The Carpenter's Chapel (8)

[Watchman]

Personal Work

PERSONAL WORK
R. A. Torrey
The personal worker who depends upon any instrument other than the Word of God is doomed to failure. But we must have a practical knowledge of the Bible, that is we must know how to use it for definite results. A great many men have a large theoretical knowledge of the Bible, but no practical knowledge. They do not know how to use
the Bible so as to accomplish anything definite by its use. In an inquiry meeting one evening, I asked one of the best Bible scholars in America to speak to an inquirer and show her the way of life, and he whispered in my ear, "I don't know how to do that." A small practical knowledge of the Bible is better in personal work than a large theoretical knowledge. A practical knowledge of the Bible involves four things:
1. A knowledge how to so use the Bible as to show men, and make men realize, their need of a Savior.
2. A knowledge of how to use the Bible so as to show men Jesus as just the Savior who meets their need.
3. A knowledge of how to use the Bible so as to show men how to make Jesus their own Savior.
4. A knowledge of how to use the Bible so as to meet the difficulties that stand in the way of their accepting Christ.

 

[Watchman]

Personal Work

PERSONAL WORK
R. A. Torrey
The eighth condition of success in personal work is prayer. God honors prayer. In nothing does He honor it more than in the matter of soul-winning. The one who is to be much used of God in soul-winning, must spend much time in prayer.
There are four things for which we must especially pray:
1. We must ask God to bring to us, or us to, the right persons. We cannot speak with every one. If we attempt it, we will spend much time in speaking where we can do no good, that we might have used in speaking where we could have accomplished something for Christ. God alone knows the one to whom He intends us to speak, and we must ask Him
to point him out to us, and expect Him to do it.
"Then THE SPIRIT SAID UNTO PHILIP, Go near, and join thyself to THIS chariot." Acts 8:29.
2. We should ask God to give us the right message in each case where we do speak with any one. We can learn much by studying what is the right message for any given class of men, but after all our study, we must look directly to God for the right message in each individual case. Many cases will baffle us, but no case will baffle God. We
need and must have the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit in each individual case. Every experienced worker could testify to many instances in which God has led him to use some text of Scripture thathe would not otherwise have used, but which proved
to be just the one needed.
3. We must pray God to give power to that which He has given us to say. We need not only a message from God, but power from God to send the message home. Most workers have to learn this lesson by humiliating experiences. They sit down beside an unsaved person and reason, and plead, and bring forth texts from the Word of God, but the man does
not accept Christ. At last it dawns upon them that they are trying to convert the man in their own strength, and they lift a short but humble prayer to God for His strength, and in a very little while this "very difficult case" has settled the matter and is rejoicing in Christ.
4. We must pray to God to carry on the work after we have done everything in our power, and our work has come to an end. {21} After having done that which seems to have been our whole duty in any given instance, whatever may have been the apparent result of our work, whether successful or unsuccessful, we should definitely commit the case to God in prayer. If there is anything the average worker in this hurrying age needs to have
impressed upon him, it is the necessity of much prayer. By praying more, we will not work any less, and we will accomplish vastly more.

 

[Watchman]

NOTE: With the release of the movie: EXPELLED, No Intelligence Required on Friday, I felt it appropriate to post this series.
GOD
R. A. Torrey

"The fool hath said in his heart there is no God"-Psalm 14:1.I have taken, or rather God has given me, for my text tonight a very short one. I do not think you ever heard a sermon from a shorter text. I will not tell you where to find the text. It occurs several hundred times in the Bible. Indeed, open your Bible at random almost anywhere and you will find my text somewhere on the page. It consists of but one word; but it would take all eternity to exhaust its meaning, and then it will not be exhausted. It is "God" - a word the height anddepth and length and breadth of whose meaning no philosopher has everfully apprehended.I. GOD IsThe first thing the Bible teaches us about God is that God is."God is"-two short words. Tremendous significance! "God is." If that simple truth gets hold of your mind and heart it will move and mold your entire life. It will determine your science, it will determine your philosophy, it will determine your daily life, it will determine your eternity. "God is." The psalmist tells us in Psalm 14: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Please note where he says it - "in his heart." That is, he says there is no God simply because he does not wish to believe that there is a God. Now, there is a God, and a man that denies a fact simply because he does not wish to believe it is a fool.

 

[Watchman]

God

GOD R. A. Torrey
"The fool hath said in his heart there is no God"-Psalm 14:1.
There is abundant proof of the existence of God, so abundant that no man can sit down and consider the proof thoroughly and candidly without acknowledging the existence of God. Nature proves the existence of God. All through Nature there are marks of creative intelligence. Everywhere in Nature you find order, symmetry, law. You can study Nature in the minute, or you can study Nature in the vast, it makes no difference; everywhere you find the marks of intelligence and creative design. You may take your microscope and turn it down upon the minutest forms of life; everywhere there is adaptation to end, to purpose, to design. The man of science will tell you that in the minutest structure discernible by the most powerful microscope he finds perfect beauty, and most perfect adaptation of means to end. Or take your telescope and turn it towards the vaster Nature. Everywhere you see order, symmetry, law, intelligence, design, all proving an intelligent Creator of the material universe in which we live. SupposeI show you my watch, and ask, "Do you believe it had a maker?" you would say, "Certainly." "But why? Did you see it made?" "No." "Did you ever see a watch made?" "No!" "Why, then, do you believe it had a maker?" "Because everything about it indicates an intelligent maker- hands, figures upon the face, case, winding apparatus, everything about the watch proclaims that it had an intelligent maker. Suppose I replied, "You are mistaken; the watch had no intelligent maker; the watch came to be by accident; by a fortuitous concurrence of atoms dancing around through endless ages, until at last, in the age in which you find it, they danced into the present form; thus the watch came to be." Your remark would be, "That man may think he is highly educated, but he talks like a fool;" and you would be right. Yet there are no such marks of intelligent design in that watch as in this material universe. One very small part of Nature, your own eye, is a far more wonderful structure than any watch. But if some man should stand up and say that this wonderful universe in which we live came into beingby a fortuitous concurrence of atoms which danced around through theendless ages until they danced into their present form any would call him a philosopher. In the ordinary affairs of life he would be called a foolosopher.

 

[Gwyneth]

Thank you for these studies.

 

[Watchman]

God

GOD
R. A. Torrey "The fool hath said in his heart there is no God"-Psalm 14:1. But, Some one may say, "The doctrine of evolution does away with the whole force of the argument from design." Not at all. I formerly believed that the doctrine of evolution was true, but gave up the belief, not from theological but from scientific reasons, because itwas absolutely unproven; there is not a single proof of the hypothesis of evolution. People talk about the missing link; they are all missing; there is not a single link. There is not a single place where one species passes over into another species. There is not one single observed instance of the evolution of a higher species from a lower. Development of varieties there has been, but of evolution of a higher species from a lower not one single case. The hypothesis of the evolution of species, and especially of the highest forms of life from the lowest, is a guess pure and simple, without one scientifically observed fact to build upon. But suppose the doctrine of evolution were true, it would not for a moment militate against the argument from design. If there were originally some unorganized protoplasm that developed into all the forms of life and beauty as we see them today, it would be a still more remarkable illustration, in one way, of the wisdom and power of the Creator, for the question would arise, Who put into the primordial protoplasm the power of developing into the universe as we see it today? It would take a more wonderful man to make a watch-hand which would develop into a watch than it would to make a watch outright. And, in one way, it would be a more marvelous illustration of the creative wisdom and power of God, if God had created some primordial protoplasm that developed into the world we now see than if God had made the world at once as we now see it.

 

[Watchman]

God

GOD
R. A. Torrey
"The fool hath said in his heart there is no God"-Psalm 14:1.
History proves that there is a God. You take one little patch of history, the history of a single nation or of a few nations, for a few years, and it sometimes seems like a jangle without meaning, only portraying the conflicting ambitions and greeds of men. Might, right, and the weakest going to the wall. But take history in a large way, the history of centuries, take all history, and you will see that back of the jarring and conflicting passions, ambitions, combats and struggles of men, there is an all-governing, all-superintending, all-shaping Providence. You see that throughout all history "one increasing purpose runs," "a power, not ourselves, which makes for righteousness." History proves that there is a God.But there is one special history that proves that there is a God, that is the history of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Great efforts have been put forth to disprove the authenticity of that history; men of the most remarkable genius, of the profoundest scholarship, of untiring activity, have struggled to pull to pieces the history of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the four gospels, and every effort of that kind has met with utter failure. The strongest, the ablest, the most remarkable and scholarly effort ever made was that of David Strauss, in the Loben Jesu. It seemed to some for awhile, as if David Strauss had succeeded in taking out of the life of Jesus of Nazareth many things commonly believed. But when the life of Jesus Christ by the great German rationalist was itself subjected to criticism, it went to pieces, until there was nothing left. It was utterly discredited. It would not bear careful and candid examination. Renan, with rare subtlety and literary deftness, endeavored to succeed where Strauss had failed. But his own attempt to eliminate the supernatural from the life of Jesus was less able in almost every way than that of his German predecessor and failed completely. And every other similar effort to pull to pieces and discredit the life of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the four gospels, has failed absolutely. And today it stands established beyond the possibility of candid question that Jesus lived and acted, at least substantially -I believe far more than that- as recorded in the four gospels. It is absolutely impossible for a man to sit down before the four gospels with an unbiased and honest mind, determined to find out the truth, and come to any other conclusion than that this four gospel record of the life and words and works of Jesus is substantially accurate history.

 

[Watchman]

God

GOD
R. A. Torrey
If Jesus lived as this Gospel says He did, if He wrought as this Gospel says He wrought, healed the sick, cleansed the leper, raised the dead, fed the five thousand with five loaves and two small fishes,and if, above all, having been put to death, He was raised from thedead, it proves to a demonstration that back of the works He performed, back of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is God. There is a God.The history of the individual Christian proves the existence of God. I do not depend upon the argument from design or from history- I once did; I do not depend even upon the argument from the life of Jesus Christ-I once did. I know there is a God because I have personal dealings with Him every day of my life. Some subtle philosopher might construct a very specious argument to prove to me that there is no such person as Charles Alexander; but after all is said I still know that there is, for I have the most intimate relations with him everyday of my life. But I have had more intimate dealings with God than with Mr. Charles Alexander. I know that there is a God before I know that there is such a person as Mr. Charles Alexander. I started out years ago on the hypothesis, that there was a God, and that God acted as the Bible records that He acts. I determined to put this hypothesis to the most rigid test to see if it worked. I have put that hypothesis to the test during a quarter of a century, and it has never failed. If there had not been a God, or if there had been a God different from the one of whom the Bible tells us, I should have made shipwreck of everything years ago. But the hypothesis has never failed; I have risked my life, reputation, work, everything upon the fact that the God of the Bible is. And, friends, I risked and won. THERE IS A GOD. Therefore the man who says that there is no God is a fool; for any man who denies a fact is a fool. He who denies the supreme fact is a supreme fool. Not only is there a God; but He is the supreme fact of nature, of history, of science, of philosophy, of personal life. Look at the first four words of the Bible, and you will read the profoundest philosophy. "In the beginning, God." In the beginning of nature, God; in the beginning of science, God; in the beginning of human history, God; in the beginning of individual experience, God; in the beginning of everything, God. That is the supreme fact; and he who denies it merely because he does not want to believe it is the supreme fool.


Amen Mr. Torrey Amen!

 

[Watchman]

Workers

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11).
The four or five specific spiritual gifts mentioned by Paul in this passage are said to have been given "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). And all of this is for the ultimate goal that "we...speaking the truth in love, may grow up into (Christ) in all things" (Ephesians 4:14-15).
The teaching is of particular importance in attaining this goal. The gift of serving as an apostle was given only to the twelve plus a few others (e.g.,Paul) who had actually seen the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-22); I Corinthians 9:1); the last of these was John. The gift of real prophets who could convey God's revelations to men, was necessary in the first century before the New Testament was written, but that also apparently ceased (I Corinthians 13:8), though there are still many false prophets (Matthew 24:11).
The gift of evangelists and pastors will continue as long as there continue to be lost people who need to be won and new believers who need to be led (the word "pastor" actually means "shepherd" and is so translated in all its other occurrences). The other two lists of spiritual gifts do not mention either evangelists or pastors, but all three do mention teachers (Romans 12:7; I Corinthians 12:28). Many pastors also have the gift of teaching, but the other two lists indicate that teaching is a gift for many others as well.
In fact, Christ's great commission included teaching people "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). And since He in the beginning had created "all things" and is now "upholding all things" (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:3), this teaching could well include all true education, in every subject.

 

[Watchman]

Children of Wrath

"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Ephesians 2:3).
Many Christians are under the mistaken notion that children are innocent, but the Scriptures teach differently: "The Lord said in His heart I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imaginations of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21). David said, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). Our text indicates that we are "by nature the children of wrath."
Why are the Scriptures so negative about our natures? Wouldn't it be nicer if the Bible painted a more positive picture? The answer is that it is far better to be realistically true than idealistically false. Have you ever taught children to be selfish and disobedient? It comes naturally-like weeds in the garden. The real task is teaching children to be others-centered, honest and obedient. True, they have the desirable quality of trustfulness, and the Lord would have us to trust Him similarly. But this does not mean that children are innocent.
The same Lord who made our delightful children, Himself became a little child one day, so that He could go to a cross and save a fallen world. Yes, the Bible gives the bad news about our nature, but it also presents the good news about the love and mercy of our God.
Some parents may hold off telling their children about sin and their need for Jesus until they as parents think the children really need Him. The fact is, however, that children need this knowledge from the start. May each of us resolve to teach our children, the sooner the better, of God's saving mercy in Christ.

 

[Watchman]

Prosperity

"But godliness with contentment is great gain" (I Timothy 6:6).
In this day of Madison Avenue sales pressures and an ever-increasing array of technological gadgets and creature comforts, the Christian virtue of contentment is a rare commodity. There is even a widespread error among born-again Christians that material prosperity is a token of spirituality and divine approval on an affluent lifestyle.
Instead of a blessing, however, such affluence (if it comes) should be regarded as a testing, for Jesus said "unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48).
Paul was perhaps the most faithful and fruitful Christian who ever lived, yet he died penniless in a Roman dungeon. His own testimony concerning material possessions and standards of living was this: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Philippians 4:11-12)
In the context of our key verse above, the apostle Paul has actually been warning young pastor Timothy against the influence of those who suppose, among other things, "that gain is godliness," and who think that their material prosperity is proof of their spiritual prosperity. "From such" says Paul, "withdraw thyself" (I Timothy 6:5). Material gain in no way either produces or denotes godliness; rather, godliness itself is the gain, if accompanied by contentment in Christ (otherwise, of course, it is not true godliness)! Even the most impoverished believer can acquire riches in heaven, where it really counts. In the meantime: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

 

[Watchman]

Cities of Refuge

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14).
Cities in ancient times were often built on a hill, and this was especially important for those six cities in Israel which had been designated as cities of refuge. They were located, geographically, so that no one in Israel was more than a days journey from one of them-accessible to all who might need to flee to one for refuge some day. These were designated as havens, "That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood" (Joshua 20:3).
"And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountains of Judah. And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Peuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh" (Joshua 20:7-8). The first three cities are specifically said to be on mountains. On the east of Jordan, Ramoth was on Mount Gilead. Golan on the Golan Heights east of the Sea of Galilee, and Bezer apparently on the high tablelands east of the Dead Sea. Thus, all could be seen from a great distance, even at night, by its watch fires. Their strategic locations were a comfort to the accidental killer as he fled for his life from an avenger of blood.
The cities of refuge were a type of Christ, to whom we "have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18). He is, to us, a strong city set on a hill, ready to receive all who come to him in faith. He called Himself "the light of the world" (John 8:12). But then He also said that those who now have His light must also serve as lights-as cities on a hill that those who see them may "glorify (their) Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

 

[Watchman]

Thanks To You All

This is my first post in quite some time. I was amazed when I saw that they kept the Carpenters Chapel up and running.
Some time ago I put my foot in mouth (or is it keyboard in mouth here?) regarding a former member, and, regrettably, spoke against the powers that be here. I deeply regret that. Believe me, I read Romans 13 over and over.
My apology to all affected, and would like the fellowship here again.
I would not like to discuss the matter further, unless it is via Private Message.

 

[following-Him]

Welcome back Watchman. It is good to see you posting again.

Blessings

following-Him

 

[Gwyneth]

hello again

So glad to see you back, and the Carpenters chapel `up and running` again. I have missed this place.
Gwyneth:wavey:

 

[Watchman]

The First Commandment.

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deu 6:5)

Thanks to the both of you, and to everyone else.
Our pastor some nights ago asked us what the first commandment was, and, to the person, we started to answer with the above verse, that is what we thought of, but, it turned out, he was thinking about the first of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. It got me interested and I started to look at this closer.
It is interesting to look at this first and greatest commandment and to compare it to the same commandment that the Lord Jesus stated, as listed in the synoptic gospels.
Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Mat 22:37)
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. (Mar 12:30)
And he answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. (Luk 10:27)

Now, what is different? Obviously, it is the use of our Lord of the word "mind." Jesus staed that we are to love the Lord with all of our mind.
The fact that there is a Creator-He created everything that exists is reasonable. The Bible has been shown to be correct over and over again, and those who choose to deny the facts contained in God's word is, well, not using their minds.

 

[following-Him]

Amen.

Thank you Charles.

Blessings

following-Him

 

[Gwyneth]

Thank you , you posts really do me good.:wavey:

 

[Jim1999]

I remember when I started the Carpenter's Chapel. It was a time when I was in conflict because, at the time, I was attending an Anglican Church. Watchman was then invited to submit a few meditations each week. He has done a marvellous job and I wish him every blessing as he blesses those of us who only stand and wait.

Cheers,

Jim

PS. I don't even know what this conflict was, but I am sure it was merited, in my humble opinion.

 

[Watchman]

The Master Builder

"Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?" (Mat 13:55)
It is good to hear from all of you, especially the founder of the Carpenter’s Chapel.
Seeing Jim, the founder of the Carpenter’s Chapel, here gave me an idea as to what to write today. I remembered reading somewhere something rather shocking: that is, that the Greek word that is translated "carpenter," tektōn, doesn’t necessarily mean carpenter, but can refer to any skilled craftsman. So, I decided to look at that word from two sources to see what they would say:
Strong: tektōn tek'-tone
From the base of an artificer (as producer of fabrics), that is, (specifically) a craftsman in wood: - carpenter.
Thayer:
tektōn
1) a worker in wood, a carpenter, joiner, builder
1a) a ship’s carpenter or builder
2) any craftsman, or workman
2a) the art of poetry, maker of songs
3) a planner, contriver, plotter
3a) an author
Part of Speech: noun masculine
While it is open that it could possibly mean something other than Carpenter, it is doubtful that Joseph’s, as well as the Lord’s occupation was anything but, because, after all, we are talking about the first century, and the skilled crafts were pretty limited. But, let us consider that our Lord was, indeed, a master of many skilled crafts-when we consider who He really is. Rather he worked with wood or not during His years here, we must realize that He made the trees from which the wood came. He was not a plumber here, but He made the system by which the earth is watered. Water comes down as rain, flows to oceans, and comes back up to start the process all over again. And, it never breaks. He was not an electrician here, but consider all the intricate electrical impulses that occur in our brains-and you never have to change a fuse! There is an expression "Jack of all trades and master of none," but, as for the Lord Jesus, He truly is Master of all!