The Carpenter's Chapel (4)

Wrong conceptions has led many a man astray. The Jews and early disciples looked for a physical Messiah who would deliver them physically from their enemies. We often do the same to-day.

We have been liberated by the King. There is a huge difference between liberation and freedom from sin. The liberation is now in sanctifying graces, and our freedom will come with entire sanctification as we are changed and these earthly bodies are transformed into His likeness.

In the interim, we are to be soldiers, every alert and ever advancing in purity, holiness and vigilance in service of His Majesty.

Thanks Charles, God bless,

Jim

 

Indeed, trainers is what we need to avoid the very appearance of evil.

Thank you, Roger,

Jim

 

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

2 Corinthians 1: 1-7

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." Vs 3

The word "comfort" appears some six times in the King James translation, in verses 3-7. The Greek word translated as "comfort" appears some ten times in the same passage of scripture. As I started to read, I could not get past this word. "...The God of all comfort..." It is hard for us to perceive the trinitarian concept of God, but here we get some idea of how it works.
One theologian explains it in the work of our Lord Jesus as Mediator. Philip Hughes, an Episcopalian vicar and professor at Westminster Seminary, says, "In view of the deity of the Son, how is it possible to speak of the God of our Lord Jesus Christ? The answer to this problem is to be found in the mediatorial office of Christ."

As Mediator, God humbled Himself, took on the flesh of man. As Mediator He is the Lord Jesus Christ. We always have the Lord Jesus going between God and man. Jesus is our Mediator in the sense that He suffered for us, and He takes our suffering on a daily basis. What a comfort this is to us. And Paul often speaks of this blessing which is ours in our Lord Jesus Christ. He took our suffering in salvation on the cross, and He suffers with us in our daily lives. The Greek word for comfort is in the sense that Jesus stands beside us in suffering so as to encourage us under severe testing. We are never alone.

If Jesus shares our suffering, is not our suffering to benefit others? We better understand others when we share suffering, and experience the comfort afforded by God. So, in suffering, we can best equate with others as they suffer.Just as God comforts us, so we can comfort others.

In suffering we learn. It becomes the great teacher. This learning we pass along, so that the whole body grows in grace and in truth.

Let the Father comfort and console us. Let the Holy Spirit strengthen and guide us, and Let the Son be the advocate before the Father in our behalf in times of temptation.

Lord, help us each one to garner these truths that we may be better people in your sight. We live not for ourselves, but for You.

Cheers,

Jim

 

If we don't give it all at the cross, then we are destined to bear our own burdens. When we pray at the cross and walk away still burdened, then we haven't prayed at all.

Cheers, and thank you, Roger,

Jim

 

Thursday, June 24, 2004

2 Corinthians 2:14

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place."

We all know about the trials and troubles Paul endured as he travelled in the Lord's name. The times he was jailed and faced death. The times he was perhaps beaten, and faced death. And his eventual imprisonment in which he did face death.
Yet, Paul says, "Thanks be unto God." Paul never forgot and never forgets to give thanks to God. We try to teach our children to be polite. We try to teach them this word "thanks". In their active lives and minds, they often forget this little word. I am sure the do not intend to forget it, but they do. It would be easy for Paul to forget from time to time, especially when stones are flying and his head hurts. Now Paul says, "Thanks be unto God..." Why does Paul say thanks? He quickly responds, "which always causeth us to triumph in Christ..." There is nothing short of total victory in Christ.

We face problems in our lives, and we moan and groan, and fret about how we can get out of the stew. Often it is a stew of our own concoction. Pauls says, "Thanks be unto God." Perhaps we should fall to our knees and beg forgiveness that we do not often enough give thanks unto God. When we face adversity, Give thanks unto God. This is the first faze of worship. We pause to give thanks. We adore the God of our salvation, the God of our deliverance because He always causeth us to triumph in Christ. There is no such thing as defeat for the Lord's army. We may retreat from time to time, regather the troops, and advance again in Christ, dressed in the full armour, engage the enemy, even ourselves, give thanks unto God and claim the victory.

What does Paul go on to say? "and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place."
Word studies are often the most profitable venture in bible studies. This word "savour" is interesting. There are three definitions offered in a modern dictionary. (1) a characteristic taste; (2) a quality; (3) a characteristic smell.

God makes clear the sweet smell, the sweet taste of victory in Christ. I can't speak for others, but for me this drives the mind and heart into activity so that I may not be found wanting at the time of His appearing. Idleness is the great captor of the soul. In all things we are already the victors and all we need do is claim the victory.

Lord, help us to realize that we are not waiting for victory, but we need only to lay claim.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Yesterday, I listened to a retired minister from Kingston. He served in the most liberal church in Canada. Exactly what has been reported here by Roger was his message. What a sorry lot! What do they have to offer the people? The universal god who embraces all no matter what.

Little do they realize how they make a mockery of the cross of Christ, when we are instructed to have a reason for the hope that is in us.

Cheers,

Jim