The Carpenter's Chapel

Jim1999 · Apr 26, 2004

Hence the "binding of satan" in this age. Thanks be to God for this restriction.

Cheers,

Jim

Dan Todd · Apr 26, 2004

Thank you Watchman and Roger for your devotionals of Sunday and Monday!

Jim - I look forward to reading the Carpenter's Chapel. I'm glad that you added Watchman to the mix.

A sobering thought from a verse used by Roger:

1Corinthians 10v13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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That verse tell me - that when we fall to temptation - it is our own fault - that is we want to commit the sin. Paul tells us that if we were unable to resist - God would send the way of escape! So when we do sin - it must be willful - and very egregious to our Heavenly Father!

Dan

Jim1999 · Apr 26, 2004

Thanks Dan,

I like to think that the devotionals in both forums serve the people well. It was my original idea to provide a ministry to ministers, so to speak, but without the debatable trappings. JUst to think about Him and us together.

Cheers,

Jim

NaasPreacher (C4K) · Apr 26, 2004

Amen, thanks for all the thoughts today - especially the comment about our choice to sin. This has really impacted me lately. We can never say, like Flip Wilson used to, that "the devil made me do it."

I may not always comment, but do always appreciate the posts.

Roger

Watchman · Apr 27, 2004

Originally posted by Dan Todd:
Thank you Watchman and Roger for your devotionals of Sunday and Monday!

Jim - I look forward to reading the Carpenter's Chapel. I'm glad that you added Watchman to the mix.

Dan
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Most kind Dan, thank you.

Jim1999 · Apr 27, 2004

Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Acts 27: 1-26

“Wherefore , sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God...” vs 25

In the words of F.F. Bruce, “Human life has often been compared to a voyage
across a stormy sea.” This chapter is the story about Paul and the shipwreck he
experienced. Paul had a visitation from a messenger of God and knew beforehand
the sea would be tempestuous, and that the ship would be destroyed. In the light of
this knowledge we read, “Sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God.”

It is to be noted that Paul is not saying I have faith in God. We all make this claim,
including many in the world who have never experienced God in their lives. Almost
everyone becomes religious at one point or other in their lives. No, Paul is saying he
believed God. God has spoken and there is no second guessing here. God spoke and
that settles it.

At what point in our lives do we “believe God”? Is when we face the first challenge
in life? Is it when we have faced trial after trial? Some still do not arrive at that spot
where they say, “I believe God”.

I have listened to believers talk about their lives and what they want to do. The
doors don’t seem to open. In fact, the doors appear to be slamming shut in their
face. These good folk often quote scripture of assurances that God is in the midst
of their trials, but do they come to the place where they “believe God”? They claim
all kinds of experiences. Woe is me! Nothing is going right! But I believe in God. I
have Jesus in my life. I do the right things. But have they arrived at the spot where
they “believe God.”

This is probably the most important hurdle that we will ever face in our lives. Just
image being with Paul and the men aboard this doomed ship. It is wandering rather
aimlessly in the torrent sea. The ship is coming to pieces. In the storm, they are
thrust into that sea, and grab boards to keep them afloat, as they float smashingly to
the shore. Paul says, “I believe God”. I knew the storm was going to hit; God said
so. I believe God. Through this experience, Paul stood firm in his faith and
commitment. He did not sway. He turned neither right nor left, but set his nose
straight on. Nothing would come between him and the mission before him. Why?
Because his status in the heavenly kingdom was secure? No, although that is vital.
But because Paul “believed God”.

It is at this point that we can take our assurances from all those wonderful scritures
that tells us about our relationship to God, and that He is providentially in charge.
These assurances are mere words until we “believe God”.

Lord, help me to believe.

Cheers,

Jim

following-Him · Apr 27, 2004

Jim,

Thank you . That is a real encouragement for me today.

God Bless

Sheila

Watchman · Apr 28, 2004

Thanks Jim,

We can trust God with everything.

NaasPreacher (C4K) · Apr 28, 2004

Wednesday, 28th April, 2004

Christian walks past the chained lions into the house called Beautiful. There he discourses with some of the residents. Among them are Discretion, Piety, Prudence, and Charity, each of whom gives wise advice.

We pick up as the residents sit down to supper -

About the Lord of the Hill

Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to eat. Now the table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well refined; and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill: namely, about what he had done; and wherefore he did what he did; and why he had builded that house. And by what they said, I perceived that he had been a great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of death (Hebrews 2v14,15); but not without great danger to himself, which made me love him the more.

For, as they said, and as I believe (said CHRISTIAN), he did it with the loss of much blood; but that which put glory of grace into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love for his country. And besides, there were some of them of the household that said they had seen and spoke with him since he did die on the cross; and they have attested that they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west.

They moreover gave an instance of what they affirmed, and that was, he had stripped himself of his glory that he might do this for the poor; and that they heard him say and affirm that he would not dwell in the Mountain of Zion alone. They said, moreover, that he had made many pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill (1Samuel 2v8; Psalm 113v7).

Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook themselves to rest. The pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whose window opened towards the sun rising; the name of the chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day; and then he awoke and sang--

"Where am I now? is this the love and care
Of Jesus for the men that pilgrims are,
Thus to provide? That I should be forgiven!
And dwell already the next door to heaven!"
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Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
(Hebrews 2v14-15)

No wonder the dwellers in the house called Beautiful spoke so much of the Lord of the Hill! That He would strip Himself of His glory (Philippians 2v5-8) to “lift the needy out of the dunghill” (Psalm 113v7). And why? Look at Bunyan’s words above – “He did it out of pure love for His country.” “Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my God shoulds’t die for me?”

The Hebrews passage quoted says that He took on flesh and blood to destroy the devil and deliver us from a lifetime of bondage. My thoughts go back to Charles Wesley’s words again – “Long my imprisoned spirit lay. Fast bound in sin and nature’s night. Thine eyes diffused a quickening ray; I woke – the dungeon filled with light! My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”

When your thoughts dwell on what Christ has done, how do you respond? Is it so “old hat” that it no longer thrills you? Does it no longer motivate you to service? We are going to see next that Christian steps out and back into the battle, but perhaps for a moment we might dwell on his last thoughts in the house called Beautiful:

"Where am I now? is this the love and care
Of Jesus for the men that pilgrims are,
Thus to provide? That I should be forgiven! And dwell already the next door to heaven !"

That I, me, should be forgiven! That is indeed an amazing truth! Praise God for His willingness to free me from bondage!

following-Him · Apr 28, 2004

Amen.

Thank you Roger.

Blessings

Sheila

Dan Todd · Apr 28, 2004

All that thrills my soul is Jesus!

Thank you Roger - thank you Jim for yesterday!

Dan

Watchman · Apr 28, 2004

Thank You Roger.

Jim1999 · Apr 29, 2004

Thursday, April 29, 2004

“Small inconsistencies are dangerous. Little thorns make great blisters. Little moths
destroy fine garments, and little frivolities and minor faults rob religion of a
thousand joys. O professor, too little separated from sinners, you know not what
you lose by your conformity to the world. The choice aroma of fellowship with God
is dissipated by worldly conversation. Wherefore, come ye out from among them.”
C.H. Spurgeon.

“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came
in unto him.....teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ....” Acts
28:30

I have come to the end of the beginning of the spread of Christianity as it is
presented in Acts. It has been a wonderful journey, going beyond the historical facts
and finding the inner thoughts that not only convert the soul, but lead us in that
supreme path of joy that culminates in a deeper knowledge of our precious Lord
Jesus.

I have decided not to do a devotional this morning, but to talk about the devotional
itself. When I was young in Christianity, I knew nothing of entering the inner
chamber and adoring God. I was quite studious and memorized the scripture at
great length. I read the book voraciously and without fail. I wanted more. It was at
this point I came upon the life of C.T. Studd. He was a scholar and an outstanding
cricketer; the equivalent of a Babe Ruth in baseball. Studd’s father was influenced
under the ministry of D.L. Moody, came to a knowledge of Jesus and wanted the
same for his three sons. This family did not lack for money, and the lads were
schooled at Eton College and later Cambridge University. All three lads came to
Christ on the same day when a visiting evangelist was staying at their home and
challenged C.T. Studd as he was on his way to an important cricket match. The
evangelist persisted in his duty to tell of the Christ, and C.T. made a decision before
he left. This was to be the beginning of a new life. Whilst He took this new
experience seriously, he nevertheless fell off and piece by piece lost touch with who
Jesus was.

He did not experience some great calamity in his life, but a sudden realization that
he needed a closer walk with Jesus. The world had nothing to offer compared to
this Jesus who had overtaken his life. C.T. Studd began “The Quiet Time”, and he
began to shake the world of missionary endeavor. He also coined the phrase, “The
Quiet Time”. He became a missionary to China and Africa, but more than this, he
developed the inner closet of prayer and fellowship with God.

It was at this point my life also turned around as I found the time and place to also
enter into the inner sanctum of soul searching and just letting God be God in my
personal life. I always rise about 5AM and lose myself in God. A place away from
family and the world. A place where I did not study scripture or even read great
lengths, but chose out a small portion and looked for a thought that came from that
passage. This habit continued throughout my life and is most precious to me.

This is what led me to introducing these chapel threads. It was not to preach my
views of theology or even scripture, but to introduce God in a fresh light, that we all
may experience Christ in our personal lives, so that we are never the same again,
even as C.T. Studd.

It was early in ministry I discovered Daily Devotions by Scripture Union. It was an
organized way to read through scripture devotionally. Short readings heavy on one’s
personal life in Christ. Over the years I have promoted Scripture Union Notes as a
guide in one’s personal devotional life. This is not a time to develop sermons, or to
engage in marathon readings of scripture, but a quiet time to think only of God, and
to allow God to experience us.

If only one person reading these devotionals, as the various men so chosen, write
each day, has a new experience in God, then my wishes are fulfilled, and these
devotionals are not in vain in the missionary sense. Last time I wrote about
“Believing God”. It was a hermeneutical stretch of the text, but there is so much
depth in the idea of “believing God”. My friends, to my mind, this is what
devotional means, and this is what I intended to share day by day.

I thank God for the men who have taken up the task to write each day. Each man
walks in his own cenceptual path, but there is such unity of thought expressed, one
cannot think apart from divine inspiration.

May God lead us each day, equipping us in each thought. Lord, teach us to
pray.....”Our Father who art in heaven”......and “believe God”.

Cheers, and God bless,

Jim

following-Him · Apr 29, 2004

Amen.

Thank you Jim,

Blessings

Sheila

NaasPreacher (C4K) · Apr 30, 2004

Friday, 30th April, 2004

We now see Christian leaving the hill and beginning into a great valley called Humiliation. Here he will encounter the first of several very real struggles on his way to the heavenly city.

Apollyon

But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor CHRISTIAN was hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he espied a foul fiend coming over the field to meet with him; his name was APOLLYON. Then did CHRISTIAN begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again, that he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts; therefore he resolved to venture, and stand his ground. For, thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to stand.
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It doesn’t take long for Christian to come in contact with the greatest opponent of all, the “foul fiend” Apollyon. His fear is great, but unlike many of us his is wise enough to realise that he is better off to stand and fight than to turn and run, for “he had no armour for his back.” He realised that if he at least stood and fought at least he would have some protection against the fiery darts which Apollyon was sure to launch.

Christian was well aware of the Armour of God which had been supplied him. As he checked his armour he noted that he had a girdle for his loins, a breastplate, shoes for his feet, a helmet, and a shield, and a sword, but nothing to guard his back.

What is our lesson for today? I think it is simple, the Christian walk is one of fighting, not fleeing, of confronting not cowering, and of standing not surrendering. The next time the battle comes and you are tempted to run, remember, you have no armour for your back.

Watchman · Apr 30, 2004

"he had no armour for his back."
Something I hadn't thought of, but quite true as it pertains to soldiers of biblical times.
You can't turn your back on this enemy.
Thank You Roger!

Dan Todd · Apr 30, 2004

Jim - Thursday's was profound - thank you for sharing your soul with us!

Roger - great lesson to remember as we face the enemy!

Watchman · May 1, 2004

Saturday May 1, 2004

There are two very important things to consider in our dealings with God, and that is, being good, "PR" people. No, not Public Relations, but "PRayer and PRaise!" This, Lord willing, is what we will look at this weekend.

"This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him." (1John 5:14-15)

This promise is comprehensive and unlimited-a tremendous assurance of answered prayer. But there is one proviso-according to His will! A companion verse to this is Psalm 37:4:

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
If our delight is in the Lord, what will be the desires of our heart, and what will we ask for?

There are a number of Christians who, with all good intentions, have argued that it evidences a lack of faith to add the qualification, "if it be Your will," to one's prayer. Well, "The servant is not greater than His Lord," Jesus did just that:

"Going a little further, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'" (Mt. 26:39).

The question is how to know whether or not we are praying according to God's will. One key, of course, is to search the Scriptures. God's will can never contradict His word, and it is foolish to ask God to do something which the Scriptures forbid. Another key is that of our motives when we ask; James wrote:

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures." (James 4:3).

When, however, we sincerely desire God's will to be done, as the Lord Jesus did back there in the garden, and as far as can be determined there is no Biblical or personal barrier hindering our prayer, then we can pray in confidence even if we yet don't know for certain God's will in the matter.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8: 26-28).

[ May 01, 2004, 03:08 AM: Message edited by: Watchman ]

NaasPreacher (C4K) · May 1, 2004

Amen!

Great thoughts - thank you.

Watchman · May 2, 2004

Sunday May 2,2004

"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2Cor. 5:9-10

If it were possible, I would like to build a fence around this devotional and post a sign that reads, "Believers Only." The reason I say that is because this is about pleasing God, and giving Him proper praise. If you are one that is outside the Body of Christ, and you are one that has not come to Christ, believing in him, repenting of your sins and trusting in the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior; it is absolutely impossible for you to please God. John the Baptist put it best:
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 3:36.
My friend, if God's wrath abides on you, how can you please God? Come to Christ today.

In our passage today, Paul expresses the strong desire to be "pleasing to" the Lord Jesus Christ. It should likewise be our own ambition-whatever we do and wherever we are-to please Him. For example: "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1. That is, our aim should be pleasing Him-not ourselves. Likewise, we are warned: "So then, those that are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:8. That is, our thoughts and deeds must not be governed by worldly considerations.
By suffering, willingly, for His sake, we can please Him. "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But if you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God." 1Peter 2:20.
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him." Heb. 11:6) We must walk by faith if we would please the Lord. This is not faith in the abstract, but specific faith.
God is pleased with generosity: "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Hebrews 13:16. This certainly includes sharing the gospel, as well as our material possessions.
In conclusion, when our ways please the Lord, we have this gracious promise:
"And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." 1John 3:22

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