The Carpenter's Chapel (6)

Monday October 18, 2005
"And not only so, but we glory in tribultions also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3)
One of the most powerful evidences of the saving power of the Christian faith is the ability of true Christians to endure suffering and loss with joy. The apostle Paul endured such (2Cor. 11:21-33) but could still "glory" in these sufferings.
This remarkable ability to rejoice in tribulation characterized not only great Christian leaders like Paul, but ordinary believers in every walk of life. When the early Christians lost their possessions in the great wave of persecutions they were encountering, the testimony was that "ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have a better and an enduring substance. (Hebrews 10:34) These early believers, like many others through the years, "received the word with much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" (1Thes. 1:6).
There is good reason why Christians can endure tribulations with joy, "inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy" (1Peter 4:13). We always have the example and incentive of Christ Himself before us, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, dispising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
Therefore, we can be "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2Cor, 6:10), knowing that "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10), and Christ has promised that "your joy no man taketh from you" (John 16:22).

 

Tuesday October 18, 2005
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:4)
Let us modern Christians never think that we can ignor the Old Testament and base all our faith and practice on just the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, as vital as they are. Even the Apsostle Paul, who wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else, depended heavily on the Old Testament Scriptures for his exposition of the New Testament doctrines he received "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:12)
Paul would often quote the Old Testament, even though he mainly wrote to gentile believers, who had little, or no, knowledge of the Old Testament.
In his letter to the gentiles in Corinth, after an extensive discussion of the Old Testament account of the experience of the Israelites in in the wilderness, he said: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1Cor. 10:11)
Thus the experiences of the Israelites were actually revealed by God to be types, of Christ and our relation to Him. Therefore, in addition to the many expicit prophecies about Christ in the Old Testament, many other Scriptures can be expounded as types of Christ. Indeed, in all the Old Testament Scriptures, as Christ Himself taught, are "things concerning Himself' (Luke 24:27)

 

Wednesday October 19, 2005

"And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die."
(II Samuel 12:13)
A basic truth is expressed in this confession of David's: Every sin-not just the sin of blasphemy or of unbelief-is essentially a sin against the Lord and His nature of absolute righteousness.
This does not mean, of course, that sin hurts no one but God. In David's case, his sin resulted in the murder of a faithful soldier, Uriah; the implication of Bathsheba in David's adultery; and then the death of his infant son. It probably also contributed to the subsequent sins of two other sons of David, Amnon and Absalom. Furthermore, as Nathan said, it had "given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (v.14).
Nevertheless, it was, above all else, a sin against God. God had chosen David as king and had blessed him abundantly, yet David was not content and elected to make his own decisions in rebellion against the will of God and the word of God. But when he was made to realize, by Nathan, what he had done, he immediately repented of his sin, and thereby received forgiveness.
God, in His grace, has made a wonderful provision for forgiveness and restoration. Because, "the blood of Jesus Christ Hs Son cleanseth us from all sin." Therefore, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:7,9)
Confession must be specific an sincere, of course, not general and superficial, to be effective. But if this is done, then we can exclaim joyfully, with David: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered," because he first, as he said, "acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid" (Psalm 32;1,5.

 

Thursday October 20, 2005

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement." (Matt. 12:36)

Today I would like to look at us and what we post here on this board. Now, true, all of us do a lot of conversing that is not on this board, but I would like to concentrate on what is said here only.
Here, on the Baptist Board you have a lot of people doing a lot of talking, not audible, but nonetheless it is conversing, speaking.

What comes to my mind is does one give account for everything written here? Can we, in fact, gain reward or lose reward for what we write here? How pleased, or displeased is the Lord for
what is posted here? If we are Christians and belong to the Lord, should not how the Lord views our conversation be our primary concern?
"Let your speech be alway with grace," the Scripture says (Col. 4:6), "seasonedwith salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man,"
There are many other warnings, of course, but the one in todays text is perhaps the most sobering of all. May God help us to say the right things, on this board, and everywhere.

 

Friday October 21, 2005

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from the vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1Peter 1:18-19)
The concept of the shed blood of Christ offered in substitutonary sacrifice for guilty and condemned sinners is profoundly offensive to the modern mind. Even many evangelicals, who believe in the concept doctrinally, usually de-emphasize it in their pulpits and classroom ministries. But it is still in the Bible and is inestimably important.
Our lost souls could never have been redeeed from hell by all the silver and gold in the universe.
The blood of Christ, however, is infinitely "precious" (i.e., "valuable" or "costly") because it was the life ("the life of the flesh is in the blood"-Leviticus 17:11) of the very creator of life! Its shedding on the alter of divine sacrifice was, therefore, eminently sufficient "to make an atonement (or 'covering' for (our) souls."
The blood is not only a covering, however. Its cleansing and life-giving powers purge our sins and make us righteous before a holy God. "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Romans5:9). The application of the blood to our souls becomes effective, of course, only "through faith in His blood" (Romans 3:25).
Not only is the precious blood able to blot out past sins, but "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1John 1:7) It is sufficiently powerful to overcome every attack of the wicked one. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 12:11). Finally, its efficacy is eternal and will never lose its power, for it is "the blood of the everlasting covenant" (Hebrews 13:20).

 

Monday, 24th October, 2004

The Lord walks in the midst of your camp

“For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.” - Deuteronomy 23v14

As God gives what seem to be mundane, almost too vivid descriptions of cleanliness He gives the reason why He is so specific about His rules. He is a holy God, who demands cleanliness, for He dwells in the midst of the camp of Israel.

Here we have an excellent illustration of why we are to live clean, holy lives. Just as God dwelt in the midst of the camp of Israel, so His Holy Spirit dwells in us once we get saved. I Corinthians 6v19-20 informs us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, Who is in us.

Since it was so important to keep the camp of Israel spotless, does that not let us know how important it is for us to keep our lives spotless for Him. Lets be sure that we face each day with the knowledge that there is no unclean thing is us, that we can serve Him.

 

Tuesday October 25, 2005

"And satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel"
(1Chronicles 21:1)
One might think that Satan would have left David alone after he had brought him to such utter defeat a number of years before when he sinned with Bathsheba. But no, he's after him again. This time he prods or goads David to number the people-to see how strong he was in military might-to put pride in numbers.
David, of all people should have understood that his power came from God, and not how many soldiers he had. When David commanded the census to be taken, Joab replied, "The Lord make His people an hundred times so many as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause to trespass to Israel? (v.3). Joab rebuked the king because he understood that to do something in pride would be a great sin, and would bring upon Israel disastrous results.
It was God's grace that sent Joab to David, to endeavor to stop him on the path to sin. We should also be thankful when a parent, pastor, youth director, or friend comes to us and clearly shows the sinful direction we are taking.
David did not listen to the voice of the Lord through Joab, and he once again received God's displeasure and judgement. In fact, 70,000 men died as a direct result of David's pride (v.14). God showed David how quickly He could take numbers from him. He had forgotten that one could "chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight" (Deuteronomy 32:30). David didn't need numbers; he just needed the Lord.
In his farewell address, Joshua put it all in perspective when he said, "One of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, He it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you" (Joshua 23:10). How important are numbers to you?