The Carpenter's Chapel (4)

Saturday June 26, 2004

"Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul." (Psalm 142:4)

This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. To be all alone, not knowing where to find refuge from problems that bear heavily at times-this is the lot of many lonely people.

James spoke of those in material need:
"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" (James 2:15,16)
Of a truth, those in such dire need of the basics of life are to have these needs met. But often, this is not the problem, people's needs go beyond the basics; they face lonliness and dispair, "No one cares for my soul." God certainly acknowledged the need for human companionship:
"...It is not good that man should be alone..."
(Genesis 2:18)
Perhaps merely a kind word or jester can make all the differnce to a hurting person.

Sometimes, of course, one's feeling of lonliness may be because of unconfessed sin, as when David lamented after his crime of adultery and murder:
"There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my sin."
(Psalm 38:3-5) I'm sure I have quoted the cartoon character, Pogo, before, but Pogo's words nonethelass fits: "We have met the enemy, and he is us!"

The remedy in such a case is obvious:
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 2:9)

There was a time, in fact, when the Lord Himself was all alone. When He was arrested, "Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled." (Matthew 26:56) But that was not the worst of it, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
Jesus died alone on the cross-the lonliest and most forsaken Person in all of history. Even His Father had to abandon Him, when He took our sins and died for us. Thus, He understands our own need, and is always there.
"For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18)

Thank you Watchman.

Do we suffer needlessly because it is clear in God's word that He will deliver us? Do we self-impose situations?

I think we must always look back to see what we could have changed along the way, and then make amends.

Yes, Charles, sin often lies behind many of our problems, and confession is the remedy before God can do anything.

Cheers,

Jim

Thank you Charles!

Sunday June 27, 2004

Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: "Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."
And the Lord said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;" (Numbers 27:15-18)

The Lord answered Moses' request by designating Joshua to lead the children of Israel. Joshua would be their new "pastor" (or "shepherd"), guiding and protecting them in all their ways. In reality, of course, the Lord Himself was their Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) while Moses and Joshua had been undershepherds.

The name Joshua is the same as Jesus in Hebrew, and Joshua, as udershepherd, is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ, "that great Shepherd of the sheep" (Hebrews 13:20). Jesus said: "I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out , and find pasture" (John 10:9).

The Shepherd of the sheep is also the Door of the sheep, taking His own stand in the very entrance to the fold. The sheep cannot leave the fold, nor intruders enter the fold, because He is there at the door of the fold. The sheep come into the fold for rest and fellowship, as well as for salvation, then they go out of the fold for work and service.

Joshua was the shepherd of Israel, but Jesus is our own Good Shepherd, Who, "gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). "Other sheep I have," He said, "which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd" (John 10:16). All who are truly "the sheep of His pasture" should "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:3-4) each day before venturing out with Him, into the world.

Wow! What a challange on the importance of daily devotions.

As a soldier, one never ventures out on his own, without consulting a higher officer. We, too, have our General.

Cheers, and thanks,

Jim

I enjoy - and am blessed - by reading the devotionals of Jim, Roger, Charles, and David(Coffee house)!

Thank you gentlemen!

Monday, June 28, 2004.

2 Corinthians 3:2

"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men."

This is a short, telling and challenging verse found in the Pauline writings. Paul has been addressing both the saints and sinners at the church in Corinth, but here is taking a moment to address the saints in particular. Take all the letters and books about historical people, the massive and great memoirs, the personal feats of the Churchills, the great presidents or prime ministers, and they don't touch Paul's impression of the saints at Corinth. What they have done and are doing has been etched, not on paper, but in the great apostle's heart.

It is from this verse we get those sayings such as "etched in stone". There is no scaly bark on the family tree of these servants of the Lord. It was John Wesley who said of the Marquis of Rockingham, "He lately had 40,000 pound a year in England, and 20,000 pound in Ireland. And what has he now? Six feet of earth." Now that was considerable wealth in Wesley's time (about $240,000.00 yearly income) In Wesley's mind it counted for naught. Not so with the Corinthian believers in Paul's mind, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts."

This testimony was not just a feeling that Paul had, but it was engraved in many hearts..."our epistle" and "our hearts". It was widespread knowledge. It was not just on Sunday, but it lasted for all time. It went beyond an epitaph. It was a living memorial pre-mortum.

Just think of what this would mean to a soldier of Christ, sitting in a lonely prison cell, deprived of literature and companionship. All that he possesses is what is engraved upon his mind. In this case, his heart, the seat of all our being.

It is the dream of every child that they might remember their parents as godly people. For many it is so, but for many of us it does not exist. What we would trade for all the souls we have touched along the way to see our own loved ones come to saving grace and a shining testimony unto our blessed Lord Jesus.

Now, this testimony was not isolated to a select few. "Known and read of all men." I am often asked how to deal with the cults and how to witness in the community. My answer is always the same. Tell about Jesus, and what He means to you personally. The trappings, the theories, the dogma and doctrines, can confound, confuse and contribute to argumentation, and resolve nothing. No one can take away your personal experience with the Saviour. But, it had better be backed up by your daily living. The tiniest of dirt in your life will be magnified one hundred times over. Nothing short of a fully sanctified life will suffice as a witness before men. This is what Paul is saying here in this passage.

I am sure that these folk had human flaws, as do we all, but the outstanding features overshadowed all the flaws. We are not making excuses for wilfully disobeying God's word, but the normal responses of the human will. The Son shine above all else, and we are "known and read of all men." Calvin renders the word for "known" as acknowledged, which renders the verse as "known and acknowledged by all men" and trustworthy beyond all doubt.

Lord, help us each one to take stock of our lives and determine whether we want to be read of all men, let alone be read by all men.

Cheers,

Jim

Amen - We are indeed the only Bible some people will ever read.

Thank you Jim - gives me pause to think!

Amen. Thank you Jim. A great lesson for all of us there.

God Bless

Sheila

Tuesday, 29 June, 2004


Now we turn to Faithful’s response when accused by Shame. Christian ask the question, “What did you say to him?”

Faith. Say! I could not tell what to say at the first. Yea, he put me so to it, that my blood came up in my face; even this SHAME fetched it up, and had almost beat me quite off. But at last I began to consider, that "that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16v15). And I thought again, this SHAME tells me what men are; but tells me nothing what God or the word of God is. And I thought moreover, that at the day of doom we shall not be doomed to death or life according to the blustering spirits of the world; but according to the wisdom and law of the highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says is best, indeed is best; though all the men in the world are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers his religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of heaven are wisest; and that the poor man that loves Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates him--SHAME, depart! thou art an enemy to my salvation! --shall I entertain thee against my sovereign Lord? How then shall I look him in the face at his coming? Should I now be ashamed of his ways and servants, how can I expect the blessing? (Mark 8v38) But indeed this SHAME was a bold villain--I could scarce shake him out of my company! Yea, he would be haunting of me, and continually whispering me in the ear with some one or other of the infirmities that attend religion; but at last I told him 't was but in vain to attempt further in this business, for those things that he disdained, in those did I see most glory: and so at last I got past this importunate one. And when I had shaken him off, then I began to sing:

"The trials that those men do meet withal
That are obedient to the heavenly call
Are manifold, and suited to the flesh,
And come, and come, and come again afresh;
That now, or some time else, we by them may
Be taken, overcome, and cast away.
Oh let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then
Be vigilant, and quit themselves like men!"

Chr. I am glad, my brother, that thou didst withstand this villain so bravely; for of all, as thou sayest, I think he has the wrong name. For he is so bold as to follow us in the streets, and to attempt to put us to shame before all men; that is, to make us ashamed of that which is good: but if he was not himself audacious, he would never attempt to do as he does. But let us still resist him; for notwithstanding all his bravadoes, he promotes the fool, and none else. "The wise shall inherit glory, "said Solomon; "but shame shall be the promotion of fools" (Proverbs 3v35).

Faith. I think that we must cry to him for help against SHAME, that would have us to be valiant for the truth upon the earth.

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Faithful’s first reply to Shame really sets the tone, "that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16v15).

When Shame rears his ugly head and begins to appeal to the Christian we must first trun our thoughts to the Word of God. That is the only place to find an answer to his appeal, for humanly thinking everything Shame says makes sense. Yet, God says that those things which have the most appeal to men are abominable to God. Shame makes sense only when you leave God out of the equation.

I think the key phrase in this entire section is what Faithful declares – “Therefore, thought I, what God says is best, indeed is best; though all the men in the world are against it.” What can we add to that? What God says is best, is best – full stop. This is a profound statement of faith! Whatever God says is best IS best no matter how it seems to us at the time!

Look again at the very end of Faithful’s song – “Oh let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then
Be vigilant, and quit themselves like men.”

How do we defeat the allure and temptation of Shame?
1) Remember, what God says in best, is indeed best.
2) Be vigilant in the battle.

Jim, Roger, thanks for the devotionals. It seems I have so little time to post here (on weekdays.)

Keep in the Word. Thank you Roger!

Wednesday, June 30, 2004.

2 Corinthians 5: 14,15

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we judge that, if one died for all,
then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not
henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

This word “constraineth” is interesting. It literally means, “holds us in”. There are
some who believe this passage is showing two things: the compelling motive to
spread the gospel, and the universality of the atonement. Neither is true to the word
at this point. Whilst, indeed we are compelled to tell forth the gospel, and this
should come from the heart, that is not what Paul is talking about here.

Paul is talking about what Christ in us is doing. It is the love of Christ which holds
us in. It not only provided the means of salvation, but the holding power as well.
The passage says that “if one died for all.” Paul is addressing the believers here, and
it is this love of Christ which holds us in. We cannot surrender our belief in Christ.
We cannot lose our salvation. It is secured in His blood. We may fall aside, and we
may do things unbecoming a Christian, but the “love of Christ” keeps holding us in.

The blood of Christ, shed on the cross, is sufficient for all, but never intended for all
the world, but rather it is efficacious for all who are believers. So Christ died for all,
but instead of some; the elect of God. It is difficult for us to fathom the truth that
God revealed to us in predestination and election, but this does not negate the truth
in the whole of scripture. This understanding should not call to us a spiritual pride
that we have been “picked”, but to the contrary, should humble us, that God showed
mercy to us whilst passing by others.

It does not diminish the preaching of the gospel, but should cause us to more
energetically dispense the good news that Christ does save. We don’t know who are
elect, and we ought to reach out constantly to find the lost brother and sister in the
Lord. Spurgeon, it is said, once prayed, “Lord, save the elect and elect some more.”
I don’t know the full context of that prayer, but it brings home the compelling force
behind the gospel. Come unto me and be saved,,,all who come.... We must never
fall into a lethargic state when it comes to presenting the gospel. It ought to draw
every ounce of emotion we can muster. We must preach in all earnestness. And
here we go back to the words, “The love of Christ holds us in.” The underlying fuel
that compells us to tell the good news is the “love of Christ.”

Paul goes on to tell us, “And that he died for all, that they which live, should not
henceforth live unto themselves....” We, the believers, have been bought with a
price and we are not our own. This is what drives us forth in the truth. This is what
drives us forth with the gospel message. This is what governs our daily living. And
we become “ambassadors for Christ.”

Lord, we are made to be your righteousness in the world, and may we never forget
that we remain your ambassadors with the love of Christ holding us in.

Cheers,

Jim

Great message! Thank you Jim!

Thursday, 1st July, 2004

We know meet one of the most interesting characters on the journey to the Celestial City. Sadly, Talkative is one with whom we are often quite familiar. At first Christian and Talkative have a wonderful chat about speaking of things of God and the merit of speaking of good things. Faithful gets a bit anxious when these words by Talkative.

Talk. What you will: I will talk of things heavenly, or things earthly; things moral, or things evangelical; things sacred, or things profane; things past, or things to come; things foreign, or things at home; things more essential, or things circumstantial--provided that all be done to our profit.

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So he turns to Christian to see what he thinks.

Chr. His name is TALKATIVE; he dwells in our town: wonder that you should be a stranger to him, only I consider that our town is large.

Faith. Whose son is he? And whereabout doth he dwell?

Chr. He is the son of one SAY-WELL; he dwelt in Prating-row, and he is known of all that are acquainted with him by the name of TALKATIVE in Prating-row; and notwithstanding his fine tongue, he is but a sorry fellow.

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Faithful then asks Christian for an explanation of his negative view of Talkative and why he though he had been deceived..

Faith. But I am ready to think you do but jest, because you smiled.

Chr. Deceived! You may be sure of it. Remember the proverb, "They say, and do not; but the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (Matthew 23v3; 1Corinthians 4v20). He talks of prayer, of repentance, of faith, and of the new birth; but he knows but only to talk of them. I have been in his family, and have observed him both at home and abroad; and I know that what I say of him is the truth. His house is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is of savour. There is there neither prayer nor sign of repentance for sin; yea, the brute in his kind serves God far better than he. He is the very stain, reproach, and shame of religion to all that know him (Romans 2:23,24); it can hardly have a good word in all that end of the town where he dwells, through him. Thus say the common people that know him: "A saint abroad, and a devil at home; "his poor family finds it so; he is such a churl, such a railer at, and so unreasonable with his servants, that they neither know how to do for or speak to him. Men that have any dealings with him, say 'tis better to deal with a Turk than with him: for fairer dealing they shall have at their hands. This TALKATIVE, if it be possible, will go beyond them--defraud, beguile, and overreach them. Besides, he brings up his sons to follow his steps; and if he findeth in any of them a foolish timorousness (for so he calls the first appearance of a tender conscience), he calls them fools and blockheads, and by no means will employ them in much, or speak to their commendation before others. For my part, I am of opinion, that he has by his wicked life caused many to stumble and fall; and will be, if God prevent not, the ruin of many more.

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The problem with Talkative is one that is much to common. To speak of the things of God is easy. All over our globe are those who have no problem speaking of God. Too often though those who speak of God are like the Pharisees described by Jesus in Matthew 23v3 – “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

The key phrase here – “They say, and do not.” My dear brothers and sisters may it NEVER be said of us that we “say, but do not.” Christian fellowship is a wonderful thing, but if we do wrongly if we do not “practise what we preach.” Talkative’s life did not match his message. How about you – are they ways in which your walk does not match your talk? Are there ways in which you say, and do not? May it never be so my friends. May what we say be what we do!

Amen. A very important message. Thank you Roger.

God Bless

Sheila

Our children and spouses will tell the best - whether or not we practice what we preach!

Thank you Roger!