, to see this stone aqueduct built by the Romans 50 years before the birth of Christ.  It is more than 2,000 years old and still carries water to its destination, although now through a large pipe.  I examined the huge, cut stones at its base.  They may be worn at the edges, like most of us, but as strong as ever.  What might happen if one or more of these stones should weaken and crumble?  

The story behind the poem below

Tuesday   12-15-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    James 1 - 5

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  James 5:19-20  My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back again, you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. NLT

O.  James closes his letter with this final statement.  Someone has left the church.  Someone has slipped and fallen into temptation.  Someone has returned to their old life of sin.  Should we gossip about it?  Jesus told the story of a shepherd that went to great effort to rescue one lost sheep. 

A.  I must not be idle.  I must not just pray for that lost one.  I must be proactive to locate him or her.  I must let them know someone cares.  I must strive to bring them back into fellowship with God.

P.  Lord, sometimes we are too quick to write them off.  Please help me to be a good shepherd, who knows his sheep by name and takes note of every one that turns up missing.  You care about them.  Fill me with Your divine love and guide me to them.  May they know that someone loves them and cares!   May I let them know that the door is wide open and lead them through it again into the safety of Your mercy and grace.  Amen.

Ralph

The story behind the poem below:  The year was 1972.  We had recently returned to Argentina to begin our second term of service.  I was ministering in Mendoza, over 100 miles from the city of San Juan where we had planted a church and where a certain 17 year old lad, had come to Christ under our efforts.  But we had heard the sad news that after we left, he had left the church and slipped back among the lost.  I remember praying that Jesus would reach out to him wherever he was.

That night I was ministering in an unfinished church building.  The glass windows had not yet been installed so the sound of my amplified voice could be heard almost a block away.  It was a night arranged by God.  There was no way that this lad could have known that I was in this city.  He was wandering through this very neighborhood, walking in his spiritual darkness and just “happened” to pass close enough to the church to hear and recognize my voice.  He slipped into the back of the church and I saw him.  I could hardly refrain from stopping my message and running back to hug his neck.  But he waited and with a broken spirit fell into the arms of the Good Shepherd once again.  Later that night, alone in my room, I sat and wrote this poem, sending the story and the poem to my dear mother who always saved everything.

Now the poem:

The Lost Sheep

Ralph W. Hiatt  June 1972

Broken by circumstance, crushed by temptation

He stumbled and fell in the darkness of night.

Once he had known Him.  Once he had served Him.

But now he wandered so far from the Light.

Hopelessness reigned where once faith had o’erpowered

the forces of sin in this lad’s former path.

Now he was wandering, lost and uncertain…

Lonely, defeated… awaiting God’s wrath.

But somewhere the knees of a loved one were bending.

Somebody’s prayer reached the portals of God.

And the Shepherd responded by leaving His sheepfold,

Where angels have praised Him since ages untold.

Once more by His Spirit, He walked earthly pathways.

Once more heavenly love touched the soil of man’s need!

Once more the compassion that spilled on Mount Calvary

Brought the Good Shepherd, a heart’s cry to heed.

T’was then that He found him, repentant and broken,

Certain that judgment awaited his sin.

T’was then that two hands bearing scars of compassion

Reached down to caress and to lift him again!

Oh, infinite mercy!  Oh, love without measure!

Oh, grace, after ages of telling… “untold”!

We thank Thee.  We praise Thee, Our Wonderful Shepherd!

The lost sheep again is brought back to the fold!