ESTEEM OTHERS

Today’s Reading: Philippians 2

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Looking over the ruins of ancient Philippi. They comprise roughly one square kilometre.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Philippians 2:1a, 3

THEREFORE…Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

The word, “therefore” appears six times in this reading. It could be written, “Because of the preceding statement, we do as follows:” (1) We do as verse three tells us because we “believe in Him” (Jesus), and because “we suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29).

(2) “Therefore” (verse 9), because of Christ’s humility in voluntarily restricting the use of His attributes as “God-with-us,” living as a human being, we humble ourselves and in “lowliness of mind,” we “esteem others better than ourselves.”

(3) “Therefore,” because God has exalted Jesus and “given Him a Name which is above every other Name,” we seek to live in unity with our brothers and sisters in Him, so that we “may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (verse 15).

Paul states his case around that word “therefore.” We may want to read the second chapter again, checking out the statements before and after that key word, “therefore.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You are God; therefore, I pray that I will be granted the grace to live in humility and in unity with fellow believers. Grant that I may shine as a light in the world, “holding fast the word of life.” In Your strong Name I ask these mercies, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As I’ve read and reread Philippians 2, I can’t help but think of those I know and hold in high esteem (verse 29). Bob Johnson stepped through the curtain of death not long ago. He is the son of Leah, whom I mentioned yesterday is such a special person to me. His picture was in the hall of my high school and listed below his name were the honours he had received. Bob could have entered any university of his choice and had great worldly success, but he chose to study for the Christian ministry. By the summer of 1952, Bob had graduated from his theological studies and was establishing a new congregation. His brother, Wallace, my classmate, and I traveled on weekends to help Bob, singing and playing our trumpets on the street corner in preparation for Bob to preach. He was still single then and did not have money to buy a bed. We slept on the floor. It was on one of those weekends that I began to pray, “Lord Jesus, would You do me the honour of calling me into the full-time Christian ministry?” I’m sure it was because of the sacrifice I saw in Bob’s life. I hold Bob and many others in high esteem. Thank you, Bob, for being like these men in our reading. I sincerely want to be such a man also.

Yours, in Christ’s love and service,

David

Philippi…the remains of an ancient Greek temple are in the foreground with the ruins of an early church in the distance.

The remnants of an ancient home or market in Philippi.

JOY

Today’s Reading: Philippians 1

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Paul’s letter among the ruins of ancient Philippi.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Philippians 1:3-4

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy…

In Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, he was under house arrest. The Romans had a practical financial plan. Prisoners who had resources paid for their own imprisonment costs. The initial purpose of this letter is to thank the congregation in Philippi for their financial support.

This was the first church Paul planted in Europe. Philippi was a Roman military city where Paul had experienced a severe beating and imprisonment. The warden of the prison and his family would’ve been there at church when this letter was read. The members no doubt expected “JOY.” After all, Paul, and his co-worker, Silas, had been singing praises to God (probably a Psalm of David) at midnight, their feet and hands securely fastened, when an earthquake hit the city and the shaking set them free. Read Acts 16:9-40.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, grant me the grace to exude joy in the midst of circumstances that would not naturally produce joy. Thank You for those You have allowed to bless my life. I pray that I will consistently pass on the blessing! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When I opened my Bible to read Philippians, I found my notes from the message I brought at the home-going celebration of Leah Johnson. This special person in my life showed joy in very difficult circumstances. A mother of five, she still had time for me. I was 16 years old and still needed a mother figure. Her third son, Wallace, a classmate of mine, brought me home with him again and again. Leah, a single mom, welcomed me with love and joy. My own mother had died when I was 12, and my father had returned to Egypt where his services were required as a missionary. I can see in my mind’s eye her loving face, complete with the warmest smile I could imagine. I do thank God upon every remembrance of Leah and her family.

I’m taking the liberty of more than 100 personal words today. When the television opportunity presented itself in 1962, I had no idea how I would pay the bills. While I had the blessing of the congregation of which I was Pastor, there was no way that a television ministry could be funded out of the general fund of the church. I believe God speaks to me from the pages of Holy Scripture. Here in Philippians chapter one I found what I believe was, and still is, God’s answer to my prayer for the money to fulfill my vision to use television to communicate the Good News of Jesus. The Amplified Bible, which brings out all the shades of meaning present in the original text, is the translation that particularly spoke to me. Here are the words in which I found the answer of God to the challenge: Philippians 1:3-5 in the Amplified Bible says…

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight). [I thank my God] for your fellowship (your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now.

This is exactly what has been happening. I resonate with the same joy expressed by Paul throughout his letter to the people of Philippi. Check out the Crossroads Ministry at www.crossroads.ca.

Yours for a joy-filled life based on the love and provision of God!

David

A modern gate prohibits visitors from walking into an ancient prison in Philippi, likely where Paul and Silas were held and miraculously delivered.

The spectacular Theatre of Ancient Philippi.

NO REMEDY

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 36

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In Jerusalem, you can still see the enormous cut rocks that were thrown down onto the street from the upper walls of the Temple Mount. Evidence is everywhere of the destructions of Jerusalem through the centuries.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 36:16

But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

Ezra is probably the one who compiled the Chronicles. The book that bears Ezra’s name is our next study in the Hebrew Scriptures. In today’s reading, Ezra starts with the Egypt-Babylon war. Israel was caught in the middle and choice young men like Daniel were taken as captives to Babylon. Then in the final verses, Ezra jumps seven decades to his own story, when he was allowed to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem by King Cyrus of Persia (Iran) who had conquered Babylon (Iraq).

It is sobering to realize that the destruction of the Temple and the city need not have happened. God had repeatedly called His people to repentance. Sometimes they did repent, but finally, God, who has given humanity a free will, was so hurt by rejection that He withdrew from Israel. Jeremiah the prophet, who was ministering at the time, was known as “The Weeping Prophet” as he mirrored the heart of God. “There was no remedy.” How very sad! For followers of Jesus who recognize our rebellious natures, there must be a commitment to a continuing correction of our lives, keeping in line with the Word of God, which we are reading in this blog every day. How absolutely essential is that? AMEN!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You that even in the decline and fall of Israel, You still had a remnant of the people, prophets, and priests who were loyal to You and Your Word. May I be one of these on whom You can count to love and serve You with all my heart, my mind, and my entire being…all that I am and ever will be. I pray for this grace. In the Name of the One who always served You at 100%, Jesus, my Saviour and Lord, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m thankful that turning around from our own destructive ways to God’s ways is possible. I was reading recently from a book called, The Blessing, by Thomas Trask and Wayde Goodall. This book is excellent in its thorough coverage of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people. One person can make a huge difference (click here to find this book). On pages 166-169 there is the story of Steve Crew. His life was a total mess, and but for the grace of God, he would’ve spent years in prison. Instead, he repented, was transformed by Christ, and became a preacher of the Gospel. He was the preacher for several weeks in a church in Brownsville, Florida, when God poured out His Spirit in what became known around the world as “The Brownsville Revival.” It is a fact that God, with the co-operation of His people, does come in power to revolutionize His people.

Yours for revival while there is still a “remedy,”

David

More evidence of the past destruction of Jerusalem through the centuries.

PASSOVER

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 35

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Great Sphinx of Giza, commonly referred to as the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining or couchant sphinx that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. In today’s reading, King Josiah unwisely decides to pick a fight with an Egyptian Pharaoh.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 35:1, 22b

Now Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month….[Josiah] did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.

At 26 years old, King Josiah served God faithfully, following in detail God’s instructions for the celebration of the Passover. This was to be the annual observance for remembering the time when God delivered the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-14). No doubt Josiah learned how to do this from the Bible Scrolls which were discovered in the Temple. Josiah, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 34:31, had read aloud the entire book in the hearing of all the leaders of the people. Josiah was obedient to the words he had read.

But when it came to another encounter of the Children of Israel with Egypt, there is no record of Josiah praying for guidance in his decision to engage Pharaoh Necho in war. We can learn from this tragic end to Josiah’s life that we need to add prayer and waiting on God before we make our decisions…waiting on God for His directions. Poor and destructive decisions will result from failure to hear clearly from God. Amazingly, God warned Josiah through the mouth of Necho, but still Josiah stubbornly went into battle.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

O Lord Jesus, teach me to pray as You taught Your disciples (at this point let’s pray “The Lord’s Prayer,” slowly and carefully, found in Luke 11:1-4). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In thinking about what Josiah did when he was 26, I was reminded of one decision I made at the same age, about which I prayed a great deal. When I felt the “go-ahead” from God, I called Wes Millar, formerly the accountant at Healey Motors in Pembroke (where I had worked when I was 16). Now, 10 years later, Wes was a co-owner of a car dealership in Cornwall, Ontario. Someone had told me that they saw a used school bus on his car lot. After our chat, Wes and his partners decided to donate the bus for our Deep River Sunday School. I was so excited as I went to buy a bus ticket to travel to Cornwall to pick up the bus. As I drove it back, I could see it in my mind’s eye…the bus filled with Sunday School students. That’s what happened! On one side of the bus I painted the words, “TEACH ME THY WAYS, O LORD. PSALM 86:11.” On the other side I put the words, “STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD. 2 TIMOTHY 2:15.” For at least the next three years, that bus ran steadily every Sunday morning from Deep River to Deux Rivieres and back, and in the afternoon to Chalk River and back. Our new little Sunday School in Deep River grew to almost 150 students, and in Chalk River we reached another 50 children. God was in that decision to ask for the bus. He taught us His ways, and we studied His Word. His ways are discovered only through much prayer and complete obedience.

Yours for reading and studying God’s Word, obeying God’s Word, and praying until we are convinced we’ve heard from God concerning decisions which will have far-reaching effects,

David

Me as a young pastor with a bus full of kids!

The Temple of Luxor was originally founded by Pharaoh Amenophis III but altered in later years by Tutankhamun, Horemheb, and Ramses II. At night the temple is illuminated with yellow lights to reveal a golden halo around the ruins and statues.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

DILIGENCE

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 34

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

An actor from “Nazareth Village” in Nazareth holds a scroll in the synagogue as he depicts Jesus from Luke 4:14-20. Perhaps it was a scroll resembling this one from which young king Josiah read aloud in the hearing of his people, and which produced nation-changing results.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 34:19, 31

Now it happened that when the king heard the words of the law, that he tore his clothes…Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

Back in 2 Chronicles 24, we read of the boy king, Joash, who became king at seven years old. He did well as long as he had his teacher present, but then went astray. Now we have an eight-year-old, Josiah, made king. No doubt he also had strong guidance from godly people. Unlike Joash, Josiah stayed true to the God of Israel all his life. It seems reasonable to suggest that finding the lost manuscript of the Bible made all the difference. The turning points of Josiah’s life are as follows: At eight he became king. Josiah would’ve been six when his grandfather, Manasseh, died. Manasseh had turned from God and then returned in repentance. Perhaps Josiah’s grandpa had told him the stories of the tragedies that resulted from ungodly behaviour. At 16 Josiah began to seek the God of King David. At 20 he began to destroy the idols such as the Baals which the people had been worshipping. The northern tribes had been dispersed throughout the world in what is now known as ethnic cleansing, but the remnant who remained came under Josiah’s leadership. At 24 Josiah began to repair the ancient Temple of God built by Solomon. Then comes the words of our key verses.

We need to cherish the Book we are reading together. Many years before the workmen discovered the manuscript of the Bible (probably Deuteronomy), diligent people had spent countless hours copying, by hand, the Words. There were no print shops where copies could be run off. All the effort at copying was rewarded long after the writers had passed on. Do we wonder if we will ever see the fruit of our labours? Don’t lose heart! Rejoice in our sowing of good seed; we can trust God with the reaping of results in His timing.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for determination to serve You well today, leaving the results of my labours up to You and Your timing. Thank You, Father God, for the opportunity to sow seeds which will yield a good harvest. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Twenty-four year old King Josiah tore his clothes to indicate his profound grief at the failure of Israel to keep true to the writings on the scroll which was found hidden in the Temple. The King, himself, read aloud from the Bible in the hearing of all the elders of Israel. I often read the Word of God out loud when it is called for. One of those times was in Regina, Saskatchewan. Dr. Shapiro, a Jewish medical doctor, had, like Josiah, torn his clothes to show extreme grief. I don’t have space to tell the story here. It’s on pages 113 -116 in my book, This Far by Faith. A great turn-around happened in the doctor’s life as a result. I find it interesting that offerings are often the lead-up to blessings. Again and again in our readings, I find the connection between giving and receiving. That has certainly been my personal experience through the years. A New Testament reading on which I’ve just meditated is 2 Corinthians chapter 9 (click here to read with me).

Yours for finding our Bibles and for reading carefully its transformative message daily!

David

Jesus portrayed by an actor entering the synagogue in Nazareth. In this synagogue I take delight during our tours in reading from Isaiah, as Jesus did here in His hometown synagogue.

A 180 DEGREE TURN

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 33

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

An hour’s drive north of the Sea of Galilee is Caesarea Philippi, also known as Banias. Here you can view the remnants of the Temple of Pan. It was here that Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-20). As in today’s reading, here is evidence of the people of God turning to false gods.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 33:3, 15

For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he raised up altars for the Baals, and made wooden images; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them…He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord…

Manasseh was just 12 when he was crowned king. His father, Hezekiah, was a man of the true God, but he died, and obviously those around the new boy king exerted a great influence. Not only did Manasseh reintroduce idol worship, he led the people deeply into the occult, practising witchcraft, sorcery, and consulting mediums and spiritists. This list sounds as if it could be lifted from today’s newspapers and magazines. Manasseh worshipped the starry hosts. Does that sound like reading the horoscopes? Ouija boards, fortune telling, and palm reading are prominent in our time. Let us run from such practises into the truth of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord!

Manasseh repented, making a 180 degree turn, but only after he had paid a horrible price. Nevertheless, God is full of mercy, and the latter days of Manasseh’s 55-year reign produced a return to God and God’s blessings upon the people of Judah and Israel. The story of Amon, Manasseh’s son, was a return to evil practises. However, Amon reigned for only two years. For that we can be thankful. How crucial it is for each generation to have its personal encounter with the true God!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for total freedom in my life from any and all influences that come from the “rulers of the darkness of this age.” I run into Your complete protection! Keep me pure in Your sight, Lord Jesus. In Your holy and all-powerful Name I ask, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In tours that Norma-Jean and I have led to Israel, I have spoken at the location of today’s photos regarding the confession Peter made there, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). May I suggest that all of us read Matthew 16:12-23. Could it have been the influence of the spirits inhabiting this shrine that caused Jesus to have to say to Peter shortly thereafter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me.” In order to always think like God thinks, I must be faithful in reading, underlining, meditating and assimilating God’s thoughts, His Word.

Here’s a powerful 100 Huntley Street testimony of a woman who was deeply involved in the occult, as Manasseh was, who found deliverance in Christ (click here for part 1 of the story of Carole Kornacki and click here for part 2).

Yours for turning away from any influence whatsoever from the occult,

David

This was a “high place” in ancient Caesarea Philippi. It was a temple where various gods were worshipped. The main source of the Jordan River flows from under this mountain.

Jesus and His disciples likely walked on these very steps when they visited Caesarea Philippi.

This is a depiction of what the sacred high places in Caesarea Philippi may have looked like at the time of Jesus.

CRY OUT

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 32

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The biggest stone in the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, often called the Western Stone, is revealed within the tunnel excavations. That stone ranks as one of the heaviest objects ever lifted by human beings without powered machinery. The stone has a length of 13.6 metres (45 ft), height of 3 metres (9.8 ft), and an estimated width of between 3.5 metres (11 ft) and 4.5 metres (15 ft). Estimates place its weight at 570 tons.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 32:20

Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven.

There is a consistent message which runs through the entire Bible: If we choose to stand with the Lord, we cannot lose. The claim has often been made, “God is with us!” However, the more important consideration is, “Are we with God?” Being with God may not always mean success in terms understood by the world around us. Hebrews 11 tells us of many who found victory by suffering and dying for the cause of the Lord. Throughout history, whether to live or die, a person standing with God has been found to be unbeatable.

King Sennacherib was right when he proclaimed that his armies had triumphed everywhere. But he did not know the God of Hezekiah and Isaiah! What a powerful team these two made. The King and the Prophet! They proved that there is more strength in fervent prayer than in weaponry, more power in faith in God than in armies.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, like Hezekiah and Isaiah, I’m praying and crying out to Heaven. The key verse for today and Your response bring great encouragement to me. When Your cause, Your Church, and Your people are mocked and held up to ridicule, I rejoice because I know that the scoffers will return home ashamed, as Sennacherib did. Thank You, Lord, for responding when I pray, and thank You for prayer partners. Like Hezekiah, I’m not alone! I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Many 100 Huntley Street viewers will remember Rev. Norm MacLaren. He led our prayer partners team for many years and would report daily from the prayer phones with news of what was happening on the phones and what God was doing in lives. Norm would give us a Word from God which helped provide courage to continue. Norm now serves with the great “Teen Challenge” ministry, helping to transform lives for time and eternity.

I had known Norm for years before he came on our full-time team. He and his family had told their story of God’s answer to prayer on the telecast when he was a New Brunswick Pastor. Shortly thereafter he was elected to the Board of Directors of Crossroads, where he served for 8 years. Then came a really big battle in the Crossroads ministry. In 1992 we found ourselves facing a large overrun in the costs of building the new Crossroads Centre. I would be in the Chapel crying out to God for His supply very early each morning. Then one morning I found a prayer partner who drove all the way from Kitchener-Waterloo to Burlington. Every morning, Monday through Friday, for several months he joined me in crying out to God in fervent prayer. You guessed it. It was Norm, who was at that time a Pastor of a great church in Kitchener, Ontario. He had big responsibilities in his congregation and he would be back on the job there at the usual time when he would be expected to be at his church, never neglecting his congregation. Like the two in today’s reading, we cried out to Heaven, and the Lord answered from Heaven and gave us a great victory. Thanks Norm for being an Isaiah to this would-be leader. The new building and TV production equipment was all paid for within several years without cutting back on existing outreach ministry television productions, and fresh new soul winning programs were developed. With changes in leadership Crossroads has debt once again and needs your sacrificial help. I’m sure there are blog partners reading this who also prayed and gave sacrificially to God so the ministry would continue strongly. Lorna, our precious and strong leader today, needs your help big time!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! Please forgive me for going way over my 100 words goal.

Yours for finding a prayer partner. Jesus said, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven” (Matthew 18:19). AMEN!!!

David

The Western Wall Tunnel is an underground tunnel exposing the full length of the Western Wall. The tunnel is adjacent to the Western Wall and is located under buildings of the Old City of Jerusalem. While the open-air portion of the Western Wall is approximately 60 metres (200 ft) long, the majority of its original length is hidden underground. The tunnel allows access to an additional 485 metres (1,591 ft) of the Wall. Since the Temple Mount is controlled by Muslims, these Jewish women are as close as they can get to what was the Holy of Holies.

This photo was also taken in the Western Wall Tunnel and is looking straight down through plexiglass on which visitors can walk. The excavations have gone quite deep.

WHOLEHEARTED

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 31

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

From the region of the Qumran caves in Israel, you can see the Dead Sea with the mountains of Moab in the background. Though the Jordan Rift Valley is one of the most uninhabitable desert locations on earth, there is much agriculture.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 31:21

“And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.”

There were three elements for successful living demonstrated by Hezekiah. (1) He was obedient to God. (2) He sought God. (3) He worked wholeheartedly. These are vital principles for us to follow in order to live successfully as Christians. The word “prosperity” has been distorted in our time by some to mean almost exclusively financial success. Let us not be fooled by those who seek material gain for themselves by manipulating others. The prosperity God offers us may indeed include human comforts here in the west, but primarily God’s prosperity results in peace, contentment, and a joyful heart with or without money and the things it can buy.

Jesus taught us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (click Matthew 6:25-34 to understand what “these things” are). We may want to add to this reading 1 Timothy 6:3-11, and let us serve God WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, most of all I pray for grace to keep the greatest commandment, which is to love You with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind. Also, Lord, grant that I may keep today the second greatest commandment, which is to love my neighbour as myself. Thank You for helping me to watch for the opportunities to direct my love for You into loving others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

One of my grandchildren, Eric David Mainse, is a leader with Youth for Christ (Youth Unlimited – click here). He graduated from the same school from which I graduated in 1959, a seminary now known as Masters College and Seminary. He showed me one of his assignment papers, for which he received a good grade. It was a sermon based in 2 Chronicles 20:15-17. Although we’ve just passed that reading a few days ago, I thought I’d include a few excerpts from Eric’s sermon for you:

It took a lot of faith for King Jehoshaphat to believe that the words Jahaziel claimed to be from God were true. Jehoshaphat chose to believe. Faith is a choice. If you choose to believe, then don’t hide it. BE BOLD and OBEY!…Jehoshaphat proved himself to be humble before God and showed that he had great humility by bowing his face to the ground in worship along with all of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Once he had heard about the promised victory and chose to believe it, he immediately began to worship…Looking back to verse 15 where it says, “For the battle is not yours, but God’s,” we can see that the real battle is a spiritual one and sending in the worshippers first (verse 21) acknowledged that God was sovereign over their lives and prepared the ground for victory! We must do the same, otherwise we are only fighting on the ‘human level’. Praise and worship tear down strongholds of the enemy.

Thank you, Eric, for giving your Grandpa permission to use your work!

Yours for wholeheartedly supporting the next generation,

David

Panoramic view showing more agriculture in the desert of the Jordan Rift Valley by the Dead Sea.

THE RUNNERS

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 30

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Arch of Titus in Rome was constructed in 82 AD by the Roman Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus’ victory in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Arch of Titus has provided the general model for many of the triumphal arches erected since the 16th century, including the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 30:26

So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.

Today’s reading is such an encouragement. The sequence of events that resulted in the “joy in Jerusalem” is as follows. (1) Letters were sent to both the northern tribes of Israel and the southern tribes of Judah. They were carried by “runners” who functioned like the town criers who brought the news before newspapers, radio, TV, and the Internet. In New Testament times these newscasters were called evangelists. So those who took the Gospel everywhere and announced the news of Christ were called Evangelists. (2) These “runners” refused to be discouraged in spite of the fact that in some places “they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.” (3) “Many people, a very great congregation, assembled at Jerusalem.” (4) In spite of the compromise with the world, which was very evident in the culture, a powerful remnant of faithful people remained true to the Word of God and followed the lead of the man of God, King Hezekiah. (5) Hezekiah prayed for the people that, in spite of the fact that some people were ignorant of the proper preparation for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur in the present Jewish calendar), the Lord would provide atonement for everyone. This atonement is ours today through the passover sacrifice of Jesus as the final Sacrifice as the Lamb of God.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, please make me a more effective runner with the Good News of the message of Jesus’ passover feast in Jerusalem. As was the case with Hezekiah, I pray that everyone (the whole world for whom Jesus offered His life as the final Sacrifice for atonement) will hear the message and come to know Him as Saviour and Lord. I pray for Crossroads Family of Ministries. May every team member burn with a holy unquenchable flame to bring people to Jesus. May winning souls to Jesus continue to be the #1 priority. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen and Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The greatest example of a true Evangelist to masses of people in our time is Billy Graham. The greatest motivator for personal evangelism in our time is the late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. In Billy Graham’s appearances on the 100 Huntley Street telecasts, without fail, he turned to the camera and gave an invitation for people to come to Christ. Bill Bright did the same in his appearances with me on television. I took Bill Bright to lunch several times and without fail he witnessed for Christ to the waiter or waitress serving us. I made sure to leave a larger than usual tip in order to underline the love with which Bill spoke of Jesus.

I can never be content to maintain the status quo in ministry. If TV programs, camping ministries, World Expos, etc., in which Crossroads has been involved were not winning souls to Christ, I would become more and more desperate in the fervency of my prayers until I would see results in more people coming to Christ. I pray with all my heart that Crossroads Christian Communications will continue to produce soul-winning telecasts and that the leadership will continue to be filled with a passion for souls until the moment of Christ’s return.

Yours for running with the Good News throughout the world via the TV and internet (check out www.100huntley.com),

David

EARLY

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 29

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Looking up to the western side of the southwest containment wall of the Temple Mount, you can see protruding from the wall what is now called Robinson’s Arch. This was once a magnificent staircase that led up to the Temple Mount. The two pictures below are from inside a ritual bath just beneath Robinson’s Arch, where pilgrims had to cleanse themselves before entering the Temple Mount.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 29:20

Then King Hezekiah rose EARLY, gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

Consider the word “EARLY.” Hezekiah had his priorities in order. Abraham, the friend of God, began “EARLY” (recorded 4 times). Moses and the word “EARLY” connect 6 times. Joshua, 5 times, and in the Psalms and Proverbs we are encouraged to be “EARLY” 11 times. In the Gospels (NKJV) the word “EARLY” shows up 9 times. To get to my motivating verse for my 4 a.m. rising time to prepare my heart and mind for the daily blog, I quote to myself frequently from the New International Version, Mark 1:35, “Very EARLY in the morning, while it was yet dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went to a solitary place, where He prayed.” Jesus always lived His life as “Son of man,” not using the fact that He was 100% God to help Himself. I’m convinced that the EARLY time with His Father was the reason He could say, “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29). Like Jesus, we need to wait on God EARLY, if possible, in order to get our instructions for the day. Making notes or journaling as we pray is a very effective way to check up on ourselves. I’ve just given 3 cheers for Hezekiah…Hip Hip Hooray!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for consistency in my appointments with You every morning. Jesus shows me the way to learn how to please You every day. I give myself to You as fully as I know how. I’m listening for Your voice within my spirit just now, then I expect to receive the grace to obey. In the Name of the One who always pleased You, Lord God, Jesus, Himself, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My son Ron asked if he could write the “100 Personal Words” today with a story of his own. I said Yes:

Hi, Ron here. This is one of my favourite “EARLY” stories about Dad…

When I was a teenager, I was part of our high school basketball team. I remember having to wake up extremely early one morning in order to attend a practice, which our overly zealous coach had scheduled well before the school day began. My teammates and I were far from enthusiastic about having to get our bodies out of bed that early, but that was the only time the gymnasium was available before our big championship game. So I set my alarm for “dark and early.” When the dreaded beeping noise hit my ears, I reluctantly rolled out of bed, got dressed, and tiptoed my way through the dark hallway and down the stairs, being careful not to wake anyone else in the family. However, when I got to the living room, I was surprised to see the lights on and hear someone speaking. When I looked to my left, I saw my Dad kneeling next to the couch with dozens of pieces of paper spread out all over the furniture. I paused long enough to figure out what was going on. Dad was in prayer, weeping and interceding before God on behalf of the many who had written to him as a result of the recently launched 100 Huntley Street daily TV program. He never saw me as I continued tiptoeing out the door and off to my practice. That experience deeply impacted me. It strongly reinforced to my heart the truth of Dad’s genuine passion for God and passion for people. He wasn’t on television because of any ego trip or because he needed a job. He was called by God to share the love of Jesus to a lost and hurting world. He often says, “One soul is worth more than the whole world!”…and he has always lived what he believes. After that, I could think of nothing else I wanted to do with my life than work with my Dad… and I had the privilege of doing that for 30 years. — Ron Mainse

Looking up from the Mikvot (ritual bath), you can see Robinson’s Arch, which was one of the ancient entrances to the Temple Mount. You can see the divider in the stairway to separate those who were unclean from those who came up purified.