When I was young a television program called “Dragnet” was broadcast weekly. A police story, it always began with these words, “This is the city, Los Angeles, California.”

Surely some of you friends will remember!

Well, in reading the Book of Proverbs a little while ago, I found this amazing verse … “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” Proverbs 11:11

Notice the two very different kinds of people mentioned in the verse. The “upright” and the “wicked!” The noun “upright” (spelled in Hebrew “yashar” and meaning “straight, righteous”) is dramatically contrasted with the “wicked” (in Hebrew spelled “rasha” and meaning “ungodly, guilty”).

That’s stark!

Now, watch the attributes linked to each type of person. The upright speak “blessing.” While the wicked speak “rebellion!” Yes, the verb “overthrown” means “to break down, destroy, ruin!”

Just words?

No, they have an impact on the environment! (Not the environment in a made-up “global warming” sense, but in a “where you live every day” sense.) A heavy impact in the cities where people live!

Look at the verse again … one city (where the upright are in preponderance) is exalted! It prospers! The other city (where wicked men have sway) does not prosper. In fact, it does not even continue to exist. It is destroyed, overthrown!

Wow!

And I read that American cities, many of them, are disintegrating before our very eyes! I’ve driven through Detroit and Baltimore, seeing the wreckage myself!

And we wonder … “Why?”

Better read Proverbs 11:11 again!

Here it is … “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”

Folks, “Dragnet” can hardly be found anymore, other than the rare posting of an episode online.

Come to think of it … Los Angeles is about gone too! (I had mistakenly typed “Lost Angeles,” but my spell checker caught it!)

Oh, the failproof accuracy of God’s Word!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

This same principle works on the national level, too. (Undoubtedly including the United States of America.) “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and ALL the nations that forget God.” Psalm 7:17

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Paull was aboard ship. In a storm at that! It appeared that all was lost. Hopeless!

But then … it happened!

An “angel” came.

With a message. A word of encouragement.

The Apostle tells us the story better than anyone. He is speaking to the ship’s crew … “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night THE ANGEL OF GOD, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” Acts 27:22-25

Did you see that, read that? “There stood by me this night the angel of God.”

I am thinking about the ministry of angels right now. They do exist, created beings, servants (errand runners) for the Lord. In Hebrews 12:22 we learn that they are “innumerable!”

It also appears that they are active … even in our age. For Hebrews 13:3 implies that many of us may have encountered them “unawares.”

Hebrews 1:14 teaches that these angels “serve” the saints of God as well! “Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister (the verb that gives us the word “deacon”) for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

While this class of beings can be overemphasized, I believe, they can also be underemphasized.

And that night long ago when Paul most needed a word of encouragement … he received a visit from on high. The “angel” of God stood by his side!

And while we may not have visibly seen one, or even been aware of his presence … angels likely have been on assignment around us too!

Perhaps when we all get to Heaven … we will know more specifically about those times when we ourselves received, experienced, were aided by “angels” from the Lord’s Presence.

When the Story is completely told, in the “by and by,” we shall know more. And probably, “stand amazed!”

There may have stood by you one night, many nights, the angel of God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17, an army of (here invisible) angels … protecting Elisha and his helper!

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I have in mind Isaiah 41:14, at least part of that great Verse. God is speaking to His people … “I WILL HELP THEE.”

Yes, that amazing Sentence (really, it’s a Promise) is actually in the Bible, Word for Word!

“I WILL HELP THEE.”

The whole Verse (not just a few of its words) adds to its beauty … “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I WILL HELP THEE, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”

Often in this earthly life we come to some specific point where we critically need God’s Help!

Aren’t you glad that we don’t have to try to buy that help?

Or talk God into giving that help?

We should be thrilled that God offers that help!

Does Psalm 40:17 touch anyone’s heart today? “I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: THOU ART MY HELP and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.”

In some kind of trouble? Read this … “God is our refuge and strength, a very present HELP in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Ladies too! “God shall help her, and that right early.” Psalm 46:5

Do not be ashamed to cry out for it, for God’s (promised) help!

In fact, it may be a sin not to ask!

Ponder the Text today … “I WILL HELP THREE!“

The verb “help” is spelled “azar” in Hebrew. It is related to the proper name Ezra! It means “to succour,” using an old-fashioned definition. And succour (from Latin) means “to come running!”

When I have a need … God our Help comes “running” to my side!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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It’s a Verse many of us have learned. But it has been “foreign” to our way of life. At least for those of us who live in the so-called free world.

1 Peter 4:12 … “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”

As we grow nearer our Lord’s Return, persecution of us Christians (world-wide) is going to increase. Already international mission agencies say that over 300 Believers a day die for their faith, are murdered, martyred!

I once would have said, “Not in America!”

Now I am not even sure there exists an America. (United States?) We certainly are no longer a world power. Events of recent days have proved that fact.

Paul was right, after all. “ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12, not just in foreign lands, mind you … “ALL!”

We had best accustom ourselves to the static, overt opposition, and hatred that is one the way!

Another way of saying “think it not strange” when such trials come.

“Fiery trials,” Peter?

Maybe even like this … “They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Hebrews 11:38-39

We’re going to have to toughen up!

Like Paul forewarned Timothy … “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

It’s on the way, folks. Persecution of Christians is spreading like wildfire. And our government is no longer strong enough (or perhaps even willing) to protect Bible Believing Children of God.

And when it happens, not if it happens … “Think it not strange!”

Just consider how much of the New Testament is written either by persecuted saints or to persecuted saints.

I know. I believe in the Rapture too. It could happen any second. But should the Lord not come soon … we’re all going have to memorize and practice “the Verse of the decade!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Let’s let Jesus have the last word … “Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20

Well, one more Verse after all … “And they (the Disciples, after having been beaten and imprisoned) departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41

Wow!

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I take it that the seed in Jesus’ great “Parable of the Sower” illustrates the types of responses the Gospel might receive as it is preached around the world.

One particular category of “ground” on which the seed fell is described like this … “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because THEY HAD NO ROOT, they withered away.” Matthew 13:5-6, watch the capitalized words, please.

It is commonly known that a tree’s root structure determines much about the life (longevity) of that huge green giant.

Books have been written about roots. Lots of Roots!

What about us spiritually, our roots? Let me begin with a few verses …

A fig tree Jesus condemned also had a root problem … “And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree DRIED UP FROM THE ROOTS.” Mark 11:20

And Jude, in his little Epistle, portrays certain apostates (false believers) this way … “Trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS.” Jude 12

Roots are obviously important!

Now, for us Believers who desire to grow in Christ …

Here’s how to live! “ROOTED and built up IN HIM (Jesus), and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7

Paul gets even more specific … “BEING ROOTED and grounded in love” … God’s goal for us, as taught in Ephesians 3:17. (The multi-faceted love of God, of course.)

What kind of root system does this tree (man, really) have, do you imagine? “And he shall be LIKE A TREE PLANTED by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3, planted by all that water, great roots!

How does one get such deep, healthy roots?

The “WATER” of the Word, I suspect! (Ephesians 5:26, if you’d like to read this fact.)

Folks, get IN the Bible and stay there! Roots grow slowly … but surely!

I think the Bible might say so much about roots because Jesus is One! “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, THE ROOT OF DAVID, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Glory to God, Revelation 5:5.

And by all means, do not end up like this … “Ephraim is smitten, THEIR ROOT IS DRIED UP, they shall bear no fruit.” Hosea 9:16

No root, no fruit!

Someone wisely said that if we take care of our depth (roots), God would Himself take care of our breadth (fruit)!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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