The Carpenter's Chapel

Thank you for this journey, Roger.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Acts 10: 26

“But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

As Peter was entering the place where Cornelius was, Cornelius fell down at Peter’s
feet. This is the attitude that befalls a man who is about to learn about Jesus. A man
who is facing the prospects of eternal life. It is an humbling experience to fall prey
to the grasp of the Holy Spirit. In another time, the centurion would likely had the
scene the other way around and had Peter kiss his foot.

Peter is somewhat embarrassed by this move. Please stand up, I am a man too.
When facing Jesus we are all equals. One man no better than another, and we all
must prostrate outselves at Jesus’ feet and not at the feet of men, no matter how
important they may be in the chain of service. Here is a lesson for every man who
would be a pastor. He should stand tall for he fills a great office, but at the same
time should posture a humble station in demeanor. I am but a man. It is said that
Robert E. Lee was seen kneeling before a cross beside a Blackman and he was
questioned about this. Lee said, “At the foot of the cross we are all equal.” If the
statement is true, then that makes Lee a most magnanimous of generals. We find
equality in Jesus, and it is to Him alone we bow, worship and adore.

Another thing to notice here, is that when we come to learn of Jesus, we never come
alone. We may think we are insignificant, but we are not. Verse 27, “And as he
talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.” Cornelius
had assembled a small company of friends. When we come to Jesus, we can
influence our company of friends and relatives. No doubt the change in our lives
affects those around us. Yes, many will abandon us, but it is our duty to witness
instantly of what Jesus will do, is doing and will do in our lives. We will then
preach the strongest sermon of evangelism ever in our lifetime. How many have
shrunk from this responsibility or understated the importance of this event. We
never get saved in a vacuum.

Instantly Peter breaks down any barriers that may be in the minds of this great
host.”God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” The
lesson of the prior vision of Peter about the meat provided by God. The drunk, the
down-and-out, the destitute, the uneducated...all have that need in common...Jesus
Christ as Lord and Saviour. One of the greatest experiences of my early training
was to preach at the rescue missions. We mixed with men of the streets. Men given
to cheap wine and a life of begging. They smelled of smoke and filth, and yet we
commnly offered to them the gospel of Christ. We mixed and mingled, ignoring
their state and seeing the naked soul standing before an holy God in great need of
more than meat and drink. Some students called it practice preaching, but my
friends, it went beyond practice preaching. It was a living opportunity to present the
One who could alter their lives forever. There is no room for practice in the service
of the King. We must always be alert of Whom we are serving, and the goal of the
gospel.

Peter got right down to business. “Therefore I came unto you without gainsaying, as
soon as I was sent for...” Peter came without hesitating...gainsaying...He did not
waste time. Here was an open door of opportunity, and he was not going to waste
time. “An ambassador has no battle ships, or armies at his disposal.......his only
weapons are words and opportunities..” (Demosthenes) We are ambassadors for
Christ and we are to take advantage of every opportunity to preach the gospel of
peace and the supreme Peacemaker, the Lord Jesus Himself.

“Therefore art thou come....NOW therefore are we all here present before God, to
hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” Verse 33. A ready audience of
willing listeners. We are not to waste time. We are to preach the truth, and we are to
lift the Saviour high, lay the sinner low, but always remembering that we are but
sinners saved by grace.

Help us always to remember who we are, but above that, who is our King and
Saviour, as we stand before men.

Cheers,

Jim

 

The burden to tell the gospel is overwhelming, and if it is not, we can surely doubt our own belief in it.

Thank you, Roger, Cheers,

Jim

 

Friday, February 27, 2004

Acts 10:33

“Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou has well done that thou art come.
Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are
commanded thee of God.”

In this verse we have the ideal congregation; (1) they were all assembled, “we are
all here.”; (2) Devout, “present before God.”; (3) it paid attention, “to hear all
things.” and; (4) it was teachable, “commanded thee of God.”

How grand it would be if when services are announced ALL the people came. So
often it doesn’t take much of an excuse to absent oneself from services. The next
thing is that people be prepared to stand before God when they do come. We should
always be of a right mind when we come to worship. We can be easily distracted
with the affairs of our lives. Our minds wander and review all the things we could
be doing. We need a constant reminder that when we assemble, we stand before an
holy God and not before men. We are not there to please the preacher, but to
worship God. And we should of a mind to learn the things of God. We are not to
entertain the masses, but to teach the word of God, and then expect obedience to the
things that are taught. Sometimes the preacher thinks he could repeat the previous
week’s sermon and no one would notice.

In verses 34,35, we read “Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I
perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” The Bible is not saying that good
people will find acceptance in the eyes of God. He is not saying that good people
are automatically saved. The word is saying that when we preach there are good
people all over who will respond to the gospel call and answer to God’s demands
and thus be saved, not by their own righteousness, but by the righteousness of God
imputed to them in Christ Jesus. This should give us great encouragement to be
faithful in preaching the word, even when the odds seem against us. Ours is to
labour; His is to save. If we are faithful to preach the word, the Lord will reach out
and save. How? By the foolishness of preaching.

In this chapter, the Lord is doing away with any notion that Israel, the nation, and
the circumcision of old had any redeeming graces. Israel is no more as a nation, but
the church, the Israel of God is charged with dispensing the word, and drawing men
unto Jesus Christ. Verses 44,45, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
Ghost fell on ALL them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which
believed, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles
also was poured out of the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Once establishing the fact that
the church was open to all nations, he asked if any of them could be denied water
baptism.......And in verse 48, “He commanded them to be baptized in the name of
the Lord.

We bless thee, O Lord, that the church is open to receive us every one, and that
Your saving grace is dispensed, not for anything we have done, but the good works
of God in us through the Holy Spirit.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Tuesday, March 2, 2004

Acts 11: 1-4; 18-30

“And when Peter was come to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision
contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat
with them.”

The Jewish Church was holding fast to the laws of old. They were not yet ready to
appreciate the global outreach of the Church of Christ. The church was not a
parenthetical afterthought of God, but an integral part of the plan of God. It
included the Gentiles. The gospel is far reaching. It is for all men. God has His
elect, but we are left to find them out. How? By the preaching of the word, and the
power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember Peter in the garden when the soldiers approached to apprehend Jesus?
He was prepared to draw a sword and fight for the kingdom. Impetus Peter. Then at
the very cross upon which our Lord bled and died, this same impatient Peter went
so far as to deny he knew the Lord. Some have speculated as to whether Peter was
actually saved at that time. Was he just going on the knowledge he had received
over the short years he had been with Jesus. I have no doubt that he was indeed
saved, but something was lacking in all the disciples at that time. It was the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This even happened at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit
came upon all the believers, and this changed them forever. Their faith had been
sealed. This is not a second blessing. This was a continual blessing bestowed by
God at the genesis of the church of Christ. Jesus gave the foundation of the church
when he described the cornerstone. The knowledge was there for all history, and it
was all confirmed at Pentecost. Peter was a changed man. As should we all be
changed forever when we receive the gift of God in salvation. It is a complete
salvation and includes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is a developing salvation
as we grow in grace and knowledge. It will be a final salvation when we are safe in
the fold of Jesus. This will be either in death or when Jesus returns. This is
sanctification. If we fail to grow and develop, we have some serious questions to
ask of ourselves.

Verse 4 “Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order
unto them.” This is the new Peter. He shows utmost patience and takes the time to
fully explain the events that God led him through in dealing with the Gentiles. This
is the fruit of being one with God in Jesus Christ. We should show great patience
with the world, with those who have not found Jesus. Would that the outcome of
every confrontation could have the same results. Verse 18 “When they heard these
things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the
Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Sometimes in ministry we stand accused of
things, and we would like to reach out with a long fist, or at least some sharp words
in our defence. I learned over time, the best answer often is no answer. Let the
accusers stand and have their say. God is on your side and it just doesn’t matter
what men may say of you, except you be of good report for the gospel’s sake. When
all is calm, and common sense can prevail, then you can present your case.

Those who were scattered after the stoning of Stephen, were preaching to the Jews
only, and many had come to Jesus. These disciples continued in their stubborness
even though our Lord had expressly said the gospel was for all humankind. When
word got back to the Jerusalem Church, they dispatched Barnabas. Barnabas would
then see the blessings of the Lord upon the people. After teaching the people the
whole truth at Antioch he went on to Tarsus to meet with Saul. A whole year they
assembled with the church and taught. Would to God that we could be tutored for a
whole year under a Spirit-filled leader like Barnabas.”And the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.” We are not to be known by any name of our choosing.
They were called Christians. They were named after Christ. I am not in love with
the name Baptist. That is a name I was given. I am in love with what it stands for,
and in that I am a Christian first.

The result of this assembling was a global love for the brethren. The Jerusalem
Church sent out Christians who would benefit the believers scattered abroad. This is
the fellowship we cherish wherever we may go. Isn’t it a wonderful thing to be
received by a sister church, and share the things of Christ.

Lord help us always to love the brethren.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Yes, I don't understand the so-called second blessing so many seek....We have it built in from the beginning...We just have to lay claim and believe it.

I don't understand when some men say they have difficulty with sermon material. I can find a rich sermon in every passage..just need a little filling out.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Amen, Roger. The veil was rent in two, and the great divide partitioned by the blood of the Lord Jesus who sacrificed all for us.

Cheers,

Jim