The Carpenter's Chapel (6)

Thursday, 30th December, 2004

It is natural that at the end of every year our thoughts got to evaluate year just gone. This year we are faced with the shock of one of the greatest natural disasters of the modern world. At the time of this writing at least 70,000 are listed a dead in the tragedy of the recent earthquake and tidal wave. As Christians we naturally begin to consider all events in the light of Scripture. Some have said things like” Why does this happen?” Others wonder if this has some kind of event with eschatological ramifications. This are questions that I don’t think we will ever really be able to answer. However, the Word of God is not totally silent when it comes to events like this.

Hebrews 1v10-12

These words are in reference to Christ. He did indeed lay the very foundations of the earth. It is carefully, lovingly, wonderfully moulded by His hands. However, it is clear that His creation is not given the same immutability He has. Look at the words referred to in regards to His creation.

They shall perish
They shall was old as a garment
They shall be folded up like a cloak
They shall be changed

Disasters such as we have just witnessed are a part of the natural course of this world. We will never understand the “whys and hows” involved, but they will always happen. As the population of the world grows and people live in all parts of the world the human results will be more and more devastating.

Does this mean that God is any less involved? Does indicate that He doesn’t care? The answer is found in the passage above.

You remain
You are the same
Your years will not fail

“I am the Lord, I change not.” “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” We take confidence in the fact that Jesus never changes. He is the same, He remains. Through terrorists attacks and natural disasters He remains the same. As we approach 2005 we have no idea what we will encounter, but we can be sure of this – Jesus never changes, the Lord is in His holy temple. May we take total confidence in this wonderful truth.

 

May I share this Roger, with my church email group?

 

Thank you Roger,

God Bless

Sheila

 

Thank you Jim, you touched me today.
I recall J. Vernon McGee saying what the greatest compliment ever paid to him. After a sermon a boy approached him who was obviously fighting back tears he said, "I never knew Jesus was so wonderfull."
That should be the Jesus that we put before the world.

 

Thank you Jim.

At this year's end I certainly have a lot to remember and reflect on and so much to give thanks and praise to our Lord for.

God Bless

Sheila

 

Saturday January 1, 2005

“Then said they unto him, ‘What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.’ They said therefore unto him, ‘What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Then Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.’ Then said they unto him, ‘Lord, evermore give us this bread.’
And Jesus said unto them, ‘I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.’” (John 6:28-36)

The Jews asked what works they could do, that would give them this eternal life. His response clearly identifies the only thing that God requires a sinner to do for salvation: Believe on the Son. But a red flag is raised when the Jews hear the word "believe." They want a sign from heaven to prove to them that Jesus' words are true. This doesn't seem bad until you remember who was asking for a sign, - God's own people! They had the signs in Egypt as Moses displayed God's power. They had the sign of the Sabbath, the sacrifices, the tabernacle, the rebellion of Korah, the law and the commandments, the memorial pillars of stone in Joshua's day, Hezekiah's sundial, the Virgin Birth of Christ, yet they did not believe. (The word "sign" is used 46 times on the Old Testament) (Compare Mt. 12: 38-41; 16:1-4; 24: 3, 30.)
The second example responds to their statement in 6:31, "Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." Jesus response to the crowd leaps over the miracle of the previous night (remember the crowd didn't know about the walking on the water.) So connect the feeding of the 5000 (this same crowd) to His response of their asking for a sign. They did nor recognize His miracle as a sign of His Deity, so He turns to their Old Testament example of Moses and the manna from heaven. He will use this as a springboard into His sermon on the bread of life.
Jesus knew that the Jews were trusting in their own righteousness (works) rather than believing in God's work of salvation for them.
Romans 10:1: "Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2: For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3: For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have nor submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4: For Christ is the end of the la for righteousness to everyone that believeth." Jesus also knew that they were claiming the examples of the Old Testament to prove that since they were God's chosen people, they were already in God's favor. Manna was the miracle of God's provision in the wilderness to those who previously stepped out by faith and "were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." (1Cor. 10:2) They thought their ancestor's faith and the blessings that followed their faith somehow would be passed along to them.
As for manna: Exodus 16:14: "And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15: And when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat."
Jesus answers them by saying "I am the Brad of Life." Dr. John R. Rice explains: "The manna Israel fed on for forty years in the wilderness was not from Moses, it was from God. It had no saving power, but it pictures Christ, the Heavenly Manna, Who gives everlasting life." (p.147) Just as He told the woman at the well in John 4 of living water, Jesus says "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and he that believeth in Me shall never thirst." The woman at the well was willing to believe once she saw Jesus was more than just another Jew, but these "believe not." They had tasted the bread of the miracle lunch, yet wanted another sign.

 

Sunday January 2,2005

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
(John 6:37-40)

Jesus now explains some great truths on the subject of salvation starting with 6:37. This verse brings up the issue of election vs. free-will. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." That is a good explanation of election, but the verse doesn't stop there. "and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." That explains free-will. God knows all things, yet He is not predetermining who will come.

Dr. McGee quoted the Great Baptist preacher of London, Charles Spurgeon who said, "If the Lord had put a yellow stripe down the backs of the elect, I'd go up and down the street lifting up shirt tails, finding out who had the yellow stripe and then I'd give him the gospel. But God didn't do it that way. He told me to preach the gospel to every creature that 'whosoever will may come.' Jesus says, 'and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' So, my friend you can argue election all you want to, but you can come. And if you come, He'll not cast you out." (p.405)
A second truth is found in 6:39 which speaks of the security of the believer. Jesus paid the price to redeem us with His precious blood, and it is God's work to keep us. Those that are truly saved will not lose their salvation, because it is God that is doing the keeping. John 17:12: "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them are lost..." Phil. 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." God will finish the work of keeping the saints right up to the "last day," the day of His return. Verse 40 is another clear description of the free gift of salvation for those who believe on Jesus. Notice that both verses (6:39,40) end with the promise of being raised up at the last day.

 

Amen. Thank you Charles,

Blessings

Sheila

 

Monday, 2 January, 2005

The year 2005 is only a little over daysurs old. It seems like every so often the Lord gives us something to draw our thoughts back to Him. Whether or not we choose to see the disaster of last week as an act of judgement, a sign of the times, or just a part of the natural course of a sin cursed world it did give the entire world cause to stop and reflect on the brevity of life. Picking up where we left off last week let us examine Hebrews 2v1-3.

When we consider the “waxing old” of the world and its “folding as a garment,” we ought to indeed “give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard.” While we do well to contribute to the relief efforts and give financially, let us give more earnest heed to the spiritual impact of what has happened. How many tens of thousands passed off into a Christless eternity? This event was totally unexpected, there was no warning. Our friends, neighbours, and family members without Christ are a split second form eternity.

Don’t let God’s Word slip by. How many will neglect “so great salvation” in 2005. How many will slip away into eternity in the next twelve months. May each of who are saved give more earnest heed to what we have heard. May we use every opportunity to follow Christ and encourage others not to neglect “so great salvation.”

Thank you, Lord, for so great salvation. Remind us to take heed to it and share it with others in 2005.

 

Thank you Roger.

We never know what aspect of our behaviour, as in words and actions others see Jesus shining forth in.

Blessings

Sheila

 

Wednesday, 4th January, 2005

Another year has begun. I know that too often when a new year begins I am tempted to look back with regret with what I did not do in the previous year. While there is benefit in that we can see where we failed and attempt to correct our mistakes and failings, that should not be our focus. Learn from what we did and move on. The Word of God sets the principle, “Forgetting those things which are behind and pressing on toward the mark of the high calling of God which is in Christ Jesus.”

Over the next three days of my own devotional thoughts I want to focus of three simple instructions that God gives in Romans 15v1-6. If each of us would implement these thoughts into our lives this year, we could consider 2005 a year well spent.

We will focus on three instructions:
Think about others v1-3
Focus on the Scriptures v4
Glorify God together v5-6

Romans 15v1-3

In this section we see that our thoughts our to be for others.

“You who are strong, bear the weaknesses of the weak.” No fellow believer should ever bear a burden alone. “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ,” we read in another place. Let us be sure that we are “burden bearers” in the year to come.

Please your neighbour, not yourself.” Does that fly in the face of everything we hear today. This is the opposite of “looking out for number one,” which sadly has become a motto, even for Christians.

“Build others up, don’t tear them down.” Enough said, most of us would do well to take this advice right here on our little Baptist Board.

“Follow Christ example.” When it came to the cross Jesus had all the power in the world to please Himself. No one had the power to nail Him to the cross. He chose not to please Himself, but to take on Himself the reproaches of those who reproached Him.

Lord, remind us to put others first, even as You did when Your went to the cross for us. When we are tempted to please and satisfy ourselves, remind us of you example.

 

In answer to Cain's question: "Am I my brother's keeper?" In many ways, God's Word tell us, "Yes."
Thanks Roger!

 

Friday, 7th January, 2005

Today we want to examine part two of our instructions for 2005 from Romans 15.

Our instruction for today – Focus on the Scriptures

[iFor whatsoever things that were written aforetime were written for our learning, that ye through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.[/I]

As Paul wrote these words of course he was referring to the Bible he had, the Old Testament. This little note reminds us of the validity of the entire Bible, of all that God has given us in His Word. It is all written for our learning, since it is all given by inspiration of God, and it is profitable for us.

Note first of all that patience is required. God is not always going to work according to our timetable. If we have confidence in His Word we are able to patiently wait for His instruction. This word for patience means to “abide under,” and for us to benefit from the Scriptures we must patiently abide under the teaching that God has given us.

What happens if we have patience with the Word of God? God gives us two things;

Comfort
Hope

These are two blessings that we so often miss. The Word of God never changes. To me that is my greatest source of comfort. In all of the trials of life that we face, it is only in the Word of God that we find everlasting comfort, of we can come back to it time after time, and the words are always there. “The Lord is my Shepherd…” is just as real today as it was the first time I read it. We find our greatest comfort in the things which don’t change.

Hope. How many people around us are walking around without hope? How often do we live like everything is hopeless? The wonderful thing is that I do not have to hope in anything but the Word of God. The Saviour Who is revealed there will NEVER change and He will NEVER forsake. I live daily looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Looking for some comfort and hope in 2005? Look into the Scriptures, patiently abide there no matter what comes your way. In them you will find the comfort and hope you desire.

Lord, remind us of the only true source of hope and comfort. When things get tough, take us back to your precious Word. Remind us that there, and there alone, we will find comfort and hope for this new year.

 

THank You guys for these good messages.

 

Thank you Jim and Roger. We need to keep looking up rather than around us.

God Bless

Sheila