Thursday, April 24, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

You want the Holy Spirit to help you win some soul to conversion in Christ. Note how Jesus won souls: He always gave them Good News. Take for instance, the crucified thief on the cross (Luke 23:34-43): Jesus’ last chance to win somebody before He had to die! What did He tell the thief? “You will be with Me in Paradise!” simply because
the ex-cursing, hate-filled man asked to be “remembered.” Jesus gave the poor wretch Good News.

Consider again the woman taken in adultery in John 8:1-11 (don’t cut the story out of your Bible!). Did He tell her, “Lady, if you will keep straight from now on, God will forgive your sins and then He will accept you”? He gave her Good News: “I do not condemn you! Go and sin no more.” I take your condemnation upon Myself; I am paying the price for your sin; I lift from you this burden of guilt, because as the Lamb
of God I bear your guilt Myself. His command to “sin no more” was more a promise than a stricture. With this message, she was able to “go and sin no more.” She never fell again! Jesus saved her right then and there.

Consider Cleopas and his friend on the path to Emmaus. They were so overwhelmed with discouragement that they would have given up their faith in Jesus as “the Savior of the world” if they had not gotten help just then. He gave them a Bible study incognito that was full of Good News. He saved them. Go thou and do likewise with some soul who needs Good News.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

Somebody writes us a thoughtful question: Are we sure that the Bible teaches that God’s “church” is a visible organization, and not an invisible number of scattered believers?

The only times we read that Jesus mentioned His “church” were twice--Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. He used the word ECCLESIA, which means “called out,” a people designated and separated from the world, defined and denominated in a form that the world could recognize as an entity. The apostles called ancient Israel a “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38), and we read that Israel was a visible organization that the
world could see as God’s denominated people. In Matthew 18 Jesus outlined what should be done if a member in the church disgraces its name--he should be disciplined. Unless the church is organized, this cannot be done.

Paul thought of a beautiful illustration of what the church is--it’s a
“body.” “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular . . .
in the church” (1 Cor. 12:12-28).

Possibly the reason for this person’s question is the problem of apostasy and worldliness in the church, which is discouraging to a thoughtful, sincere Christian. Please think about Jesus: He is even more pained by this than you are. Be joined to Him by faith, share His heart burden for His church. It’s the great crisis of the ages. He wants to lead her to repentance, not to ruin.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is
available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of
uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other
circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not
be sent.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

When Jesus called His Twelve and ordained them, He called them to a solemn privilege:
they were to take “bread” from His hands and fan out through the crowd of hungry
people and feed them. The bread was never their own; they had never baked it. It was
always second-hand bread. They were only the passers-on of bread that had been miraculously
multiplied by Jesus.

The same Savior has called you to be His servant to pass on “bread” to some hungry
person. This is what it means to follow Jesus. You are never an originator of saving
truth, you are never a smart theologian. The less smart it is obvious that you are
of yourself, the more the Lord can be honored by your ministry. The people need to
know that the “bread” you are passing on is not yours, but His. “Bread” is Good News
that nourishes a famished soul.

When Jesus fed the 5000 in John 6:9-13, apparently He Himself didn’t serve anyone;
“He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to” the people. No angel was
permitted to touch that bread, as the one who fed Elijah in the desert--this job is s
pecial now for the Twelve. They are to be intermediaries between the Savior and the
people. Their job is fun! The people smile at them and thank them profusely for what
they don’t deserve thanks for. (They must remember that and never take an ounce of
credit for themselves.)

And do you suppose the Twelve sneaked a bite themselves now and then, to taste if it
was good? (there was always plenty, and they were hungry too). Their first-hand
testimony, “It’s delicious!” was also fun to give.

Our “bread” to share today is “the everlasting gospel” (Rev. 14:6, 7).

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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The "Dial Daily Bread" web page resides at:
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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is
available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of
uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other
circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not
be sent.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

Sinful, pain-laden time will not go on and on for eternity. There will be an “end of the world” and a return of Jesus as He promised, “I will come again” (Matt. 24:3; John 14:1-3). It is commonly understood that the last “sign” of His coming will be the “gospel . . . preached in all the world . . . and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14). Is that a physical task completed--the printing press turning out a sufficient number of books or tracts, or electronic broadcasts reaching a sufficient concentration?

A parallel “sign” is when the Lamb’s “wife hath made herself ready” for “the marriage of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:7, 8). We’ve been through the childish stage of thinking that means a material city, the New Jerusalem, spontaneously erects itself; now it appears we understand that by “city” the Lord means its inhabitants. An unusual word is used there--the “righteousness” that becomes the bride’s wedding dress is “the righteousness of saints” (dikaiomata in the Greek instead of dikaiosune, Christ’s righteousness!). For once in the history of the world, hallelujah choruses proclaim in heaven, “His wife has made herself ready.” And we lay aside our joking and our levity and our self-righteousness. At last Christ’s righteousness becomes more than merely legal, imputed objectively, and it becomes subjectively imparted. He will have a people who honor Him and glorify Him before the world and before the universe. As Isaiah says, their
“righteousness is of [Him]” (54:11-17), but now there is the intimacy of a wedding night; both the Bridegroom and the bride contribute to the union.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to
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The "Dial Daily Bread" web page resides at:
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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

My friend had just given me the little book that he hoped would find a treasured spot in my library. It had the price sticker still on it—97 cents. It was entitled “Seeking the Savior.”

The author was faithful to his title: the book went on to tell the many things I must do in order to find Jesus. The basic idea of the book is that the Savior of the world is hiding somewhere, and one must diligently search Him out.

My friend meant well; he wanted to help me. Thanks to him. And thanks to the author of the book who sincerely wanted to help his reader. I appreciated all the good intentions.

But the idea of Jesus hiding and waiting for us to find Him through diligent search is an Old Covenant idea, and Old Covenant thinking “genders to bondage” (Gal. 4:24).

The faith of Jesus is not another shop set up alongside Buddhism, Islam, Shintoism, etc. where you come to buy salvation. Jesus has given Himself to us; the Father “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” that whoever believes in Him should not go on perishing within himself (the original has this idea). But may have (now, present tense) eternal life.

The Bible idea is just what hungry, lonely hearts yearn to understand:

The Father is infinite, which means that He gives His full attention to every person on earth. He faithfully, meticulously watched over you when you were an embryo in your mother’s womb. “You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother’s womb. ... My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth [that is, the secret realities beyond our knowledge]. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me [that includes today!], when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16, NKJV).

Kneel before Him, and let each word penetrate; you’ve come to where you need to “enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:6, KJV). Just wait, wait; let Him say to you what He yearns for you to receive in your heart. The Lord Jesus is your Savior, He has given Himself to you. It’s not your job to go and dig Him out somehow, somewhere.

It’s your job to let the Holy Spirit melt your hard, worldly heart with the truth of His nearness.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.

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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

Behold the compassion of the resurrected Jesus! One might think that in
the enthusiasm of His newly resurrected life He is eager to be off on
His new assignment in the heavenly sanctuary, but no, His heart is with
His disappointed, discouraged ones here. His name is still “Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23).

Two men who have believed He was the true Messiah are on the path in
their walk to Emmaus that afternoon of the “first day of the week” of
the resurrection. Never have they known such crushing heart pain. It
goes deeper than any humans can fathom for it is the pain of defeat in
the great controversy with Satan; the death of the Christ means the
ultimate victory of Satan. These two men feel they must conclude this.
They are not mourning the loss of their own personal salvation so much
as they mourn the grand defeat of God. The world (yes, the universe) is
now to be plunged into hopeless despair! “We were hoping that [Jesus of
Nazareth
] would redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21)--and to them “Israel” was
the only hope of the world.

The heart of the resurrected Jesus is with them as they trudge
disconsolately toward Emmaus. He now teaches us that His heart is with
all disappointed people all over the world, in all time. He joins these
two men incognito and gently encourages them with Bible truth.
“Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all
the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (vs. 27). He is already
doing His work as our High Priest! And so He ministers to you today--if
you will let Him join you in your “walk.”

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to
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The "Dial Daily Bread" web page resides at:
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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is
available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of
uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other
circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not
be sent.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

With One Grand Exception since Eden, every human soul has been born
with a heart empty of love (agape). Only Jesus in the stable in
Bethlehem was agape in human flesh because He was God in human flesh,
and “God is agape” (1 John 4:8). We all need our empty, naturally
self-loving hearts to be filled with agape. “The love of God [agape]
has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to
us” (Rom. 5:5). There is nothing the Holy Spirit likes to do more than
“pour” agape into empty human hearts!

In 1 John 4 the righteous and the wicked are the one who “knows God”
and “he that is not of God” and “does not know God” (vss. 6, 8). It’s
clear: our final exam when we “appear before the judgment seat of
Christ” will consist of one question--have you learned to love with
agape? (2 Cor. 5:10; 1 John 4:7).

It’s interesting that on the eve of Valentine’s Day the media reported
the recent scientific findings that a broken heart can kill. The usual
cause of a broken heart is love betrayed, leaving a person bereft,
forsaken, and hopeless. It was His broken heart that killed Jesus on
His cross when He cried out, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt.
27:46). We know well the stories of suicides caused by abandonment in
forsaken marriages. The police report may not be able to tell the
truth; God’s record book will record “murder.”

But being forsaken in human love is not really the problem: it’s the
awful fear of being forsaken by God also (it’s very real!). If you have
suffered a disappointment in love, stay close to the cross of Jesus.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

What can we do to help people who are depressed? They are many!

Wise counselors suggest, “Get professional help.” Physicians can often
treat clinical depression successfully. If a depressed person can get
such professional help, let him/her do so.

However, the number of people who can afford to pay for such
professional help or even have access to it, is comparatively small.
Even in America, there are large numbers of sufferers who cannot have
these privileges. Who can help them?

God calls upon those who serve Him to minister to others in need. He
told Abraham that his descendants would be a blessing to the world:
“Thou shalt be a blessing, . . . and in thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:2, 3). Jesus saw that His mission was to
help depressed people: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he
hath anointed me to preach the gospel [good news, glad tidings] to the
poor [those who can’t afford medical treatment]; he hath sent me to
heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised” (Luke 4:18). These “poor” may be in India, Africa, South
America, Mexico, yes, in our inner cities, perhaps among our teens in
high school, who knows, maybe your next-door neighbor whose tears you
cannot understand.

Each of us who realizes his/her debt to the “Savior of the world” will
want to be ready to “know how to speak a word in season to him that is
weary” (Isa. 50:4), because the Lord has sent us to do the work that He
would do if He were here in person. As Paul says, “How beautiful are
the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, that bring glad
tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15). Do it for somebody!

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to
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The "Dial Daily Bread" web page resides at:
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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is
available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of
uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other
circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not
be sent.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

All the wonderful promises that Jesus made before His death must and
will be fulfilled. But there is one GREAT promise that has not yet been
fulfilled, and many Christians think it never will be. They are wrong!
He will not fail.

That great promise is in John 16:13: “When He, the Spirit of truth, is
come, He will guide you into all truth.” We usually think of the Holy
Spirit as giving us happy feelings or of giving great power in
witnessing and producing baptisms; we think that understanding “all
truth” is of lesser importance. But over 200 times the Bible speaks of
the importance of truth. In ordinary life, law courts, juries, judges,
seek constantly to know the truth. Jesus says that it is so important
that “the truth shall make you free” (8:32).

In His same promise that the Holy Spirit will guide us “into all truth”
Jesus promised, “He will show you things to come.” The wording is very
similar to the opening of the Book of Revelation, “the revelation . . .
of things which must shortly come to pass” (1:1). The Book of
Revelation was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise! And yet Christian
people go in all different directions in understanding what Revelation
is saying!

Likewise, there is confusion in understanding Daniel’s prophecies; yet
God commanded the angel, “Gabriel, make this man to understand the
vision,” and later the angel said to him, “I will show thee the truth”
(8:16; 11:2). Paul spoke of his message as “the truth of the gospel”
(Gal. 2:5). There is as much division in understanding that as there is
in understanding Daniel and the Revelation!

What can bring about a unity and clarity of understanding these
important truths? Surely when that great fourth angel of Revelation
18:1-4 begins to “lighten the earth with glory,” the message that calls
every sincere person “out of Babylon” will be a message of pure,
unadulterated truth. We pray daily for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
An excellent place to begin finding the answer to that prayer is in
honest, sincere, and humble listening to the Bible to permit it to tell
us what the truth is in all these controverted areas. Jesus did not
promise, “The Holy Spirit will TRY to lead you into all truth,” or “He
wishes He could lead you into all truth.” No, He said He WILL do so. As
surely as I write and you read this, so surely is the Holy Spirit right
now “leading” us into the truth that will bind us together in loving
harmony of belief. Let’s listen to Him!

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to
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The "Dial Daily Bread" web page resides at:
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" phone message is
available via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of
uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other
circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not
be sent.