Daily Bread

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Revival and Reformation (part 1)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How long has it been since you sat down and read Second Chronicles in the Bible?

There are some happy things in it, like King Jehoshaphat sending the choir out to sing in front of the army that had to meet the huge armies of Moab, Ammon, and Edom (chapter 20). God wonderfully delivered His people. Jehoshaphat led out in wonderful revivals and reformations, but "the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers" (20:33), and the Lord destroyed the ships that the king had built (vs. 37). His son Jehoram rebelled against the Lord (chapter 21). His son Ahaziah was also evil (chapter 22).

Next came the reign of terror under Queen Athaliah (22:10). Then the beautiful story of how the priest Jehoiada saved the royal infant Joash and put him on the throne (chapter 23). And guess what King Joash did when he grew up? Turned away from the godly example of Jehoiada, and murdered Jehoiada's son Zechariah (24:17-22; this was in the 8th century before Christ, yet He fixed the guilt for that murder on the Jewish leaders of His day; Matt. 23:35).

Joash's son Amaziah was also an evil king (chapter 25), followed by a good king, Uzziah. What a welcome relief to have a king who did what was right and whom God blessed! "But when [King Uzziah] was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction"; he grew arrogant, and that led to his downfall (26:16). He was stricken with leprosy for his arrogance (vss. 19-21).

King Hezekiah was a welcome relief from the almost endless litany of rebellion against the Lord, but at the end, he too was out of harmony with God's blessed will for him, and he left the most awful legacy on the nation--gave them his son Manasseh, the most wicked king Judah ever had (Jer. 15:4).

King Josiah was Hezekiah's grandson, and he was a "perfect" king, did everything exactly right, followed the Spirit of Prophecy meticulously (chapters 34-35), but ended up rejecting the living demonstration of the Spirit of Prophecy because it came to him from an unlikely source--the mouth of the King of Egypt (35:20-24). He died in the battle that God expressly told him not to go into, and from then on it was downhill all the way for Jerusalem, the Temple, and for David's Kingdom until King Zedekiah and the burning of the Temple and the city, "there was no remedy" (36:15, 16).

What went wrong? Why were all those revivals and reformations so short-lived? Why are ours today? The answer: they were all based on Old Covenant principles. Yes, the Old Covenant was good; but not good enough! [More tomorrow.]

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 10, 1999.

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" messages are availalbe 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 10, 2012

The Word "That Turned the World Upside Down"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to "love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." But no one knew what He meant. It went right over people's heads (Matt. 5:44). No one really understood the true dimensions of "love" until the cross (cf. Eph. 3:18, 19). The word Jesus used for "love" was not the ordinary, day-to-day one that people used in the Greek or Latin world--it was AGAPE. The idea was foggy; it couldn't be defined until the cross.

The world marvels at the miracle of His resurrection after three days in the tomb; but the even greater miracle was the love He demonstrated. It was unearthly--had never been seen since time began. Every crucifixion done by the Romans had been a demonstration of cursing, invective, raw hatred; here was one where the Victim prayed for His murderers! It became talked about throughout the Empire. No advertising could have been purchased at any price that was more effective for proclaiming the gospel.

This love known as agape is a different genre than what we call love. Unlike the "natural" love we are born with that loves its own, or loves nice people, agape loves ugly people, mean people, unworthy people, yes, enemies. Unheard of!

On the lips of the apostles, it became the word "that turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). Its origin was unearthly. It had to be "poured into" emptied human hearts from an Outside source (Rom. 5:5). It couldn't be conveyed by lectures; it can't be propagated by PowerPoint; it has to be communicated by a white hot flame burning in a human heart that has been deeply moved by the Holy Spirit (any willing human heart will do!).

You look, you stare, you wonder; you "behold the Lamb of God" on His cross. Takes time--you'll be doing it right on into eternity.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 5, 2004.

Monday, April 09, 2012

Heaven's Secret Service Agents

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What are "guardian angels"? Does everybody have one? Why do they protect some people and not others? It's good for us to ask questions. We need to know how to get those angels detailed to serve us. They are more efficient than armed bodyguards or the President's Secret Service aides. Please note:

(1) We live in Enemy-controlled territory, his majesty the devil being "the prince of this world" (John 14:30).

(2) It is coming increasingly under his control, "defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth," not merely in a physical sense but also morally (Isa. 24:5, 6). When "the princes of this world" expelled Christ from the world (1 Cor. 2:8) they chose a criminal in His place, and crucified Him (Acts 3:14, 15). Jesus is therefore persona non grata in this wicked world (cf. 1 John 5:19).

(3) But although He is in exile from this earth, He has sent His vicar, the Holy Spirit, to be with those who believe in Him (John 14:16, 17; 16:7-13). His presence with God's people is equivalent to Jesus personally being with them (14:18). For centuries, the Holy Spirit has not only "comforted" Christ's loyal believers, He has also exercised a restraining power on the evil in the world (Rev 7:1-4).

(4) Guardian angels are detailed to be "ministering spirits, sent forth [detailed] to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation"--Heaven's Secret Service agents sent to protect "royalty," who by faith have become members of the "family of God" (Heb. 1:14; Eph. 3:15; 1 Peter 2:9).

(5) Common sense sees that those thus protected must be people whose lives are dedicated to "the King's business," to Jesus.

(6) We cannot hazard a guess about others, why they apparently didn't have angels' protection; good sense would tell us that when we pray "in the name of Jesus" we must sincerely be living for Him.

(7) Ask for an angel guard; that is, "pray without ceasing," as families. Then--let us not fear but believe that "the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear [reverence] Him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). If you can read this, that means you have their protection thus far!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 6, 1999.

Sunday, April 08, 2012

Does the Lord Need Our Help?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Does the Lord need humans to do things that He wants done "in earth as it is in heaven"?

When we pray the Lord's prayer, we are confessing that His will should be done "in earth as it is in heaven"; but who is to accomplish that? Angels are His "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Heb. 1:14). But their ministry is not to do things that those "heirs of salvation" should do themselves. The Father's will never will be done "in earth as it is in heaven" until His own people get busy and do it.

A prayer that will always be answered is this, "Father in heaven, what do You want me to do?" It may be a phone call that you have shied away from; to make the call will require laying self aside! It may be a letter that you have been impressed that it is your duty to write; that too will require a denial of self. It may be a personal visit likewise that you need to make.

Welcome to the joyous thrill that is yours when you know you have done what the heavenly Father wants you to do. That means you have become a fellow-laborer with Him!

Can you think of a higher honor you could have but that--as the holy angels all step aside in deep respect to you as you DO what the Father has appointed you to do?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 17, 2008.

Thursday, April 05, 2012

The Good Shepherd and Practical Living

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How does the Good Shepherd seeking and finding His lost sheep translate into practical day-by-day living? If the Savior gives us a good faith-relationship with Himself, shouldn't it be fair for us now to "maintain" that "relationship" by (a) Bible study, (b) prayer, and (c) witnessing? If the Lord gives you a new car, isn't it fair that you "maintain" it by changing the oil, renewing the brake pads, paying the insurance, etc. etc.?

Yes, of course, only fair. But a lot of cars get dilapidated by not being "maintained," the new car thrill wears off; and also lots of people lose their "relationship with the Lord" by neglect and forgetfulness. So we have "revival" campaigns at various intervals. And of course, all that is good.

It sounds like such reasonable good sense that millions know no other way to be Christians. But when you think it through, isn't this the essence of the "by faith plus by works" idea? We're afraid of any Good News that's better than that lest making the Good News too good might lull us to sleep and we'll forget to keep the law. The "faith plus works" idea becomes immensely popular because it seems to be the only way people can stay "faithful." (The Old Covenant is loath to give way to the New Covenant.)

If the Good Shepherd has risked His own life to save the lost sheep, doesn't it make good common sense that He require the sheep now to walk its way home? Yes, of course, that's only fair; but that's not what the parable says: "When He hath found it, He layeth it on His shoulders, rejoicing" (Luke 15:5). Paul says in Philippians: "I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus" (1:6, Good News Bible). What does that mean? Lazy, do-nothing religion?

No; it means that through the Holy Spirit the Good Shepherd who initiated this good "relationship" now seeks to maintain it. His love is not only a finding love, it's also a keeping love. The Holy Spirit is a Person who keeps convicting us of "sin, ... of righteousness, [and] of judgment" (John 16:7-11). Be careful: don't drown His voice. That's where our problem starts.

Even Jesus when he was with us in the flesh needed His Father to wake Him up "morning by morning ... to hear as the learned." (Does the Father love you less? It seems fair and good sense to say No, He loves His Son more; but the amazing truth is He loves us just as much!) But Jesus did not resist His Father's awakening calls--as we do so often: "I was not rebellious, neither turned away back" (Isa. 50:4, 5).

Mr. Laodicea, you can't save yourself even one percent. But you can LET Christ save you, you can "LET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," you can "LET the word of Christ dwell in you richly," etc. (Phil. 2:5; Col. 3:16). You can stop resisting Him.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 12, 2003.

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

A More Effective Method of "Evangelism" (part 1)

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We apologize for the "blackout" period the past few days in being able to send you "Dial Daily Bread." Living in a wooded area sometimes presents challenges, in this case our antenna at the top of a tall pine tree can no longer be "seen" by our Internet provider. Between storms, a tree climber will be coming to hopefully correct the problem. For now we're sending you two devotionals that hopefully will enhance your study of the new quarter of Sabbath School lessons on evangelism and witnessing.

If you are not receiving Sabbath School Today, weekly essays on the lessons, you may subscribe by writingSubscribe SST in an e-mail header or as a reply to this message. If you already receive these essays, there is no need to re-subscribe.

Blessings to you all,

Carol Kawamoto

For "Dial Daily Bread"

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Everybody who believes the Bible teaching of the second coming of Jesus must also believe that something great must happen before He CAN come again: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and [only] then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14). It is commonly understood that this means huge expenditures of money in public meetings and TV presentations using state-of-the-art electronic facilities. Wonderful work; deserves our offerings. Huge public meetings have been held for nearly 200 years and yet world population grows faster than the combined efforts of all Protestant churches to reach them with "the gospel."

Could it be that the Bible teaches a more effective method of "evangelism," one that we have "in a great degree" overlooked?

It could be summed up in one statement Jesus made near the end of His ministry: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said [Song of Solomon 4:12-15], out of his inmost soul shall flow rivers of living water. ... This spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive" (John 7:37-39).

It means that the humblest person who "believes in Jesus," even the uneducated, will become "a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams of Lebanon." Unconsciously, in an unstudied way, he will pour forth the ultimately powerful message. It will be that "the love of Christ constraineth us," compels, motivates, empowers, makes effective the agent who cannot help but communicate the message--all with one proviso, that he "believe in Jesus." That's what Jesus said in John 7.

It sounds deceptively simple. For two millennia people have "believed in Jesus," haven't they? And yet in spite of all our best efforts, the task gets bigger all the time. There must be something about what it means to "believe in Jesus" that we haven't yet grasped. If that "well of living water" is not flowing out from within our soul as the ultimate evangelism, it's obvious: we haven't yet learned to "believe" in the sense that Jesus meant when He spoke on "that last day ... of the feast." More next time.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 12, 2004.

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" messages are availalbe 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.