The Carpenter's Chapel (6)

Roger,

Thank you for that message. How we tend to over complicate things, yet we are nothing except for His grace.

God Bless

Sheila

 

Wednesday, 16th March, 2005


After speaking of being carried away a slave to Ireland from his native Britain at the age of sixteen. Interesting to note that he felt like they deserved their captivity because they:
</font>

• Turned away from God</font>

</font>

• Did not keep God's commandments</font>

</font>

• Did not obey the priests who had reminded them of the need of salvation</font>

.

He recognised that God had some reasons for the scattering:
</font>

• To show His wrath</font>

</font>

• To scatter them to the uttermost parts of the earth</font>

</font>

• To place Patrick, in his "littleness" among strangers.</font>

Ireland in those days was considered the "uttermost part of the earth. No one could imagine a land beyond Ireland. We of course are reminded of Acts 1v8 where we are instructed to be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. Now in retrospect, Patrick could see what God was doing in allowing the captivity.

Notice what Patrick said next;

From here Patrick goes on to recount what God had done for him even before his salvation.

</font>

• Had regard for my abjection</font>

</font>

• Had mercy on my youth and ignorance</font>

</font>

• Watched over me before I knew Him</font>

</font>

• Guarded me and comforted me as a father would his son.</font>

Looking back at the end of his life Patrick could see the very hand of God working in his life to bring him to the point where he could recognise his sin and "be converted with all his heart" to the Lord.

How often do we pause to reflect on the mercy of God in protecting us before we were even saved? What a wonderful God, what a loving Father, what a glorious Saviour, Who in His Divine foreknowledge protected us in life and brought us to the point where we too could "be converted with all our heart to the Lord!"

 

Amen!

Thank you Roger,

God bless

Sheila

 

Thanks Roger.

 

Good stuff about Patrick. I've come to appreciate him over the years, apart from all of the legends and stories.
I wish we non-high-church folks wouldn't be so afraid to see what we can learn from these dear "saints" of old, even if the high church folks have labeled them more special in a way we don't agree with. He is a prime example of one worth studying.

 

Friday, 18th March, 2005

Our last thought, for now, from Patrick comes from his Confessio right after his testimony of salvation. This stands alone as a challange to us today, almot 1600 years after Patrick lived:

With these words we are reminded of Jeremiah, when the word of God burned within him like a fire, so that he could not be silent. Oh waht could Patrick nor be silent?

</font>

• The great benefits of the Lord</font>

</font>

• The great grace of the Lord</font>

</font>

• To exalt and praise His wonders before every nation that is anywhere under the heaven</font>

Our last challange from Patrick during this week is this. Do we have a heart that cannot be silent about what God has doen for us?

Lord give us the heart of Patrick, which cannot be silent to a lost world around us!

 

Amen.

Thank you, Roger.

God Bless

Sheila

 

Sunday March 20, 2005

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:17-18)
Jesus finishes the example of sheep and the Good Shepherd with an amazing statement. He, as the Son of God, is in control of His own destiny! No man a has ever been able to make that claim. The claim itself caused a great division as even His close disciples didn't have any understanding of His death and resurrection. The crowd before Jesus came up with two answers. Those who did not believe Him to be of God supposed Jesus to be a mad man (having a devil) and it would have been the correct assumption IF Jesus was not God! Others, who believed that Jesus was the Christ, didn't comprehend all that He said. But these believers realized the miracle (giving sight to a man born blind) could only be from God! Also please note that Jesus was adamant that He was in full control of His life and death. No man has ever been able to say that. Dr. McGee declares: "He makes it very clear that He gave His life willingly. He was in full control at His trial. Also, He set the time of His death. The Jews said it shouldn't be on a feast day lest there be an uproar, a riot of the people, but He was crucified on the feast day." (p.432)
There is a subtle change of scenes which is worth noting. In chapter 7 Jesus went to Jerusalem for the feast of the tabernacles which fell during the month of October. Chapters 8 & 9 occur just following that feast. But now we find Jesus coming back to Jerusalem for the winter feast of Dedication (our December). "This feast celebrated the time when Judas Maccabaeus delivered the temple from Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian, who had polluted it. This took place in 167 B.C. And it was still celebrated in our Lord's day." (McGee p. 433)
Before we continue let's get our bearings. It is December and Jesus is going to debate the Pharisees for the last time. In the spring Jesus will go to Jerusalem as the "Lamb of God" to take away the sin of the world! Jesus this day goes to Solomon's porch. (Acts 3:11; 5:12) Thomas Whitelaw states: "This cloister ran along the eastern wall on both sides of the gate of Susa; had three rows of columns 50' high and two walks 30' wide, the columns each of stone (white marble), the walks paved with stones of various colours, and the roofs adorned with sculptures of wood; was a survival from the Solomon temple; and stood over the Valley of Jehosaphat (Jos. Ant. Xv. 11,5 xx 9,7)
Dr. McGee said it was a place in the temple area where the Gentiles were allowed. (p. 433)
He is again confronted by these unbelieving Jews, who demand Him to speak plainly if He was the Christ. This clearly shows their spiritual blindness as many had seen, heard and believed. (A list of references here in John of people who declared that Jesus was the Christ: Andrew 1:41; Nathanael 1:49; the woman of Sychar 4:42; Peter 6:69; "Many" 7:41; the man born blind 9:38) Jesus plainly declares the problem is not His lack of witness or words, but their unbelief. He then goes back to example of the sheep from the previous encounter. As before, Jesus explains that He knows His own sheep and they follow Him. Now the Master adds two promises: eternal life and eternal security. Both of these promises are found throughout this gospel (see 3:16-18 3:36; 5:24; 6:35-47; 11:25,26). But this text is one of the best object lessons on eternal security in the Bible. It is clear that God does ALL the work for our salvation when our Lord Jesus died on the cross. (John 6:29; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 1John 5:12). The key issue of eternal security is who it is that keeps us saved. Is it man's responsibility to stay saved or God's work to keep us saved? In 10: 28,29 Jesus uses the example of clutching something precious in our hands like a rare coin or an important key. He states that it is His responsibility to keep us and that the Father is also involved n our keeping. Add to this fact, Eph. 1:13, 14 and 4:30 reveals that God, the Holy Spirit seals us and is our "earnest" (down payment) (2Cor. 1:22) "until the day of redemption." God began the work of salvation and will keep us until we graduate to glory!

 

Thank you Charles. I'm so thankful that keeping my salvation is not my job. Because if it was - I wouldn't keep my salvation very long!

Dan

 

Tuesday, 22nd March, 2004

The story goes that there was once a young woman, whom we will call Grace. Grace married a handsome, dashing young man who swept her off her feet in her youth. After a marvelous honeymoon she and her husband returned home. Grace was excited about her new life until this first morning that Jim went to work. As he kissed her good bye he handed her a paper saying, "Here is what I expect from you." Caught off guard she encountered an impossible list of requirements for the day. Although she worked her hardest, when Jim came home she wasn't even half way through the list. "This simply won't do he said." After a few hours of television he went to bed with no further conversation. As he left the next morning, this time with no kiss, he said, "Don't forget the list." And so it went. His comments became more and more harsh. Grace felt worthless and unloved. Years went by in this vein, Jim demanding, Grace trying and failing. Finally, Jim was killed in a car accident on the way home from work.

After a time Grace met another man. They got to know each other and were eventually married. As Dave left for work the first day he said, "I love you sweetheart, see you this afternoon." No rules, no demands, no list. Grace set to work about the house doing the things that needed done. And so it went, Dave telling Grace how much he loved her and Grace taking care of the house.

Several months passed. One day Grace was cleaning out the dresser drawers. She found a folded sheet of paper. She felt her heart tighten as she realised it was Jim's old list. As she read this list she was amazed! Everything that Jim had demanded she was now doing with no problems. "What," she thought, "is the difference?" Then she thought of Dave's words that morning as he kissed her goodbye, "I love you sweetheart, see you this afternoon."

"We love him, because He first loved us"
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome."

 

Comparing the Old Testament law with this, the age of grace? This is what first came to my mind.
Thanks Roger.

 

Thursday, 24th March, 2005

Along with being a missionary I work one day a week teaching literacy in a centre for early school leavers. One I first started work the coordinator was brilliant. He was a good leader, a great organiser, had a heart for the kids, etc. When he resigned to take another post we got a new boss. She had no expereince in this type work, has no leadership ability, and doesn't relate well to our kids.

The Bible tells us that no matter what our boss is like we have a responsibilty to work hard and do our best for them. Humanly speaking that is not always easy.

I was reminded of this recently while reading my book Purtian prayers and reflections. I came across this little phrase, "Remind me Lord, that it is an honour to be employed by thee."

May we remember, that no matter our earthly lot, our greatest employment is our service our resurrected Lord, and that is indeed the greatest of honours.

 

You have made an excellent point Roger, Thanks.

 

Saturday March 26, 2005

There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:19-29)

What rich blessings Christ promises to those, as we see here "hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." To think that the omnipotent Creator knows us, and gives us eternal life! He is certainly powerful enough to see that this life is in no danger, either from our own weaknesses ("they shall never perish") or from an enemy without ("pluck them out"). As a preacher once said, "If you, supposedly, have eternal life, and 10 years later lose it, than whatever you had was not eternal life, but a ten-year life" How true, temporary eternal life simply cannot be. The eternal life which the Lord Jesus gives lasts for eternity. If it is lost, therefore, it was not the life that Jesus Christ gives.
The "neither shall anyone snatch" includes Satan-he is no match for the Lord Jesus Christ. He is powerless to pluck or snatch us from either the Father's or the Son's hands. How can we be any more secure?
Note that the Father gave us to His beloved Son as gifts of His love. In turn, Christ values those precious gifts so much that He holds us securely in His hand, so tightly that no created being can snatch us away. The Father even assists in providing us this security, for we are also in the "Fathers hand," and "I and My Father are one."
When we consider the size and strength of the Creator's hand, we can understand why no one, not even Satan, can snatch us out of His protective care.

 

Sunday March 27, 2005

I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there. (John 10:30-42)
Now Jesus takes another step and crosses the proverbial "line in the sand" in 10:30, He declares "I and my Father are one." Jesus openly reveals His claim of Deity to these unbelieving Jews. Their response shows their true motive: disregard all the many miracle, His powerful words, just find a way to destroy Him. It's like the old saying: "Don't confuse them with the facts!" Notice that Jesus has a reply for them, but even in their anger, they can do nothing against Him. Jesus reminds them in 10: 37,38 that He is doing the works of the Father.
The chapter ends as Jesus returns to the countryside, to the place of John's baptizing. Many people followed Him there. They reflected on the facts of His witness and concluded that His works (Jesus' many miracles) and the testimony of John the Baptist were true (1:34 "This is the Son of God.") It concludes reporting that "many believed on Him there. It is interesting that few followers come from "schools of higher learning", while many disciples are simple folk just trained with common sense!
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (John 10:34-36)
Before going on to Chapter 11, I would like to back up here and take on this very controversial passage. The New Testament was, of course written in Greek, but the passage our Lord referred to was Psalm 82:6:
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
There the word is “Elohim” this, definitely, does refer to God, but the word does not EXCUSIVELY apply to God; it can also refer to leaders, rulers, magistrates, people who do have some authority.
Another words, the Jewish leaders have a title, a title that also can properly be used in referring to God, how could they then say to the Lord Jesus “Thou blashemest” because He said He was God’s Son?
Besides, they were, as usual, being hypocritical here. Remember back in chapter 8:
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. (John 8:41)
So it is that they referred themselves as being the children of God.
Sorry Mormons, but this passage has absolutely nothing to do with anyone having, or attaining deity.

 

Monday, 28th March, 2005

SOURCE


When would you guess these words were penned? Do they not sound like the West in the year 2005? "Everybody is enthusiastic except the Christian" People are enthusiatic about their sports, their holidays, the politics, and their "movement." Sadly, it is these same things that too often excite Christians as well. Men, can indeed, get their blood hot on any subject but religion. You want to get a really heated debate going inmost churches? Bring up sports, politics, or the latest current event rallying point. You want to throw ice on a discussion? Bring up the fact that the lost are dying all around us, that the world is going to hell, and that multitudes are dying without Christ. Interrupt a discussion about March Madness with a discussion on the spiritual depravity of our culture and see what happens.

Yes, it does indeed seem in these days that ice has been given to the church of God and fire has been cast upon the world.

Oh, for that fire which once burned in the hearts of God's people. May we burn with urgency about the things of God with the intensity that we burn over political issues.

O Father, renew that fire in us!

O yes, the quote. Not from 2005, but from the "Prince of Preachers" in the 19th century, C.H. Spurgeon

 

Thank you Roger.

That is so true of so many of us today. We need to get our priorities right, and quick.

God Bless

Sheila

 

These words of our dear Brother Spurgeon gave cause to stop and reflect recently. As I began to realise how quickly I am to enter into debate compared to the speed with which I enter into devotion. I love to debate and argue, it seems to be in my blood. However, as I examine the situation carefully I realise that the Bible has an even better term for it. Often this tendency is not “in my blood” but in my flesh and I end up debating in the flesh and not in the spirit. The bible warns us about this kind of debate when it says, “But shun profane and foolish babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” How sad it is when we allow our spirit of debate to drag us into “profane and foolish babblings” for we know indeed that they do lead to “more ungodliness.” May God forgive us when we ignore His admonition.

Notice that Spurgeon does not imply that all debate is bad, just that is has not the same merit as devotion. Our debate must be based on our devotion so that our speech may “…be always with grace, seasoned with salt,” that each one of us may know how we, “ought to answer every man.”

Our dear Father, remind to enter our own rooms of devotion before we enter the debate forum. May we make sure that we know how to answer every man with our “grace-speech” seasoned with your salt.

 

Amen. Thank you Roger.

God Bless

Sheila