The Carpenter's Chapel (6)

Monday, 31st January, 2005

Have you ever seen a professional wrestling match? Back in the old days before it became so focused on sex and glamour it was loads of fun. I always remember Hulk Hogan. He was a BIG partially bald blonde headed guy who was champion of some sort year after year. I can’t count the number of times that Hulk as smashed on the mat, seemingly unable to move. All the other guy had to do was fall on him for a three count. Hulk was beaten, a new champion was about to be crowned, the crowd was screaming.
Then, the other guy would try to punish him. He would drag Hulk to his feet and really try to punish him. Hulk would barely be able to stand as his opponent slapped him or punched him in the face time after time. Hulk would stagger, barely able to walk, from corner to corner. Surely it was all over now. Hulk would go down to one knee, beaten and bedraggled.
Suddenly, from nowhere a change would take place. The other guy would slap Hulk for the finishing blow. But, wait, Hulk doesn’t go down! He begins to glare at the moment. Blow after blow has no affect on Hulk. He begins to straighten and continues to glare. He suddenly rips his shirt off and comes to life. He goes into a frenzy and within seconds the opponent is on the mat for a three count. Hulk Hogan is still the heavyweight champion of the world!
Now, I am not in favour of ripping off any shirts, but the rest of the illustration sets the stage for 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Paul and his missionary team have faced battle after battle, opposition after opposition, fight after fight. Surely they were like Hulk Hogan on the mat. Yet, they don’t give up. In these verse we find three reasons why they refuse to quit that we can apply our lives today:

We have a ministry v1-2
We have a gospel v3-6
We have a power v7-10

Over the next couple of days we will examine the idea of being "Knocked down, but not knocked out"

 

Wednesday, 2nd February, 2005

We looked at the illustration of Hulk Hogan Monday as we introduced the concept of being “Knocked Down, but not Knocked Out” in our service for the Lord. Today we are going to examine the basis for this concept as found in verse 2 Corinthians 4v1.

The first thing we note is the we HAVE a ministry. By the very fact that we are born again we are given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5v18). It is not something we need to consider or think about. We have the task of serving the Lord. In this dark world we have a ministry of introducing men to the Saviour.

Secondly we note that we all have received the mercy of God. Tyndale’s translation has"even as mercy is sure in us." God has shown us mercies that are new every morning and it is only by His mercy that we are not consumed. Because we have a ministry and because we have God’s mercy we then see the first application of this:

“We faint not!” The NKJV says “we do not lose heart,” but I prefer the KJV here. The translators of the Geneva Bible included this note – “Though we are broken in pieces with miseries and calamities, yet we do not yield." writers used this phrase to describe a "faint hearted coward." In our service for God, and because of the mercy He has shown us we must have the determination that Paul had. In essence Paul is saying, “We DO NOT lose heart, we do not surrender, we do not quit.” There is no room for quitting in our service for God – we have a ministry, we have God’s mercy and we have a mission. Perhaps the words of at the Harrow School in 1941 will summarise our thoughts on this truth – “Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

 

Thanks guys. I thought of Jacob and Esau reading your post Jim.

 

Friday, 4th February, 2005

Oft times I post devotions here which the Lord has used in my own heart. They may be only for me, and if that is the case I want to share with you what God is doing for me. However, I think that sometimes others may be going through the same, or a similar situation, and if so, may these thoughts be of help to another.

Todays thoughts are for those who may be involved in a long, slow, challenging ministry where you see little or any results. Maybe it is a mission field, maybe it is a church plant, maybe a church which is not only not grwoing, but declining, maybe a children's work where are you can see if troublesome children week after week.

Whatever the situation, perhaps we can all he challenged by the words of William Carey. I found these in a biography by his grandson, Pearce Carey.

The year is 1799. The work has been very slow for years. He only has two 'gleams of hope.' Carey pens these words to two of his friends.

May we, like Carey realise the danger of ever drawing back from the energy which first drove us to our minstries. May we never dishonour the grace and power of God. May our preaching and sharing never become "stupidly formal."

 

One thing you may never know. The seed planted (God's Word) that you sowed may take years to take hold and bear fruit. Maybe someone, who heard a message from you years ago, may just now be asking, "What did that preacher say?"

 

Saturday February 5, 2005

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
(John 8:12)
Jesus teaching in the temple: I am the Light of the world.
This is the second of the great "I Am" declarations of the Lord Jesus. Each one proclaims a truth of His Deity. The others are listed below:
John 6:35 "I am the bread of life."
John 10:7 "I am the door of the sheep."
John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life."
John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
John 15:1 "I am the true vine."
"I am the light of the world" is the public declaration of what was presented by the writer, John, back in chapter one 1:9 "(Jesus) was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Both verses refer back to Isa. 9:2: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." So, as we saw in the last of chapter 7, Jesus was the "great light" which would come to Galilee of the nations. Jesus is trying to paint a picture to the crowd gathered in the temple. Twenty four times in the pages of John the word "light" is used and five times the Master contrasts light and darkness in the same verse. The children of Israel wanted to think of themselves as being enlightened, while the heathen were in darkness. But Jesus declares that all mankind is in darkness needing His light for salvation.
The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
(John 8:13-20)
8:13-20 The Pharisees challenge Jesus
Though the Pharisees which had accused the woman had left when confronted by Jesus as He wrote on the ground, other Pharisees were still in the crowd listening to Jesus.
Dr. McGee states "There is now a sharp conflict between the religious rulers and Christ. They are really accusing him of boasting when He proclaimed to be the light." (p. 416)
So they try to rebuke Him, declaring Jesus' "record (witness) is not true." The Master's response is three-fold:
1.) "I know whence I came and whither I go." The scientists of today can't answer either of those questions.
2.) "Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man." Notice that Jesus came the first time, not as a judge, but as a Saviour! But realize that the next time He comes, it will be as the judge of all! The Pharisees were always wanting to judge others, but judging in the flesh is always imperfect. We never have all the facts. When an umpire makes a cal, he has only one set of eyes to use to do it.
Again, Dr. McGee declares: "Our judgement is limited because we simply do not have all the facts. The theory of evolution is an example of this. Because our judgements are based on very fragmentary facts, they really are speculation. Either man accepts speculation or he accepts revelation."
(p. 417) Jesus judgement is "true" because it is from God's complete and perfect viewpoint.
3.) His third response is that the Father has borne witness of Him.
Now the Pharisees ask, "Where is thy Father?" They know that Jesus is speaking of someone other than Joseph, the carpenter. Jesus doesn't evade the question, but rather He shows the real issue, that is, any true knowledge of His Father comes by knowing the Son. The writer, John, also gives us the details that during the conversation, Jesus had moved to the treasury of the temple. With the multitude of guards in the treasury, yet "no man laid hands on Him, for His hour was not yet come." Furthermore, the treasury was located in the women's court, "This was where they brought the woman taken in adultery." (McGee, p.418)
The JFB Commentary states that the treasury was a, "division, so called, of the fore-court of the temple, part of the court of the women (Joseph, Antt.xix.6.2,&c.) which may confirm the genuineness of vv.2,11, as the place where the woman was brought." (p.402)

 

Sunday February 6, 2005

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him.
(John 8:21-30)

For those who say that Jesus never claimed to be God, fasten your seat belts because the conversation is going to get rough! First, Jesus gives note to the brevity of time left in His mission. The cross is just a few months ahead. He declares, "I go My way." This was His message back in 7:33 when He also declared to the religious crowd, "ye cannot come." As in the first time, the Jews had no clue what He was talking about, wondering where He could hide. "Will He kill Himself?" They, being blinded by sin, have no spiritual insight whatsoever.
Notice that in between Jesus' two truths in 8:21 there is another statement that went right over their heads: "and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins." They are so blinded by sin that they don't even realize what Jesus was saying to them. So Jesus tries to be very clear: "Ye are from beneath, I am from above: ye are of this world, I am not of this world. I said unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am HE, ye shall die in your sins." Can Jesus be more plain than that? They are from beneath, namely, this earth, while He is from above, that is, heaven. Many people who are not citizens of the U.S. are allowed to live and even work here. The are called aliens, while natural born residents are called citizens. (Contrast this dual citizenship status of some missionaries.) We cannot be both citizens of heaven and earth. As a child of God, we have become a citizen of heaven and therefore an alien of this present world. We are strangers and pilgrims (see John 15:19, 17:14, Eph. 2:6, Phil. 3:20, Heb. 11:13 and 1Peter 2:9-11).
Now Jesus takes another step forward in 8:24 as He declares: "for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." He explains the reason for their ultimate death-unbelief in Jesus, the chosen One of God. Notice that Jesus uses the phrase: "I am He."
The JFB Commentary states: "They knew well enough what He meant. But He would not, by speaking it out, give them materials for a charge for which they were waiting." (p.402).
Several Old Testament passages describe God using the phrase "I am He." Deut. 32:39:
"See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand." Also Isa. 43:10-15,25; 48:12; 52:6.
The Jews respond by asking, "Who art thou?" But Jesus knew their intent. If they could catch Him off-guard and He say the wrong word they would have the means to accuse Him. Jesus replies that His message has not changed since the beginning of His ministry, and He is following the will of Him "that sent Me." Verse 8:27 is a sad one as it shows to us what education without salvation can do. These Pharisees claimed to be full-time students of the Scriptures, yet they didn't recognize God in the flesh or even His message! Their study had become rituals of memorizing dogmas and traditions of men rather than meditating upon the actual Word of God from the Father they said they worshipped.
Jesus now turns to the unbelievers in the crowd and declares: "When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am He." (8:28). They are blinded by pride, dead in trespasses and sins. They are not going to understand spiritual things until they see the sign of Jonah, or the sign given to Nicodemus: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." (3:14). The cross is the great sign that shows Who He is and why Jesus came from Heaven. Many of these same people would believe once they understood the gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Acts 2:36: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 6:7: "And the word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Also, please notice that whenever Jesus speaks about the Cross in John, He uses the phrase Son of Man. John 12:32: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
This is reference back to Daniel's vision in which the Son of Man came to the Ancient of Days (God) and was given dominion over all the earth. Daniel 7:13-14: "I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people , nations and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Now Jesus turns to them who had trusted in Him and said, "If ye continue in My word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Are you free today? Not free to do as you please, but free from sin, having the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in your life.
My friends, that is ultimate freedom!

 

Thank you Jim,

God Bless

Sheila

 

How true Jim, thanks.

 

Tuesday, 8th February, 2005

Do you ever feel like you are constantly in a battle? Paul did - he talks in Romans 7 about his consistant battle of the flesh. It seems like we never get over that battle. I found this recently in a book of Puritan prayers and devotions.

From The Valley of Vision

My heart was stirred as I read this. As often as we wander, our Father is always there for us. What great love is this? He never gets tired of welcoming us home.

May we get to the point where we cease wandering. May we say with the writer above

Help us Lord, to ever be clothed in that wonderful robe of our Father's love, never shirking it for the vile garb of the world.

 

Thursday, 10th February, 2005

Continuing on thoughts of our sinfulness and our Father’s love we read these words, once again from The Valley of Vision.

If only we could remember these aspects of sin when we are faced with temptation. Even the first, if we could only remember the exceeding sinfulness of sin it would repulse us in its ugliness. If we remembered the righteousness of salvation we would be turned from the “wrongness” of our sin. If we could see the glory of Christ crucified and resurrected we would be disgusted by the sin which has such a draw on us. If we remembered the beauty of holiness we would remember the call of the Lord to “be ye holy for I am holy.” Finally, the true wonder of the grace of God. “Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than ALL my sin.”

Father, help us today, in the allure of our 21st century world, to remember the thoughts of this 17th century brother.

 

Saturday February 12, 2005

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(John 8:31-32)

Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias spoke of a major college university (possibly Iowa or Ohio State) which has their slogan taken from John 8:32. They think that education will lead them to the truth, which will set them free. But, as Ravi said, they didn't know the preceding verse! Truth doesn't come by education, but by continuing in God's Word, the Bible. Study and obedience of the Word of God will make you disciples, which will make you free. God's principle: Freedom through service (Romans 6:18).

One may come to a mental acceptance of certain facts about God and deceive himself into thinking he believes on Christ, but the genuineness of that faith needs to be tested before it is judged as real. "You believe that there is one God, you do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:19-20). Works, of course, do not save one's soul, but the faith that does save is a faith that produces good works.
An earlier group of listeners, back in chapter 2, also had a type of faith that does not save:
"Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during this feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man." (John 2:23-25) It is essential that we believe on Him, but even more essential that He believes on us!
The test is simple. If we continue in His word, then we are real disciples.
John would write in his first Epistle:
(1Jo 2:19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Our dedication to Christ is measured by our obedience to His word. If we question His word, or resent His word, or try to avoid obeying His word, by "interpreting" some preferred meaning of our own into His word, then we urgently need to examine the genuineness of our belief in Christ.
If we are His disciples and do continue in His word, then He makes this wonderful promise "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." As true disciples, we have His assurance that our continuing studies in His word will yield an ever-increasing comprehension of God's created and revealed "truth," with ever-growing freedom to understand and obey the perfect will of God.

 

Sunday February 13, 2005

They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
(John 8:33-47)

Which father? God, Abraham or the Devil?
In response to Jesus' statement, the Pharisees spoke up and said: "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" (8:33) They spoke of physical slavery to men, while Jesus explains that "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (8:34) The Apostle Paul would also explain such in Romans 6:14-23. Notice also that in 8:35 Jesus speaks of our inheritance. "And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever." Servants were considered to be temporary, with few obligations upon the master, but the sons and daughters "abide" being able to receive the master's inheritance. Jesus end the thought by declaring in 8:36, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
Jesus continues the topic of father Abraham, but He makes a distinction between the Pharisees being Abraham's seed and having Abraham as their father. Jesus declares that neither Abraham or even God is their father because of their "deeds." The works of Abraham were works of faith (see Romans 4) And if they were truly of God, they would "love" Jesus, Whom God had sent. Now Jesus becomes very clear: They were the descendants of Abraham, yet he is not their father, and God is not their Father, no, they are of their father the Devil!
Jesus begins a list of evidence against them, the first being their "lusts." We don't know if this was a reference back to John 8:1-11 and the woman caught in adultery. The next piece of evidence to tie them to their real father, the devil, is that they were murderers. Jesus preaches a scathing rebuke of these Pharisees in Matthew 23:29-35, and mentions "Zacharias son of Barachias." (Zec. 1:1: Zechariah, the son of Berechiah."
Jesus recounts how they incriminate themselves, Matthew 23:31: "Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets."
If those witnesses against them isn't enough, Jesus declares that the devil "abode not in the truth" and they, when He told them the truth: "ye believe me not." The Master comes back to the promise given to the believers in 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Now Jesus closes the case with this key question: (8:46): Is Jesus speaking the truth or a lie? If all the Pharisees for months now had not been able to "convince (convict) Jesus of sin, then is He not speaking the truth? And if it is the truth, why are these Pharisees rejecting the truth? Their lack of obedience to God's words were indicting them that thy were "not of God!"

 

Monday, 14th February, 2005

Love. What is it? Why does the world give it one day a year?

I have noticed that as the years of my life have gone by the whole concept of love has changed. Whether we recognise or do anything about Valentine's Day or not it a reality that we all encounter. If we want a look at how love is viewed today all we need to do is to google "Valentine gifts." On second thought, that probably is not a good thing to do. For a vast majority of the world eros has become the main focus of love and that is clearly seen in how Valentine's Day is celebrated.

Yet we must not forget that "God is love." True love is therefore focused and centred on Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." "But God commendeth His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" "Love is of God..."

As we see all of the very commercial pictures of what the world calls "love" today may our thoughts be drawn to the God of all love,and may we be reminded of the great commandment. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

 

Thanks Roger, there are three Greek words for love, and the world only cares about "eros."