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The Carpenter's Chapel (4)
- Thread starter Jim1999
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NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
Tuesday, 15th June, 2004
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
1 Corinthians 16:13,14
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all you things be done with love."
Paul takes time to talk to pastors in this final chapter of 1 corinthians. He touches on the offering and support for those who labour in the Lord, but primarily for the poor. Paul also lays down the principles of gathering on the first day of the week to worship. This indeed the Lord's Day. We do not own it, but we owe it to the Lord.
Someone once said, if every Christian gave ten per cent to the local church, there would be plenty instore to not only manage the affairs of the church, but more to do His bidding.
One of the greatest places to learn about giving happens when one attends seminary or Bible College. There is a thirst to learn and much learning comes from books. Money is always short for seminarians. The question arises, "Shall I buy that book that will teach me so much, or do I place my last dollar on the plate?" In my experience, that last dollar on the plate explodes beyond measure. Let me give a personal experience here.
I had little money left and no preaching appointment this particular Sunday. I taught the Sunday School class, attended morning worship and placed the last of my money on the plate. At the close of the service, I had no dinner and no money, and all the parishioners had left for home. I decided to stay and pray, waiting for the evening service. Early in the afternoon, a parishioner had returned to the church to gather his Bible, which he had inadvertantly left in the pew rack. He said to me, "We are late with lunch. Have you eaten?" "I am ok", I said. "No, you must come home with me and have lunch, supper and we can attend evening service together." I don't believe for one minute that that man returned to the church by mistake or by chance. God prompted him to do that. God always blesses our little sacrifices.
Paul then goes on to discuss his plans for the immediate future. Then comes this interjection by Paul, an admonition every man of God needs to take to heart. "Watch ye...." Be ever alert to the things that can attack your spiritual being. As the soldier at the watch must always be alert to the enemy, so the Christian, and here the pastor, must be on the watch at all times. Take care of your spiritual relationship and God will take care of your geographical location. If we watch our spiritual life, we will always be where God would have us. "Stand fast in the faith." We are to go that step beyond being saved. We are to be resolved to advance and not fall into sin. It is so easy, especially in these times, to fall prey to the little sins that nag at the soul and brings us to naught. Then we have, "Quit you like men." Be a man. It is not difficult to show love without surrendering one's manlihood. Be a man. Never surrender the strengths that makes one a man. There is little place in the work for weak-kneed me. Be strong. Use all our strengths, as men, or as women, and be about the Lord's work.
Finally, Paul sets the tone. Let all things be done with love. We chastise, we correct, we lead others on, with love. It is not enough that we be correct in doctrine, but that we show forth love in all things.
Lord, help us to love the unlovely and be about Your business in the fulness of love.
Cheers,
Jim
1 Corinthians 16:13,14
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all you things be done with love."
Paul takes time to talk to pastors in this final chapter of 1 corinthians. He touches on the offering and support for those who labour in the Lord, but primarily for the poor. Paul also lays down the principles of gathering on the first day of the week to worship. This indeed the Lord's Day. We do not own it, but we owe it to the Lord.
Someone once said, if every Christian gave ten per cent to the local church, there would be plenty instore to not only manage the affairs of the church, but more to do His bidding.
One of the greatest places to learn about giving happens when one attends seminary or Bible College. There is a thirst to learn and much learning comes from books. Money is always short for seminarians. The question arises, "Shall I buy that book that will teach me so much, or do I place my last dollar on the plate?" In my experience, that last dollar on the plate explodes beyond measure. Let me give a personal experience here.
I had little money left and no preaching appointment this particular Sunday. I taught the Sunday School class, attended morning worship and placed the last of my money on the plate. At the close of the service, I had no dinner and no money, and all the parishioners had left for home. I decided to stay and pray, waiting for the evening service. Early in the afternoon, a parishioner had returned to the church to gather his Bible, which he had inadvertantly left in the pew rack. He said to me, "We are late with lunch. Have you eaten?" "I am ok", I said. "No, you must come home with me and have lunch, supper and we can attend evening service together." I don't believe for one minute that that man returned to the church by mistake or by chance. God prompted him to do that. God always blesses our little sacrifices.
Paul then goes on to discuss his plans for the immediate future. Then comes this interjection by Paul, an admonition every man of God needs to take to heart. "Watch ye...." Be ever alert to the things that can attack your spiritual being. As the soldier at the watch must always be alert to the enemy, so the Christian, and here the pastor, must be on the watch at all times. Take care of your spiritual relationship and God will take care of your geographical location. If we watch our spiritual life, we will always be where God would have us. "Stand fast in the faith." We are to go that step beyond being saved. We are to be resolved to advance and not fall into sin. It is so easy, especially in these times, to fall prey to the little sins that nag at the soul and brings us to naught. Then we have, "Quit you like men." Be a man. It is not difficult to show love without surrendering one's manlihood. Be a man. Never surrender the strengths that makes one a man. There is little place in the work for weak-kneed me. Be strong. Use all our strengths, as men, or as women, and be about the Lord's work.
Finally, Paul sets the tone. Let all things be done with love. We chastise, we correct, we lead others on, with love. It is not enough that we be correct in doctrine, but that we show forth love in all things.
Lord, help us to love the unlovely and be about Your business in the fulness of love.
Cheers,
Jim
following-Him
Active Member
A very important message.
Thank you Jim,
God Bless
Sheila
Thank you Jim,
God Bless
Sheila
NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
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.
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.
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.
Friday, June 18, 2004
2 Corinthians
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia."
What is your physical image of Paul? And how did he come about the name Paul? To-day, we start a faith journey through 2 Corinthians, and I thought it an appropriate time to learn a little about Paul.
Without a doubt, the author of so many New Testament books, this boastful Pharisee of Tarsus,enemy of the church, was transformed by his meeting the Saviour on the road to Damascus. Aren't all men so transformed when they meet Jesus? Would that that were true. I'm sorry to say, that not all who call His name will know Him, and this is what the Christian life is all about, isn't it? Knowing Jesus intimately.
He was Saul of Tarsus and his name was later changed to Paul. We don't know why the name was changed, but it is first mentioned in Acts 13:9, "Then Saul, (who is also called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on Him."
We don't know why the name change. One notion has it that Saul changed his name to remember the conversion of Sergius Paulus.
There is another thought. The word "Paulus" in Latin means "little" or "small". Tradition offers this view of Paul: "a man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well built, with eyebrows meeting, rather long-nosed, full of grace...." Augustine thought it was a nickname.
If tradition is anywhere close to reality, it might change our physical view of Paul. I can't imagine his photo being on the lead-off banner to draw men unto Jesus. Yet Paul did this throughout his Christian life. It gives evidence to the fact that God uses whom He chooses. We need not challenge our own calling despite what we look like, nor who we are. God transforms His people of choice, and illuminates His gospel through them.
May we never shirk from doing what God wills based on our own conceptions, rather than basing it on what God wants of us.
Cheers,
Jim
2 Corinthians
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia."
What is your physical image of Paul? And how did he come about the name Paul? To-day, we start a faith journey through 2 Corinthians, and I thought it an appropriate time to learn a little about Paul.
Without a doubt, the author of so many New Testament books, this boastful Pharisee of Tarsus,enemy of the church, was transformed by his meeting the Saviour on the road to Damascus. Aren't all men so transformed when they meet Jesus? Would that that were true. I'm sorry to say, that not all who call His name will know Him, and this is what the Christian life is all about, isn't it? Knowing Jesus intimately.
He was Saul of Tarsus and his name was later changed to Paul. We don't know why the name was changed, but it is first mentioned in Acts 13:9, "Then Saul, (who is also called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on Him."
We don't know why the name change. One notion has it that Saul changed his name to remember the conversion of Sergius Paulus.
There is another thought. The word "Paulus" in Latin means "little" or "small". Tradition offers this view of Paul: "a man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well built, with eyebrows meeting, rather long-nosed, full of grace...." Augustine thought it was a nickname.
If tradition is anywhere close to reality, it might change our physical view of Paul. I can't imagine his photo being on the lead-off banner to draw men unto Jesus. Yet Paul did this throughout his Christian life. It gives evidence to the fact that God uses whom He chooses. We need not challenge our own calling despite what we look like, nor who we are. God transforms His people of choice, and illuminates His gospel through them.
May we never shirk from doing what God wills based on our own conceptions, rather than basing it on what God wants of us.
Cheers,
Jim
NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
It gives evidence to the fact that God uses whom He chooses.
Amen and amen
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.
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)
"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)
NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
"They that wait upon the Lord..."
Amen - great thoughts!
Amen - great thoughts!
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)
"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)
NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
Oh the blessing of fulfilled prophecy!