The Carpenter's Chapel (5)

Amen. Thank you Charles.

God Bless

Sheila

 

Monday, 22 November, 2004

Do you ever wonder why Christians who are sold out to the Lord never seem to “fit in?” You know the feeling, a square peg in a round hole.

We can take great confidence in those situations when we realise that we are never going to fit in as long as we are living for the Lord.

Our first century bothers and sisters faced the same dilemma. They didn’t have the telly, or internet, or anything like tempt them, but the still did not fit in and there us a reason why.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
(1Peter 4v3-4)

This is very similar to Ephesians chapter two where Paul is describing the lifestyles of people before they were saved. We need not look at every word, but we get the idea of being a “party animal” with a life which was totally geared to gratify the flesh (see verse 2). Notice that Peter says that we did those things, “in times past of our lives,” clearly showing that those kinds of things have no part in the life of a believer.

Now we come to others who still live that kind of lifestyle. How can we expect them to understand? Without Christ a life of excess “makes sense.” Why not “live it up.” So when our lives change they are bound to “think it strange that ye run not with them” and even may “speak evil of you.”

I have a friend who was saved after she was married. Her husband is till lost. She once described how she is patient with him and I think her statement is a lesson for all of us who deal with lost friends and family on a regular basis. Her attitude was this, “Why shouldn’t I be patient with him, I’m not the same woman he married.” Perhaps you are dealing with family and friends who treat you differently since you were saved. Be patient, expect them to think that you are “weird” because you are not the brother, sister, husband, wife, or friend they once knew.

Don’t “think it strange” when they think you are strange. To them you are, and praise God for the “strangeness.”

 

"If ye were of the world, the world would love it's own, but because ye are not of the world, for I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."
Thanks Roger.

 

Roger,

Thank you. I found this devotion really helpful, and Charles' comment too.

God Bless

Sheila

 

I really appreciate this thread - even though I mostly only post my own devotions. Special thanks to Charles and Jim.

 

Wednesday, 24th November, 2004

It is strange what people consider strange isn’t it? When people come to visit us they find a lot of what we do strange. For example, jelly (jello) salad is never a part of the meal here, but is always for dessert. Speaking of jelly, when people here hear that Americans eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches they think it very strange. Of course, when they hear “jelly” there are thinking of what Americans call “jello.”

What makes things “strange”? I think it is obvious. It is a matter of perspective. American think that eating baked beans for breakfast is strange because of their perspective. Folks here think it is strange that anyone would eat gravy for breakfast. Why? It is because of perspective.

On Monday we discovered why many think that we are strange. They think that because they have a different perspective. Without the word of God it seems “weird” to live the way we choose.

Christians too can look at things as being strange. In a generation of “prosperity gospel” we can think it strange when things don’t go our way. Many of us in the body of Christ live very comfortable lives. We get so used to it that when there is a “hiccup” which disrupts our lives. A flat tyre in the rain on the way to church, a sick child on a day when we have an important appointment, and things like this can really throw us for a loop.

Yet, God wants us to have a different perspective on things. He says in 1 Peter 4v12, Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you , as though some strange thing has happened to you.

Now Peter is talking about much more serious things here than a flat tyre, as we will see Friday. Yet, I want to stop and get us to draw out a principle here. Trials and difficulties and not strange, they are going to happen. We need a change of perspective here. Trials for the believer are not strange at all, they are the norm. It is not weird when things go wrong. We need a major change of perspective. The first two words of the next verse give us a hint about our devotional on Friday – “But rejoice..”

What kind of perspective do you have about trials today?

 

Great post Jim! It is simply a matter of our perspective.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, may we make it a REAL time of Thanksgiving and may it mark our residency on Thanksgiving Street.

 

Friday, 26th November, 2004

We have been looking at strange things this weeks. The world thinks we are strange when we don’t act like they do. We are not supposed to see hard time as strange. Today we are going to look at something that would REALLY make us look strange if we applied it.

Most of us would acknowledge that rough spots are a part of the Christian life. We have learned to nobly bear up during those time, keep a stiff upper lip, and bravely “suffer for Jesus.”

How is this for strange? What is the Bible way to respond to fiery trials?

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(1Peter 4v12-13)

James tells us the same thing when he says “My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations.”

Now we must ask ourselves, “That preaches well, but how am I supposed to rejoice, or count it ‘all joy’ when I am going through a fiery trial. James says that trials help to endure future trials while we mature. Here Peter tells us that we are rejoice for it gives us a picture of what Christ went through for us so that we can be glad with “exceeding joy” when He comes.

James goes on to say that we are to be especially happy when we are called on to suffer for His sake.

The next few verse say that not all suffering is a cause for joy, but if we suffer while doing right, and suffer FOR doing right we are to rejoice and be happy, for it allows us to fellowship with Christ. I know that some of my greatest time with the Lord has been in the trials.

Talk about strange! Can you be ready to rejoice and be happy next time the Lord allows you to suffer for Him?

 

Saturday November 27, 2004

“ After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” (John 5:1-7)
Jesus come to a man who has not been able to walk because of his "infirmity." We do not know what type of illness, but only that it kept him from having the strength to stand and walk. The Great Physician already knew the man's physical condition, so Jesus ask of the man’s desire to be healed. "Wilt thou be made whole?" In this encounter at the pool of Bethesda, we se the inability of man to help himself. The impotent man had been lame for 38 years, and though he desired to help himself, he could not, nor could mankind help him. There was "no man" to help. Likewise, if we place our trust in the abilities of other people, it will fail.
When the Doctor says, "I'm sorry, there's nothing more that we can do;" that's when you realize the inability of man to deal with the results of the curse of sin. Then we must turn to God and God alone.

“Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the Sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.” (John 5: 8-15)
Now Jesus responds to the man's word with a command of faith. For 38 years this man could not walk, and he hears a stranger tell him to get up. Yet at Jesus' command, he "immediately" stood and walked. It is beyond the ability of the spoken language to describe the power of the spoken Word of the Son of God!
Col. 1:16: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him: 17 And he is before all things, and by Him all things consist."
Also notice that Jesus only healed the one lame man. Jesus did not come to heal our corrupted bodies, but rather to save our souls. An uproar must have occurred as the healed man was trying out his new legs. Soon the Jews came like vultures and were not rejoicing that he was healed, but were upset that he was carrying his bedroll. He didn't know Who healed him, but Jesus would later find him in the temple and warned the man of his sin. We do not know all that Jesus said to him, but his response to the Jewish leaders tells us that he knew it was Jesus. Also the writing of John does not give us any details about his conversion, as it will focus upon Jesus' testimony to the Jewish leaders.

 

Sunday November 28, 2004

“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:” (John 5:16-23)

Dr. Oliver B. Greene calls this section "One of the most solemn and important passages in the four Gospels - a passage in which the Lord Jesus declares His divine nature, His unity with the heavenly Father, the high dignity of the office given to Him by the Father before the foundation of the world. No other place in the Gospels does Jesus dwell so completely and fully on these subjects as in this chapter." (p.280)
First of all, notice the hatred of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus as He healed on the Sabbath day and in 5:17 He spoke of His relationship with the Father which they realized that it told of His equality with God. The Greek word translated "hitherto" is said to mean "until now." Therefore, Jesus was saying "Until now my Father and I have been working together since the beginning." (Greene, p. 281)

Jesus continues His confrontation with the Jews in 5:19 as He elaborates more about His relationship with the Father. Dr. Greene states, "Jesus here declares the impossibility of His acting or working independently of the Father, because the Father and Son are so completely one. This does not mean, however, that Jesus did not have the power to do anything." (p.284) Jesus finishes 5:20 by adding that "greater works" are coming that will make them "marvel." Now He goes on to reveal one of the greater works, the resurrection of the dead. This great power is shared by both the Father and the Son. Not only has Jesus claimed to be equal with God, but now claims to have equal power with God. The word "quickeneth" means "to make alive." Realize that up to this point in time, the only definite verse about the resurrection was Dan. 12:2. (People would soon be raised by Christ Jesus: the widows son, Luke 7:14; the rulers daughter, Luke 8:54; Lazarus, John 11:43.) Now Jesus adds in 5:22 that "all judgement" is committed unto the Son. (Compare 2Tim. 4:1) There are three future judgements spoken of in Scripture, all of which Christ Jesus will judge:

1. The Judgement (Bema) Seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10; 1Cor. 3:11-15; 2Cor. 5:9-10)
2. The Judgement of the Nations. (Mat. 25:31-32)
3. The Great White Throne Judgement. (Rev. 20:11).

 

Tuesday, 30 November, 2004

Very few things are disturbing as an alarm clock going off in the morning, especially when we are nice and cosy. For most of us our immediate response is to hit the snooze button and roll over. Very few of us like a wake up call.

Even worse would be the sound of a smoke alarm at night. I have never been there but can only imagine what it would feel like to be awaken by a fire alarm, smell the smoke, and know it was time to get out.

Alarms go off for a reason. Their purpose is to let us know that there is a reason to get up and get moving, something must be done. It may be as simple as going to work, or it may be as serious as a fire.

There are a few “alarms” in the Word of God. On of the clearest is in Romans 13v11. and that knowing the time, that now it is high time to wake up out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.

It is so easy to be lulled into a spiritual slumber. When there is no opposition we can become careless and forget that we are in a battle. Here in Romans 13v11 we have a different kind of alarm than we mentioned earlier. Here we have a combined alarm clock, fire alarm, and a trumpeters reveille call.

The Holy Spirit is telling us to WAKE UP!!! because the time is short. “Redeem the time for the days are evil” we are told elsewhere. You can almost sense Paul screaming out here – “Would you people get up! Don’t you know what time it is? Lets get going folks, the time is short, we have WORK to do!”

Each of us has a choice. We can get up and get going, or, we can ignore the alarm and go back to sleep. When we choose the latter option, we do so at our peril and at the peril of others. Let’s get up and get going! The time is short.

 

Thursday, 2nd December, 2004

In Tuesday’s devotional we heard the alarm sounded and reveille played. We were challenged to get up and get to the work. The call was urgent, the plea was strong, and the reason was is that time is getting short.

God has given us a ministry of reconciliation, that of reconciling sinners to Christ. In the last few verses of Romans 13 we are told how to fight this battle and do this work.


1) Put off the works of darkness
2) Put on the armour of light
3) Walk honestly
4) Put on the Lord Jesus Christ
5) Make no provision for the flesh.

These are clear commands, there is no time for confusion here. The orders are given in a short concise manner.

Replace the works of darkness with the armour of light. We have changed sides now, we are not to be wearing the uniform of the enemy. We must be identified with our new Commander. Our fellow soldiers must be able to recognise if. If we look like the enemy we are ineffective warriors.

The we are to walk honestly, without hypocrisy, in a manner so that there is no confusion.

We are to actually put on Christ and His power. This is our source of strength. As a individual soldier we would have no power, but we serve in the power of the Captain of our salvation.

Finally, we are to make no provision for the flesh. We have a new Quartermaster Who will more than provide our needs.

Wake up folks! Let’s get out there and fight the battle, for the time is short!

 

Amen. Thank you Jim,

God Bless

Sheila

 

"Well, father, you like almost anything that we haven't got."

Boy, doesn't that sum up our attitude way too often?