An Ever-increasing Revelation of Jesus Christ

David Wilkerson Today

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010

AN EVER-INCREASING REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Ever since the cross, all spiritual giants have had one thing in common. They
were in close communion with the Lord; they became lost in the glorious
vastness of Christ; and they died lamenting they still knew so little of him.
So it was with Paul, with all the disciples, and with many early church
fathers; with Luther, Zwingli, and the Puritans; with the pious English
preachers; and with many godly leaders today.

Every one of these giants shared the same ruling passion: an ever-increasing
revelation of Jesus Christ. They cared nothing for the spectacular, the
earthly, the things of this world, success, ambition or worldly fame. They
prayed—not for things, not for physical blessings, not to be used, not for
anything of self, but only for a fuller revelation of the glory and vastness of
their Lord.

Satan is displaying greater power, and hell is unleashing all its fury on this
generation. The enemy strongholds are much more fortified, powerful, and
entrenched than in any past generation. Without a doubt, Satan is revealing
himself to the world as never before and he is becoming better known, less
feared, and more accepted.

A basic Bible school knowledge of Christ will not be enough in this final war!
Knowing about him is not enough. We need to seek for a greater revelation of
the Holy Spirit. That requires much time at his table. You get to know him only
by being much in his presence, only by sitting with him, hearing his voice,
waiting on him for divine wisdom. Busy, preoccupied men seldom get to know him.

Paul was committed to an ever-increasing revelation of Jesus Christ. All he had
of Christ came by revelation. He said, “By revelation he made known to me the
mystery” (Ephesians 3:3). The Holy Spirit knew the deep and hidden secrets of
God, and Paul prayed constantly for the gift of grace to understand and preach
“the unsearchable riches of Christ” (v. 8). Paul said we have access to these
glorious riches in Christ. In speaking of God’s eternal purposes, he said, “In
whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (v. 12).

God is looking for believers who will seek a revelation of him that is all
their own—a very deep personal intimacy that unlocks “the unsearchable
riches of Christ.”

Read this devotion online:

This is what I’m seeking.

Happy Freedom of Religion Day! aka Halloween!

Freedom Day!

That’s what we celebrated today. It’s our party, we can call it what we want to! During trick or treat time in our neighborhood, we gathered in our living room and reviewed the things we’ve learned during the school year.

Sounds exciting, huh? Oh, did I forget to mention that the kids got a piece of candy for each correct answer?

They each had a bag with their name written on it. I had questions for the twins and questions for the older kids. Emma and Abby each identified a letter of the alphabet, sort of. Then they just kept grabbing candy out of the bowl.

I had about 20 questions for the twins, including flash cards of addition facts and some science questions and general information.

I had a list of 20 History questions, 20 Bible questions, and 20 Creation Science questions for the older kids. I had several questions that encouraged narration, such as, “Tell me what you know about George Washington… about John Adams… about Thomas Jefferson”, and Morgan volunteered to tell us all about Davy Crockett. He knows a lot about him since he wrote this story about him. Then he changed his mind and said he would tell us about Simon Kenton, which he proceeded to do in great detail. I enjoyed immensely hearing all that my kids had learned about History, Creation Science and the Bible and seeing how thoroughly they had learned it. I think they enjoyed it, too, and would have even without the candy. It just kind of sweetened the deal. 🙂

We answered about half of the questions, then we watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and another episode about Linus running for class president and ate popcorn with some of our candy. The election episode just happened to come on right after the Great Pumpkin episode. I didn’t plan it, but as usual, the Spirit knew ahead of time how to tie things together with current events for me. Then we finished up the questions and distributed the rest of the candy.

I read our Bible reading for the day. It was some of the parables of Jesus, so it was really good.

Then we watched a movie called “The Lost and Found Family”. I didn’t know how good it would be or how family-friendly, but it was very good and very family-friendly. It had a wonderful message about helping foster children by really giving them love and support. I consider it a very good movie, because it made me cry about 10 times.

What did any of this have to do with Freedom of Religion? Well, we are allowed to homeschool because of the freedoms given to us by the Constitution, including freedom of religion, and homeschooling was a central part of our celebration. We read our Bible. That is definitely a privilege afforded us by freedom of religion. And the movie we watched had definite Christian overtones.

We really just called it that because we wanted a good name for our celebration, but I think it ended up being a pretty good match for our activities. We went a step beyond Reformation Day and celebrated Freedom of Religion Day!

Life Triumphant!

Great News from Shawn Carney from 40 Days for Life

It’s Day 40 — and I have great news to share! As of right now, we know of 541 babies — and their mothers — that God has spared from abortion.

That’s at least 3,352 since the first coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign a mere three years ago. And who knows how many more that we’ll never hear about?

“The Everett Planned Parenthood is closed again,” wrote Ed, one of the local 40 Days for Life leaders in Everett, Washington. “It’s the third Friday closed this campaign!”

In Columbia, Missouri … the Planned Parenthood facility there hasn’t done abortions since August 9. Faithful volunteers are continuing the vigil …

… and Planned Parenthood doesn’t like it.

“We found out that Planned Parenthood in Kansas is watching us on video — over 100 miles away,” said Kathy in Columbia, “and they called in a ‘violation’ to the Columbia police station.”

The “violation”? There was a camera tripod sitting in Planned Parenthood’s driveway. “Soon two police cars showed up and they went in,” Kathy said.

It turns out the tripod belonged to a reporter who was working on a news story. The police quickly left when they found out what was really going on. “One officer has come out twice — and he’s not too happy with Planned Parenthood.”

And all this time … no abortions in Columbia!

And of course … no abortions AT ALL in Severna Park, Maryland … where an abortion facility CLOSED ITS DOORS FOREVER at the very beginning of this campaign!

Who knows how many lives have been saved in Columbia and Severna Park?

There have also been at least four abortion facility employees who have left their jobs during this 40 Days for Life campaign — possibly more. And others may be thinking about it.

And then there’s Anita’s van — a life-saver on wheels. It has “pray to end abortion” painted on the side, along with a pregnancy help center’s phone number and the 40 Days for Life web address.

Lives have been saved because of the information on the van — no one knows how many. But this pro-life mission was about to come to an end. The van was about to be repossessed.

Anita had no idea what would happen. So she prayed. She had to decide whether to pay her tithe … or the note on the van. She paid her tithe.

Anita didn’t know it, but one of her friends sent out an e-mail that explained the situation. And people started giving. Before long, there was enough to pay off the loan!

“This is not my van,” she said. “This van belongs first and foremost to God, and then to every single pro-life person out there.”

The van — and its message — will stay on the road. And who knows how many lives will be saved?

“Abortion will truly be finished one day,” Anita said. “I pray it is very soon. The walls of deception are crumbling as we speak. The truth is spreading — one heart at a time — and all of you have played a part in getting that message out. Thank you all so very much!”

Here’s today’s devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life.

—————————————————–
DAY 40 INTENTION
—————————————————–

Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem, where death will be no more.

—————————————————–
SCRIPTURE
—————————————————–

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

–Revelation 21:4-5

—————————————————–
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
—————————————————–

Every activity we undertake in defense of the sanctity of life is prophetic, inasmuch as it points to the day when “death will be no more.”

Every victory we have when an act of abortion is prevented is prophetic of that day when death itself will be definitively conquered.

Every triumph of grace in this world, whereby someone is brought to see the value of life and given the strength to welcome it, is a breaking into our history of that definitive future in which the old order of things will have passed, and all things will be made new.

As pro-life warriors, we must keep our eyes fixed on heaven, and our hearts secure in the hope that the day is coming when all evil will be conquered. It is the future that shapes the present; it is victory that informs the battle; it is the destination that determines the journey.

Daily, we are called to reflect on heaven. When we weep, we are to think of the day when every tear will be wiped away.

When we face the destructive power of death, we are to think of the day when death is swallowed up in victory.

When we labor against abortion, we are to think of the day when we will have the rest and peace of the final triumph of life.

Heaven is as real as earth, and its joys will be as real as our present sorrows.

—————————————————–
PRAYER
—————————————————–

Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us with the vision of the world to come, when every tear will be wiped away, and death will be no more. Father, how we need that hope, how we are strengthened by that vision!

Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and diligent in the labors of earth. As we struggle against the culture of death, root our souls in the assurance of victory. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

—————————————————–
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
—————————————————–

To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:

http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2010day40print.pdf

Letter from God

I just had the most amazing experience I’ve had in a long time. God wanted to give me a good surprise, and He sure did!

Fiona brought me the mail, and I saw a card among the envelopes. It was addressed to :)A Very Special Family 🙂 at our address. No return address. It came through St. Louis’s post office system.

It was a Thinking of You card. It said: Just to let you know someone’s remembering you in prayer… and trusting God to touch your life with warmth and loving care.

This handwritten message followed:   Your family has been on my heart and in my prayers. Asking God to “work all things together for your good.”
In Christ’s Love

And if that wasn’t enough, there was a letter, too. It said:

I know we don’t know each other, but I know that each and every member of your family is very special. God loves all of you.

I am not sure what your circumstances in life are, but I would like to let you know that I’m praying for favor and the blessing of God on the lives of each of you.

Please know also, that you are near and dear to the Father of all Creation. He placed you all strongly on my heart to pray for you. Because He loves you 🙂

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Phil. 4:4, 6, and 7
“Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!” “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Much love and many blessings!

And then this prayer:

Father, in Jesus’ name, keep this family tightly in Your grasp.  Protect them and light their paths.  Lord, give them the desires of their hearts.  Bless them and pour Your favor upon them.  If any be sick, Lord, heal them.  Draw them closer to You.  Make Your face to shine upon them.  Lift any fears, worries, burdens, anxieties or troubles.  Thank you, Father, that You hear our prayers, and You answer them.  Your perfect will be done in their lives.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen and Amen.
🙂

I am crying and overwhelmed by God’s love and kindness. I honestly have no idea who sent this letter. I only know that God is proving once again just how very much we are on His mind and that He is with us and we have nothing to fear.

Phil. 4:6, 7 AGAIN! Okay, Lord, I am anxious for nothing.

Whom shall I fear? The Lord is on my side. He has us right where he wants us. And He will put us in the right place at the right time. I believe.

Personhood Defined

Teen Youtube Sensation Lia Mills Proves Personhood of Unborn in New Video
Patrick B. Craine (October 29, 2010)

“When will someone else decide that you’re not a person?”

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Apostle Paul told his young protégé, Timothy, to “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the Believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Seemingly walking out that exhortation is Lia Mills, a teen orator and a champion for the culture of life, with an amazing gift of communication. Her compelling argument on the personhood of the unborn is presented in her latest video, which can be viewed by clicking on the link toward the end of this article. I highly recommend it. –Aimee Herd, BCN.

(Toronto, Ontario)—After proving the humanity of the unborn in an August video, teen pro-life orator Lia Mills has released a new video aiming to prove that the unborn are also “persons” by virtue of being human, as are other classes of humans who have been denied the status of ‘person’ in the past.

The video, released Tuesday, comes out as Lia [addresses] the International Pro-Life Conference in Ottawa, taking place now through Saturday. She will be joined by a star-studded cast of major leaders from the international pro-life movement, including North American pro-life pioneer Dr. Jack Willke.

“The unborn are definitely human. It’s obvious and it’s supported by science,” says Lia in her new video. She points out, however, that people now generally accept the unborn’s humanity and argue instead that they can be killed because they are not yet ‘persons’.

“How can we tell when exactly the unborn gain their personhood?” she asks.

To help, she goes to a dictionary, which defined person as “a human being.” “Since the unborn are humans, that means based on this definition the unborn are persons as well,” she says. But she then concedes that the issue is more complicated, because the definition of person changes depending on the academic discipline. In law, she points out, “a person is whoever the governing authorities decide to give rights to. Under the law, you’re only a person if the lawmakers say you are.”

Lia then discusses four examples in history when lawmakers denied personhood to a certain class of people—Jews in the Holocaust, black slaves in the US, North American natives, and women.

“The Jewish people were stripped of their personhood and thereby stripped of their rights and their value, and that’s why all of the atrocities committed against them were considered acceptable,” she explains.

“People are quick to judge the Germans at the Holocaust, but we have our own Holocaust that’s taking the lives of millions of unborn babies every year,” says Lia. “We do it using the same tactics that the Germans did. We deny personhood to the unborn and thereby deny them their rights and justify our own actions.”

“Who decided that the Jews weren’t persons, that the natives and slaves weren’t persons, and that women weren’t persons?” she asks. “Lawmakers.”

“Who decides today that the unborn aren’t persons? Lawmakers.”

“Personhood has become a fabricated term used by lawmakers to decide who has rights and who doesn’t,” she continues. “Personhood is denied to [the unborn] because they’re dependent, because they look different, and because they can’t do what older babies, children, and adults can do.”

“Should those in power be allowed to decide which humans are ‘persons’ and which are not, who gets rights and who doesn’t?” she asks in conclusion. “Once you allow one group of humans to lose their personhood, every other group’s personhood becomes vulnerable and no one is safe.

“When will someone else decide that you’re not a person?”

The International Pro-Life Conference will be the first of its kind to take place in Ottawa in 20 years. Lia will be speaking at the conference Friday with Rebecca Richmond of the National Campus Life Network on youth in the pro-life movement.

Watch the video HERE.

Source: LifeSiteNews.com

Victory for Personhood Mississippi!
Les Riley (October 29, 2010)

“Isaiah 59 tells us that ‘the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear,’ so we first give all praise and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ for hearing our prayers and giving us the victory in this round.”

Sponsors of the Mississippi Personhood Amendment, Initiative Measure Number 26, have been notified that the motion to remove the amendment from the Ballot, filed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, has been denied.

ACLU and Planned Parenthood attorneys filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi Secretary of State in July, seeking to disallow Mississippi voters from voting on the Mississippi Personhood Amendment.

Amendment sponsors and volunteers exceeded state signature requirements on February 17, becoming only the fourth successful ballot initiative since 1992. The amendment, Initiative Measure Number 26, reads, “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.”

The ACLU then filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings, arguing that the Personhood Amendment which seeks to define the term “human being,” modifies the Bill of Rights, which is expressly prohibited by Section 273(5). Steve Crampton, Liberty Counsel attorney for Personhood Mississippi, explained that Section 273(5) does not prohibit the definition of an otherwise undefined term, such as “person.”

Crampton went on to explain that the Personhood Amendment complies with section 273(5)(a) because it does not propose any new right and does not modify or repeal any existing right guaranteed under our bill of rights. Instead, the Personhood Amendment merely defines the term “person,” and does not modify the Bill of Rights in any way.

The Court decision read “Initiative Measure No. 26 has received more than the required amount of signatures to be placed on the ballot and the Constitution recognizes the right of citizens to amend their Constitution.”

“Isaiah 59 tells us that ‘the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear’ so we first give all praise and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ for hearing our prayers and giving us the victory in this round,” explained Les Riley, amendment sponsor. “We have been certain that we have the right to define the term ‘person,’ and that right was affirmed by the Circuit Court and Judge Harrison. The people of Mississippi have spoken—they want to vote to recognize those Personhood rights in November 2011.”

“It is time for Mississippi voters to recognize that all human beings are people, and every person should be protected by love and by law,” added Cal Zastrow, co-founder of Personhood USA.

Source: Personhood USA, Christian Newswire

Both of these stories came from Breaking Christian News from Oct. 29, 2010.