The Carpenter's Chapel (4)

Tremendous truth - that we need to be reminded of - from time to time!

Thanks Jim!

 

Tuesday, 15th June, 2004

Before Christian leaves the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I want to examine one more passage of scripture. There is much more here, and we all would do well to read the whole account, but today was are going to examine the verse that Christian quotes, - Job 29v3: “His candle shines on my head; and by his light I go through darkness.” Psalms 18v28 says almost the same thing, “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.”

In times of darkness we can take comfort that we have a great light. Job knew that it was God’s candle that lit his way through the darkness. Of course the first verse that comes to our minds is “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” When we are in those times of we are tempted to look everywhere else for light and direction. We look to human reasoning and understanding, but the darkness just seems to get deeper and deeper. Where then do we turn? God’s answer is clear:

Psalms 19v8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalms 43v3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
Proverbs 6v23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

All of these passages refer to the Word of God as the source of light. When you find yourself in times of darkness, turn to the Light of God’s Word. It will give you light to light the darkness night. It is there and only there that you can find your way out of the darkness.

 

Thank You Roger.
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."
(Psslm 34:19)

 

No better place to turn to - that the Word of God!

Thank you Roger!

 

In our rush to do all things right - we often forget that all we do must be tempered with love.

Thanks, Jim!

 

A very important message.

Thank you Jim,

God Bless

Sheila

 

Jim, now this is one I am going to print and save,
that litte phrase "Quit ye (you) like men" I have thought about over and over again. You have a good take on it.
Thanks, Charles

 

Thursday, 17th June, 2004

We now meet one of my favourite characters in Pilgrims Progress. His name is Faithful and here he joins Pilgrim on his journey. They meet and begin to catch up on what has happened since they had last seem each other in the City of Destruction. They share their common experience which we have see form Christian’s perspective. Then, Faithful tells of his experience with one we have not met before.

For the next several days we will examine Faithful’s encounter with the woman called Wanton. Her name is not one that we use much any more, but in this sense it refers to being sexually loose. Perhaps this is a word we should use more often it is a good depiction of our society and very few have completely escaped the appeals of Wanton.

Before we move on there is something else to note – although Faithful escaped the Slough of Despond he was trouble by Wanton. Christian did not mention Wanton, but was troubled by despondency. We are well advised to note that we are all troubled by different opposition.

We will see much more of the encounter in the days to come, but for today let is look at the reference Christian made to Joseph in the book of Genesis:

“And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,”

Note first of all the need of always being on guard. Joseph did not set out to be tempted, he was going to the house to do his own business. Wanton is liable to attack when we least expect her.

Secondly, notice what Joseph should have perceived as a danger – “There was none of the men of the house there within.” There is great wisdom in being careful about who you are alone with.

Our first warning here is to always be on guard. Wanton is lying in wait, don’t fall victim to her trap.

Joseph’s encounter is a good basic reminder of how to deal with Wanton, more advice will come from Faithful’s words in the next few days.

 

Excellent warning for we preachers - be careful of whom you are alone with!

Thank you Roger!

 

It gives evidence to the fact that God uses whom He chooses.

Amen and amen

 

Who can tell the mind of God - whom and what He will use?

1 Corinthians 1:21-25

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

Saturday, June 19, 2004

"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily." (Isaiah 28:16)

This is one of the great Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, promising a Savior who would be the sure foundation of our faith; yet it was 700 years before the promise was fulfilled. God did not "act hastily," but His promise, nevertheless, was sure. No doubt many believing Jews wondered why it was taking so long, but in the "fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4), Christ came.

It is so easy to rush ahead of God instead of waitng for His leading. With good intentions and admirable zeal, Christians plan great programs, establish new organizations, promote legislation, and become involved in a thousand-and-one good activities, all in the name of Christ and His Kingdom. Such activism is urgent, they believe, because the time is short. Well, the time has been short, for 2000 years now

But the scripture says:
"Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of Justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him." (Isaiah 30:18)

We must not fail to follow when He really leads through His Word, but all to often undue haste results in confusion and collapse. When todays passage is qouoted by Peter (1Peter 2:6), "act hastily" is rendered, "be put to shame."

It is not honoring to God for Christian projects and activities to be "put to shame," so Christian believers must be careful not to, "act hastiy."

"Wait, I say, on the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)

 

"They that wait upon the Lord..."

Amen - great thoughts!

 

Thank you Charles!

PS - I see you've exceeded 1000 posts!

 

Sunday June 20, 2004

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:5)

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, as stated in all four of the Gospels: Mt. 21:1-9, Mk. 11:1-10,
Lk. 19:30-40 and Jn. 12:12-16, the multitude quickly recognized that He was fulfilling an ancient prophecy and thereby specifically claiming to be their long awaited Messiah.

The people in turn began to fulfill David's even more ancient prophecy, laying palm branches in His path, and crying out: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." (Psalm 118:26).

It is one of the few events in the life of Christ, here on earth, that is recorded in all four gospels, though Matthew is the only one that notes it as the fulfillment of prophecy. What a rather strange prophecy it was; a King, "riding on a donkey?" "Lowly?" One would normally view a King coming on a great white horse, or in an elaborate chariot; but such was not the case in our Lord's first coming.

Ah, but Zechariah says He comes, "just and having salvation." And the salvation He was bringing was not deliverence from Roman subjugation, but eternal deliverence from sin and its awful wages.

These same multitudes which hailed Him soon were following their high priest in clamoring for His crucifixion. Nevertheless He someday will fufill Zechariah's later prophecy:
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)

Fulfilled prophecy, right down to the last detail, is one of the great proofs that Jesus of Nazareth is exactly who He, the apostles, and all ministers of the Gospel right down to today say that He is: God in flesh and our only hope for heaven.
"Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
(Matthew 11:28-30)

 

Oh the blessing of fulfilled prophecy!