The Carpenter's Chapel (4)

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Wednesday, 7th July, 2004

Bunyan must have felt like a Talkative-like spirit was a major problem in the Pilgrims progress through the Christian life for he continues on still.

Hearing is but as the sowing of the seed; talking is not sufficient to prove that fruit is indeed in the heart and life: and let us assure ourselves, that at the day of doom men shall be judged according to their fruits (Matthew 13:3-9,18-30,36-43,47-50 25:31-46). It will not be said then, "Did you believe?" but, "Were you doers, or talkers only?" and accordingly shall they be judged. The end of the world is compared to our harvest; and you know men at harvest regard nothing but fruit. Not that anything can be accepted that is not of faith; but I speak this to show you how insignificant the profession of TALKATIVE will be at that day.

The scripture selection which Christian is discussing is quite long. It is the account of the seed and the sower with reference to several other parables. In each of these accounts the proof of salvation is fruit and those who have never produced fruit are judged.

We are only going to look at one verse for an example today. Matthew 13v23 – “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Look at the test of whether the seed fell on good ground or not. The good ground, which bear fruit a hundred, sixty, and thirty fold is that soul who:
Hears the word of God
Understands the word of God
Bear fruit

Salvation is easy but true belief will always bring forth good fruit. As Christian puts it the question will not be “Did you believe?” but were you a “doer, or a talker only.” James letter makes it clear, where there are no works the faith is dead.

Talk is cheap. The question is not, “How is your talk?” but “How is your walk?”

 

[Dan Todd]

Good lesson Roger!

Thank you!

 

[Watchman]

Great devotionals gentlemen, thank you.

 

[Jim1999]

Thursday, July 8, 2004

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be
rich.”

Over the years, I have been a good and faithful student of theology. There was a
time when I would argue theologically the finest details. I am firm in my belief in
Reformed Theology; the theology of John Calvin and other church fathers. The
older I become, these doctrines fade in importance in relation to the doctrine of
Christology. I can easily forgive those who differ in many doctrines, but I can find
no forgiveness when one deviates in the doctrines of Christ. This verse in 2
Corinthians exemplifies Christology. He who was rich became poor for our sakes,
that we might be rich.

If we were to approach the great mountain ranges with the plan to climb them, we
would take note of every detail as we commence. We stand back and we see our
goal, the summit. In our view are also many lesser levels. We must pay mind to
every detail as we find footholds in which to secure ourselves in the ascent of the
mountains. These details are extremely important. Once we reach the peak, our
ultimate destination, we look back and we see the entire range. The first stages fade
in importance because we have reached the summit. We have arrived and we see
the whole.

Our reverence for theology is like this. In our senior years, we have reached the
summit, and we can see the whole. The focus becomes not the footholds essential to
our climb, but the centre of the whole, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I remember hearing the question, “What would I be if I were not a Baptist? I would
be ashamed of myself.” That is not far from where I would position myself. I am
not in love with the name Baptist, but I am in love with what it stands for
historically. Yet, going beyond this, the most important doctrine is, What think ye
of Christ. This is my test of fellowship. You may preach all the great doctrines of
time, but you have fallen short if you have not preached the eminence of Christ.
Jesus becomes far more precious above all else we may consider. I have little
patience for those who would dare climb into the pulpit and preach fancy sermons
that take you nowhere and leave you stranded. I would be ashamed of myself if I
preached and did not lift the Saviour high.

This Saviour who enjoyed the riches of the Father, and surrendered them on the
cross in our behalf, that we might enjoy the richness of the Father in heaven. I can
scarcely fathom the love of Christ. It measures beyond my capacity to comprehend
it. All I can do is accept it and dutily express it and pass it along.

Lord, help us to live in the knowledge of Jesus and fan our experience with His love
that we might share it among all peoples.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

Jim - you are about 20 years my senior - but I find myself (at my tender age) agreeing with you heartily.

Christ must be lifted up - as He said - "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me."

Thank you for that cogent reminder!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Amen - that wonderful question "What think ye of Christ?"

 

[Jim1999]

Dan, having read you on this board, I would expect no less thn Christocentricity.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Friday, 9th July, 2004

Faith. This brings to my mind that of Moses, by which he describes the beast that is clean (Leviticus 11:1-47; Deuteronomy 14:3-21). He is such a one that parts the hoof and chews the cud; not that parts the hoof only, or that chews the cud only. The hare chews the cud; but yet is unclean, because he parts not the hoof. And this truly resembles TALKATIVE: he chews the cud, he seeks knowledge, he chews upon the word; but he divides not the hoof, he parts not with the way of sinners--but, as the hare, he retains the foot of a dog, or bear, and therefore is unclean.

Chr. You have spoken, for aught I know, the true Gospel sense of those texts; and I will add another thing. Paul calls some men, yea--and those great talkers too--"sounding brass and tinkling cymbals; "that is, as he expounds them in another place, "things without life, giving sound" (1Corinthians 13:1-3 14:7). "Things without life, "--that is, without the true faith and grace of the Gospel; and consequently, things that shall never be placed in the kingdom of heaven among those that are the children of life: though their sound, by their talk, be as it were the tongue or voice of an angel.

Bunyan makes a couple of great points here. I especially enjoyed his use of the Law about “chewing the cud” and “parting the hoof.” Great talking about the Word of God, if it does not lead to dividing one’s self from sin, is a waste and indeed leaves the “speaker of great things” unclean. How often today are there men who speak great flowing words, yet carry on in their sin. Sadly, there are preachers in our pulpits who know just how to say the right things, but whose lives do not reflect what they say.

Secondly is the point from 1 Corinthians about the “sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.” We have mentioned before that “words without action” are dead and that is true. We see here as well that according to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians “words without love” are empty and useless. Love must be the motivating factor in our actions and in our words. If it is not the love of Christ which constrains us, then are words are as empty as those of Talkative.

Two things about Talkative to challenge us today. 1) Does our “chewing the cud” about God’s Word result in a “dividing of the hoof?” Does it lead us to separate ourselves from sin? Or is it only empty words? 2) Are our words always motivated by love? Are our words designed to show love for others, or to make us look good? God’s standard is clear. How are we measuring up to that standard?

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you Roger - important words and concepts to ponder!

 

[Watchman]

Thank you Roger; some good points to, well,
chew on.

 

[Watchman]

Saturday July 10, 2004

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses it's flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (Matthew 5:13)

Salt has three useful characteristics that are like those that the believer exhibits here upon the earth. First, it acts as a preservative. Our efforts and testimony should act to slow the decay of the world around us. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Secondly, salt has medicinal advantages. It can reduce the risk of infection and thus hasten healing. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Believers can have an impact on those around us by exhorting to godliness and restraining evil. We can help restore one that has fallen into Satan's traps. "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

Thirdly, it improves bland foods that might otherwise be distasteful, making it palatable. Job 6:6 asks the rhetorical question: "Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?"
Now you may be wondering how a Christian resembles salt in this way. When the sin of society has become so repugnant that divine judgment is being contemplated, there is a consideration for the number of righteous in the land. Recollect how Abraham interceded for Sodom and discovered that if only ten righteous persons lived there, the city would have been spared. Let's make sure we are indeed being spiritual salt to a needy world around us.

Considering the subject here, and what is expected to happen in the coming week, I felt I would comment further on it. In the coming week, the U.S. Senate is expected to take up the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Both sides are predicting that the amendment will fail. Folks, what applies to a man, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," applies to any group, organization, and yes, country. It is a sad day indeed we are seeing that we have gone down this far. I know, this is not a debate forum, I am speaking for genuine concern for this nation.

 

[Jim1999]

And for all nations, Charles. It is not debatable, but deplorable that society shold fall so low.

Indeed, that "salt" is so needed to-day in all of us.

Cheers, with thanks,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you Charles for those words - alarming as they are.

We need to be praying for our countries!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Good points Charles - this are perilous days for thenations of the world.

 

[Watchman]

Sunday July 11,2004

"In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:21)

This verse is at the heart of Paul's beautiful exposition of the growth, one by one, of the great body of believers who will eventually comprise "the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are in heaven" (Hebrews 12:23)
Here the figure of a great building is used, "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:20).

Upon this strong foundation the building is erected, with each stone being selected and prepared by God for its own specific place in the beautiful edifice. The stones, of course, are individual believers. These "lively stones, are built up a spiritual house" (1Peter 2:5), and like the beautiful temple of Solomon, where "the glory of he Lord filled the house" (2Chronicles 7:1), these "also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:22)

Each stone must be exquisitely chiseled and polished, so that all will be "fitly framed together" when placed in the building. The stones may well be of various sizes, shapes and hues in order to display the architectural pattern and message planned and designed by the divine builder, but each is necessary for the integrity of the building. Some may be large stones, highly visible and ornate; others may be small and scarcely noticed, but all are essential, and must be "fitly framed together, so that the finished structure indeed can serve appropriately as "an holy temple of the Lord."

Every true Christian is a stone for the spiritual temple, now being cut and carefully dimensioned for a specific role, then polished and adorned for that precise location in the heavenly building (or ministry in the work of God) where he or she can best serve God (Revelation 22:3) in the eternal ages to come.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

We don't often like the chiseling and polishing duting the process though, do we?

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you Charles - for those thoughts!

 

[following-Him]

Thank you Charles. If only we could see and understand the purpose of all the chiselling and polishing. I look back and see how I have changed, (no, not boasting - just fact) and other people say I have changed too.

Lord, change me and mould me to be the person you want me to be, for your glory. Amen.

 

[Jim1999]

Monday, July 12, 2004

2 Corinthians 12:7

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."

There has been much speculation about this "thorn in the flesh." That is all it can be. No scripture delineates what the "thorn" is, and we are left to draw our own conclusions and observations.

It was so troubling that Paul prayed three times to specifically ask the Lord to lift this from him, and the Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (vse 8,9).

I was clearing brush in my back fields when a branch whiped back and struck me in the knee. Not the bony portion, but just below the kneecap. It was a thorn, and it rendered my leg useless. I had no pliars in my pocket and had to literally crawl to my vehicle to get the pliars and pull out the thorn. Such a little thing could do that and render a man useless. Once removed, the leg was restored and I could carry on working.

The thorn of God can do that. It can bring a person down to a place of utter uselessness. But the debilitation is short lived when we remove the thorn. Here I take the liberty of saying this thorn is sin. It may infinitismal, but it can bring a person down in a huge way. It may go unnoticed by the Christian community. Paul remained silent about his thorn for some fourteen years, and none could find fault with him.

Perhaps this is why the Holy Spirit deemed it fit not to reveal what Paul's "thorn" was. This way we cannot write it off as some cultural thing back then which does not concern us now, and we would miss the application of the lesson in the passage.

Most preachers will attest to some "thorn" in their lives and the questions that follow such an experience. We begin to question whether we should even be a pastor. Sometimes we see little or no fruit and we become desolate. Yet, we hear that voice which comforted Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Early on, I experienced such a thorn. I have never been challenged by the English language, and I loved to use new words and expressions. Often words that few would understand. That was my thorn. At a small country church I got the greatest lesson of my life. After morning service, a farmer took me to lunch. First he took me to his hog facilities, gathered a pail of feed and used the simplest of terms to attract the hogs. They came running and they got fed. The farmer turned to me and said: "They understood every word I said, came and were fed. I didn't understand a word of your sermon and came away hungry." Yes, I understand a thorn in the flesh, and in my strength I became weak, but in my weakness became strong.

This is what the "thorn in the flesh" can do. We can listen to the Spirit as He addresses our needs, and we will be nourished by the bread of life.

We can fight the "thorn" and become bitter, or we can extract the "thorn" and grow in grace. Paul may have carried his "thorn" some 14 years, but it is obvious he grew enormously in the Lord all of that time.

Lord, help us to always overcome the adversity of our "thorn" that we may grow in Your grace, and be valiant servants.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you Jim - for that reminder!