The Carpenter's Chapel (4)

Amen!

 

Thank you Roger, we all need to be more "God dependent".

Blessings

Sheila

 

Jim,

Great analysis of Satan and believers blaming all too much on him.

Dan

 

"make us to be responsible for every moment" is a prayer we should always pray.

 

Friday, 11th June, 2004

Wednesday we looked at the comfort that is found in the knowledge that we need not walk in our own strength. As we read today’s section from Pilgrim’s Progress we see that Christian is comforted by another truth, “Thou art with me.”

I want to focus on the second of the reasons why Christian found comfort in those words, “he perceived God was with them, though in that dark and dismal state; and why not with me, thought he, though, by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it?” and he uses Job 9v11, “Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.”

We all face times in our life when it is possible to forget that God is with us “by reason of the impediment.” The impediments vary greatly, they may be financial, physical, family, disease, death, or a combination of them all. No matter what the impediment we are to remember that we are promised the presence of God as Christians. Remember these words.

“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”
“I will never leave thee or forsake thee”
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him”
“I will not leave you comfortless”
“I am with you, saith the LORD.”

When faced with the impediments of life, when faced with the blasphemies of mind that suggest that God is not there, we must remember the promises of the God who cannot lie. We must also remember one of our Lord’s great name - Emmanuel – God with us!

 

Amen. Thank you Roger.

 

Thank you Roger. A very comforting and reassuring message that we are never alone, He is always there with us.

Blessings

Sheila

 

Saturday, June 12, 2004

"The Lord says to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for your feet.'"
(Psalm 110:1)

Today I am using a passage that I have used before, back on the, "Three questions" devotional of May 29th. As you may recall, Jesus asked the Jews about the Messiah and whose Son He would be. After replying, "The son of David", the Lord Jesus quoted this verse as proof that the Messiah was to be a lot more than just the son of David. It is this very passage I would like for us to zero-in on and look at today.

The 110th Psalm is one of the most significant of the so-called Messianic Psalms, prophesying of Christ a thousand years before He came. This verse should completely settle the question as to whether or not the Old Testament teaches that there is only one Person in the Godhead, since it recounts an actual conversation with at least two Persons of the Godhead.

This verse is quoted, in whole, or in part, at least five times in the New Testament; one of which I have mentioned when the Lord spoke of it as proof of His divinity.

God The Son, the Lord Jesus Christ went to earth, born of a virgin by a miracle of the Holy Spirit to save His people, but was (and is), repudiated by His enemies on earth. Accordingly God The Father has Him back in heaven for a time, at His right hand until it is time for Him to return to earth to rule.

Now, although this prophecy applies specifically to the Second Coming and the future conversion of Israel, there is a beautiful secondary aplication used in Scripture for His people right now.
" Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."
(Col 3:1)

 

Amen - looking upward!

 

Thankyou Roger and Charles for Friday and Saturday's devotionals!

 

Sunday June 13, 2004

"And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness."
(Gen. 1:26a)
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
(Mt.28:19)
"Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, We speak that We do know, and testify that We have seen; and ye receive not Our witness."
(John 3:11)
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
(2Cor. 13:14)
"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the Seven Spirits which are before His throne; And from Jesus Christ..."
(Rev. 1:4 & 5a)

The doctrine of the Trinity.
It is regarded by some as the belief in three gods. The cults will adamantly deny it. Muslims, if I recall correctly, say that belief in it is the unpardonable sin. This doctrine is unique to Christianity.

There is only one God, yet three Persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-each equally, fully, and eternally God.

In these passages, and others, all three Persons are mentioned in the same context, and each one deals with a significant aspect of the Christian life. There is, first of all, the provision of salvation "...the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God..." (Hebrews 9:14) Then follows regeneration, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6)
Salvation and regeneration are then publicly testified in baptism, as in Mt. 28:19 above.

The chief resource for the believer is prayer, and this also involves all three Persons.
"For through (Christ) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Ephesians 2:18)
The believer must also continue to learn of Christ, and to bear witness of Him.

Finally, as we see in these passages, we have eternal assurance in the tri-une God.

Perhaps all of the passages at the start of this devotional was overkill, so to speak. But one thing I wanted to show was that this doctrine is consistantly taught in God's word, from the very beginning in Genesis, to the very end in Revelation.

 

Just a thought - I consider prayer to be the believer's second offensive weapon - the other of course is the Word of God!

Thank you Charles!

 

Thanks Charles for the reminder of our wonderful Tri-une God!

 

Amen - will pray about your hands Jim.