The Carpenter's Chapel (4)

Thank you Jim,

God Bless

Sheila

 

Tuesday, 13th July, 2004

Faithful and Christian continue to speak of Talkative.

Faithful decides to put Talkative’s talk to a test.

Talkative ask the question of Faithful, “What is the difference between crying out sin and hating it?”

Faithful uses the illustration of the Potiphar’s wife. She cried out against Joseph when he ran, but gladly would have committed her sin if he had provided the opportunity. How often are we like Potiphar’s wife. We speak against sin, saying how wrong it is and sounding great words. Yet, in out hearts and our private lives we are guilty of the very sin we rail against? Our hearts and action tell more about our attitude toward sin than our words ever will.

Bunyan’s second illustration of harbouring sin we speak against needs no illustration – “Some cry out against sin, even as the mother cries out against her child in her lap; when she calls it "slut" and "naughty girl, "and then falls to hugging and kissing it.”

Are there sins in your life today that you speak and rail against – then privately hug and kiss that sin as your child? Are there sins that you speak and talk against only because you lack opportunity. O that not a one of us would have the same misunderstanding of sin that Talkative had.

 

Thank you Roger, it hit home

 

Thank you Roger!

 

Thanks Jim. Oh, I think it was a very good devotional. Helping us to consider our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone!

 

Your experience in architecture - helps us to more fully understand the Biblical picture of Who Jesus really is.

Thank you Jim!

 

Thursday, 15th July, 2004

Just want to take a one day break from our discussion of Pilgrim and Faithful’s journey to the Celestial City.

This morning let’s take a brief look at Colossians 3v12-14:

Realising that there are many tick lists in the Word of God I want to focus on this one because I find it greatly challenging. The description of our Christian apparel is one of which I fear many of us fall short.

Here is the list. As you read it forget about everyone but you. Ask yourself, for you alone, the following questions:

Am I putting on a heart of mercy?
Am I putting on kindness?
Am I putting on a humble mind?
Am I putting on meekness?
Am I putting on the ability to “suffer long.”
Am I putting on the ability to put up with others who irritate me?
Am I putting on forgiveness?
Above all, am I putting on charity?

This fits well into our discussion of the character Talkative in Pilgrim’s progress. These are things that we all talk about and things that we know are right. However, how are we actually DOING in meeting these true Bible standards.

When I was first saved I became involved in a movement that had a whole different tick list. It went something like this:

Do I go to the cinema?
Do I play cards?
Do I listen to rock/CCM/country/secular music?
Does my wife wear trousers?
Does my hair touch my ears?
Well, you get the picture.

Now, there is nothing wrong with personal standards and I still hold to many on that list.

However, I find the Colossians list a much more convicting, challenging, and profitable list. This is what God expects us to strive after. How are you doing on the “tick list” from Colossians 3?

 

Thank you Roger - It's good for us to do some real soul searching - once in a while - instead of legalistic searching!

 

Lest some of you think I am back to my old tricks of double posting - somehow - I posted the above post twice - not intentionally.

Now that I moderate this forum - I can edit after the five minutes are up - so I'm letting you think that I am a double poster - instead of just an idiot!

Seriously - I hope many of you read these devotionals. Jim, Roger, and Charles give us lots of good things to think about and meditate upon!

Thanks guys!

[ July 15, 2004, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: Dan Todd ]

 

Roger: all of those are attributes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"Am I putting on the ability to put up with others who irritate me?"
Now that is a toughy and God help me to be like that. One of the things I think that I would have been tempted to ask the Lord if I had been there would be (speaking of the Jews harping at Him all the time), "Lord, don't you get sick and tired of their constant harrassment?" He showed so much patience that even Job would be "green with envy!"

Dan:
You, double post? Now, we would never think that of you!

 

Amen.

Thank you Jim, and to all the writers of the devotionals.

God Bless,

Sheila

 

Thank you Jim.
David invited God to search his heart to "see if there is any wicked way in me." But man has a responsibility for self-examination. If we are to do any comparing of ourselves to anyone else, it must be to the Lord Jesus Himself; because that is where God has set the bar so-to-speak.

 

Thank you Jim!

You have a great attitude - and I'm sure your visits to those in the nursing homes bring great comfort to them. Keep up the good work - my friend!

 

Saturday July 17,2004

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1John 1:9)

Although few matters are more important than renewing a right relationship with God, there is a great deal of confusion that abounds regarding the proper manner of confessing our sins. The Biblical model for confession is clearly given in Psalm 51 where David, under inspiration, deals with his sin of adultery. Note how the focus of the passage is on God, rather than upon any other man or even on David's own needs and desires

First, the Psalm highlights the basis of proper forgiveness-God's mercy: "according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1)

Secondly, David underscores who his sin has offended: God.
"For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, and You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight." (Psalm 51: 3-4)

Then we note that David requests God's cleansing:
"Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7)

Only after this process does David request:
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, And uphold me by your generous Spirit." (Psalm 51:12)
Even this restoration of joy and fellowship of God's Spirit is requested that he might again use his life to glorify God.
"Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to you." (Psalm 51:13)

Biblical confession deals with our relationship with God on His terms. It is essentially agreeing with God about the specific spiritual failures in our life. After such a process we can claim God's promise found in our found in our text: "forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

 

Thank you Charles - everything we do in relationship to God - must be on His terms!

 

Sunday July 18,2004

"When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)

The earthly healing ministries of Jesus are here to have fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4: "Surely He has borne our grief's And carried our sorrows"
This passage does, indeed predict the healing work of the Messiah in His earthly ministry. Isaiah 53:5-6 then predicts the substitutionary atoning work of the Messiah, concluding with the statement: "And the Lord has laid on Him the Iniquity of us all."

The order here is important. The healing ministry preceded the atonement, just as the prophecy of healing preceded the prophecy of Christ's atoning work. This means that particular healings cannot be part of the atonement itself. The reason for the earthly healing work of Christ was, "that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins." (Matthew 9:6)

The saving work of Christ includes deliverance from the death penalty for sin in one's past life, the power of sin in his present life, and the very presence of sin in the future life. Our great salvation has already delivered us from the eternal torments of the second death (Revelation 20:14; 21:8), from the defeating power of physical infirmities in our present bodies, and from the very presence of sickness and pain in the future. In any case, there is no question that God is able in particular situations right now, either to provide direct healing in answer to prayer, or sufficient grace to meet whatever physical need we have in a way that honors Him.
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
(Isaiah 53: 3-7)

 

Thank you Charles - though we don't often care to hear from our Lord - as Paul heard when he asked that his thorn in the flesh be removed - Yet His grace is sufficient - for which I praise Him!

 

Monday, 19th July, 2004

Faithful and Talkative’s discussion of spiritual things continues. Here Talkative brings up the topic of “Great knowledge Gospel mysteries.”

Talkative has just expressed his pride in his great knowledge of Bible truths. He seems to think that knowledge makes him spiritual. Yet 1 Corinthians 13v2 tells us “…though I understand all mysteries, and all knowledge…and have not charity I am nothing.” Knowledge of spiritual truths is no sign of salvation, anymore than spiritual talk is. Many men know vast amounts about the Bible, but never do anything about it. Faithful says, “There is knowledge and knowledge.”

The first, and ineffective kind of knowledge is that which “rests in a bare speculation of things.” This is the kind of knowledge that we might today refer to as “head knowledge.” Although it might be vast, it is meaningless.

The second kind of knowledge is that knowledge which “is accompanied with the grace of faith and love, which puts a man upon doing even the will of God from the heart.” This is what we call “heart knowledge” today and this is the knowledge that leads men to action. According to Psalm 119v34 this true knowledge will lead to “observance with the whole heart.”

The lesson for us is clear – we act when we have a heart knowledge of the truth Head knowledge leads to mental assent and agreement only. Heart knowledge will lead to a change of action.

What kind of “knowledge” do you have of spiritual truth? Is it the kind of knowledge that only resides in the head? Or is it the kind of knowledge that leads to a change of heart, and therefore a change of action?

How about a simple test?

Do you know that God will meet you needs? If you only have the first kind of knowledge you will say that you know it, yet when the trials comes you will once again fret and worry that God REALLY is able.

On the other hand, do you KNOW that God will meet your needs? When you have the second kind of knowledge Faithful talks about the next time the trail comes you will be able to trust God in the trial for it is the knowledge of the heart.

How is your knowledge today?