REMEMBERING 9-11-01

 

Thursday, September 11, 2025

 

REMEMBERING 9-11-01

2 Sam 22:1-4

22 And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

 

          I remember it like it was yesterday. September 11, 2001, was a Tuesday. I was attending a fellowship meeting of pastors. We were gathered in the church kitchen and dining hall when many of the preachers began receiving phone calls. Their faces were worried. Some left without saying a word. Others told of an unbelievable horror. One poor fellow was trying to preach as if nothing had happened, but the world had changed!

 

          I finally received a call from my secretary who was watching the unspeakable on television in our missionary apartment. I remember exactly what she said. “Oh, preacher it is awful!”  Awful did not begin to describe it. Hijackers had boarded commercial planes and had flown them into the Twin Towers in New York City – a symbol of our financial strength. Another hit the Pentagon – the symbol of our military might. Yet another seemed to be headed toward the capital – seat of our government. The heroism of a few on board prevented that. It crashed in a field in Pennsylvania -- across the road from a church which was pastored at that time by a friend of mine.

 

          I sped home although I was only 23 miles away. I could have been stopped by police at any time because at no time didI heed the speed limit signs! My wife was a substitute teacher, and I wanted to reunite with her and be safe. I found my secretary inconsolable and joined her to watch the news.

 

          Our Wednesday night Bible Study was crowded by worshippers who had long ago abandoned the Prayer Meeting. Now the altar was flooded with those who were once complacent. Alas, we have returned to that former state but – for a moment – we were reminded that “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved (Psalm 62:2).”

 

Sweet Jesus, be diligent and vigilant for us today. You only are our rock and our strong defense. AMEN

 

THE FLIP SIDE OF CONFUSION!

 

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

 

THE FLIP SIDE OF CONFUSION!

 

1 Cor 14:33

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

 

James 3:16

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

 

          Our English word “confusion” is translated from some eight or nine original Hebrew and Greek words. We don’t have space or time for an exhaustive study of each one. We will look at two examples.

 

          In both verses above, the Greek word for “confusion” is akatastasia and it means “instability and disorder.” In Corinthians, Paul is addressing the instability and disorder of the unrestrained use of certain sign gifts, the most popular of which was, and still is, the use of unlearned languages as the means of revelation. Use of tongues evidently made one popular among the believers and, human nature being what it is, some were, and still are, “faking it.” The result was confusion and disorder. Paul simply said that God did not and does not “author” or authorize this.

 

          James is plain spoken in all his teachings and explains that confusion is produced by envy and strife. Whenever we compete with God and other believers for prominence and popularity there is disorder and confusion.

 

          The flip side of confusion is not only clarity but peace! Peace with one another takes place when we stop pushing and shoving for popularity and privilege. Peace with God comes only from surrender since we have no hope in victory over God. Fighting with God is like slapping a cactus.

 

          Stop for a moment! What is driving confusion in your life? Are you in competition with other humans? The answer is order and humility. Are you in a battle with God? Such a battle cannot end well unless you surrender.

 

Dear Lord, let me put away envy and strife. Let me not envy my brothers and sisters or strive with you. Replace my confusion with peace today. AMEN

 

ROGUE THOUGHTS!

 

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

 

ROGUE THOUGHTS!

 

2 Cor 10:3-5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

          Rogue thoughts are influenced by circumstances. Paul reminded the Corinthians that, although we function in the flesh, our warfare is spiritual. Satan’s battlefield is the mind. In our modern culture of information and misinformation, we are guided as to what to think and how to respond.

 

          Rogue thoughts must be captured and brought into agreement with the Word and will of God. It must be done intentionally and not casually. Rogue thoughts must be identified quickly before they take root and become actions, attitudes, and habits.

 

          Who is influencing your thinking? What troubles you and causes you to react emotionally without thinking? Make a list of good things to think about today. Cast down [literally demolish] the high things and bring your random and rogue thoughts into captivity.

   

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

Lord, challenge and captivate my thoughts so that they do not mar my soul. AMEN

 

ARE REVIVALS RELEVANT

 

Monday, September 8, 2025

 

ARE REVIVALS RELEVANT

 

Psa 85:4-7

 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. 

Psa 85:5  Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? 

Psa 85:6  Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 

Psa 85:7  Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. 

 

         It seems to me that revivals have fallen out of favor with many churches. Perhaps they are viewed as irrelevant or old-fashioned. They have been replaced with Bible conferences, whatever that may be, and other sensational events meant to attract the disenchanted. But there is theology in revivals.

 

          The late Billy Graham said, “America needs spiritual awakening through God's sovereign outpouring of His Spirit while the church needs revival, starting with individuals.”  Feb 1, 2025, Decision Magazine. In saying this, Graham believed that both politics and people tend to stray from righteousness and efforts should be made to restore and return.

 

          To discount the need for revival is to deny sin. “Such is the way of an adulterous sinful woman [or man]; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. Proverbs 30:20 Even though salvation has been secured, our tendency to stray remains as Paul agonizingly describes in Romans chapter 7.

 

Rom 7:18 

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 

Rom 7:19 

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 

 

Mal 3:7 

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

Lord, revive us again. AMEN

 

THE REALITIES OF THE FLESH

 

Sunday, September 7, 2025

 

THE REALITIES OF THE FLESH

 

Matt 26:40-41

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 

          The disciples had marched on the dusty road to Gethsemane. The dirt, like powder and cool, soothed their weary feet. Finding a comfortable place, they stretched out on the rocks and wrapped themselves in the dew of evening. Jesus takes Peter, James and John then said to the others: “Stay here while I go yonder and pray.”

 

          It had been a difficult day. Their minds still were trying to process the announcement that Jesus was going to die. Maybe he was speaking metaphorically. Then there was the strange twist to the familiar supper when Jesus offered the bread and declared that it was his body. Then he offered the cup and declared that it was his blood. What could that mean? A yawn and a stretch and soon the three that were closest to Him fell fast asleep. Following this man was exhausting work.

 

Gal 5:17

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

          There are some harsh realities of the flesh. Our bodies, at the same time, make it possible for us to serve God and sustain the rigors of the service. Our bodies prefer comfort and must be dragged along on the journey at times. Discipline is both difficult and necessary if we are to accomplish our spiritual goals.

 

1 Cor 9:27

27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT

 

Dear Lord, give me the courage to refuse my body the pampering it demands so that I might accomplish your purposes today. AMEN

 

CASTING MY CROWNS!

 

Saturday, September 6, 2025

 

CASTING MY CROWNS!

 

Rev 4:10-11

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

          We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) but we are not God. We have installed in us the power of self-determination. We are permitted to make choices and either enjoy or endure their consequences. But we are not God.

 

          I am ashamed to realize that much, if not most, of my happiness is dependent upon God yielding to my will. I pray a twisted form of The Lord’s Prayer saying, “MY will be done on earth as it is in my thinking.” I am spoiled by God’s grace and wear that crown too proudly. Oh, I love God – if He does what I ask Him to do.

 

          But in Heaven, the twenty-four elders fall down in worship. They know what we will ultimately learn. His will is worthy to be followed and He is worthy to be praised. Their crowns are cast at His feet, and they know and welcome their place.

 

          One day I will fall at His feet as well. I will have shed the body because mere flesh cannot survive the intensity of God’s glory. Only the spirit survives that encounter.

 

1 Tim 6:15-16

{He} is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

Lord, help me to cast the crown of my own will at your feet and know and follow your will. AMEN

 

IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE!

 

Friday, September 5, 2025

 

IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE!

 

Mark 9:23-24

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

 

          Belief is the “assent of the mind to the truth of any proposition.” (McClintock and Strong). Belief does not need any means or arguments but may simply be a response to our senses. What makes one witness credible while another witness is discredited?

 

          In Mark 9, the father of the demonized son relates the failure of other means to release his son from this torture. The father then pleads with Jesus saying, “but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” This was almost a statement of doubt and not a statement of faith. The father was willing to try this one more thing, but you can hear the doubt in his plea.

 

          Jesus answered that belief is crucial to the cure. The father then admits the weakness of his faith and asks for help in believing. So, it is with us. We believe with the weakest faith at our disposal. Without evidence, we place our trust in an invisible God.

 

          God always allows for doubt because doubt and belief exist together. Cures, miracles, and turn-a-rounds can almost always be ascribed to natural means. Only the believer assigns the cure to God. Doubters go on doubting, even in the face of miracles, while believers go on believing.

 

          Only when the doubter is willing to ask for help in believing does he move from one realm to another. When the doubter acknowledges his doubt, and agrees to the possibility of belief, faith is born.

 

          Belief grows as we exercise faith. Stephen, in Acts 5 and 6, was said to be a man “full of faith” or “covered over with persuasion.” He maintained his faith even while being stoned to death and saw, by faith, Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand ready to welcome him home.

 

Dear Lord, we beg with the disciples, to increase our faith! AMEN

 

JOSEPH’S COAT

 

Thursday, September 4, 2025

 

JOSEPH’S COAT

Gen 37:1-3

37 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

KJV

 

          Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown provide interesting information regarding this coat. “‎a long tunic with sleeves, worn by young men and maidens of the better class. [‎Paciym ‎is only used in this phrase. But the word, ‎pac‎, signifies a piece, as well as the palm of the hand; and hence, the phrase is usually rendered 'a coat of pieces of various colours;' Septuagint, ‎chitoon ‎‎poikilos‎, a striped or variegated tunic.] It was formed in those early days by sewing together patches of coloured cloth, and considered a dress of distinction (Judg 5:30; 2 Sam 13:18).”

 

          My thoughts, this morning, were on this coat of many colors. Although already seventeen, Joseph was the favorite of his father, Jacob. JFB adds that Jacob considered his son to be “a wise son'-one who possessed observation and wisdom above his years-an old head on young shoulders.” There was something about Joseph!

 

          God’s plan for him, and for all of Israel, was that he should suffer while doing no wrong. This, eventually, placed him in a position of authority and required him to make a selfless decision to bless those that hurt him.

 

Gen 50:20-21

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

 

          God is frustratingly patient to those who are impatient, as most of us are. He sees the big picture and knows how to bring good from unpleasant circumstances. Can you bless those who have hurt you?

 

Luke 6:28

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

 

Lord, you require of us a very difficult task. We will utterly fail at this unless you help us. Amen