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The Carpenter's Chapel (8)

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Watchman

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Anything That Can Go Wrong Will

It has occurred to me that we are under three different laws, if you will: the Law Of Christ, Mans law that we are obligated to abide by, and Murphys' Law, which I gave in the title here.
Or perhaps I need to stress that, "Just when you think that it can't get any worse, it does."
I just lost my job, but as I told our Pastor, The Lord is bigger than any of my problems.
But, there are some silver linings in all of these clouds:
First of all, I sure don't have to work Sundays!
Second, it looks like I have time on my hands to be here more, I hope that I can contribute something here in the time that I have.
At any rate, I am thankful to God to be alive, that the Lord Jesus died for me, a roof is over my head, I have fellowship with fellow believers, so much to be thankful for, let us never forget that.
Charles
 
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Watchman

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at His coming

"And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (I John 2:28).
There are many passages in God’s Word that tell us that The Lord Jesus Himself shall once again appear in person here on Earth. For example, Paul says: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:4).
The apostle Peter also promises: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (I Peter 5:4). The writer of Hebrews first reminds us His former appearance on earth: "But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" Hebrews 9:26). Then the promise is: "Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (v.28).
Perhaps the most wonderful promise pertaining to His second appearing is given through the apostle John: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (I John 3:-3).
Therefore, when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory; we shall receive an unfading crown of glory; we shall be like Him, and without sin unto salvation. These promises even now constitute an incentive for each believer to purify himself even as He is pure.
But there is also the sobering warning in our text associated with the soon-coming time when He shall appear. We should abide in Him (that is continue in Him, hour after hour), careful that whatever we do, wherever we go, we are in no danger of being ashamed before Him, when He shall appear!

 
W

Watchman

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The Queen of Sheba

"And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions" (I Kings 10:1).
Long after the famous visit of Sheba's queen to the court of King Solomon, Jesus made a remarkable comment on the Queens’ visit. "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:42).
Solomon had asked for wisdom, and the Lord gave him such wisdom that the news even reached the distant land of Sheba, south of Ethiopia. We do not know what hard questions were confronting Sheba's queen at the time, but she finally decided she must find their solutions through Solomon and his God. God honored her searching faith, "and Solomon told her all her questions," so that she could testify that "the half was not told me...Blessed be the Lord thy God" (I Kings 10:3,7,9)
In Jesus Christ "are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). He who had given Solomon his great wisdom promises us that, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5).
Quite truly, the queen of Sheba will also be a witness against our present-day generation in the coming judgement day. People today turn to every variety of humanistic counselors for their training and guidance, but refuse to come to the one who is "made unto us wisdom" (I Corinthians 1:30). The "Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6), who is far greater than Solomon, who said "I am the truth" (John 14:6), and who promises that "the truth shall make you free" (8:32), is still inviting all from the uttermost parts of the earth to come.
 
W

Watchman

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One God

"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (I Thessalonians 1:9).
There are "gods many, and lords many" (I Corinthians 8:5) today, just as there were in the ancient world. In fact, the worship of many of these ancient "gods" is being revived in various dark corners of the so-called "New Age" movement today. Idol worship can also involve men and women-such as rock stars, professional athletes, and movie stars, not to mention the humanistic worship of such political/religious leaders as Lenin, Mao, Hitler, Khomeini, and an increasing assortment of gurus and false prophets.
There is, however, only one true God, the God who made all things. "To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him" (v.6). The one thing all these false gods and false religions have in common is the denial of the true God and omnipotent Creator.
For such idolatry there is no legitimate excuse, "We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one" (v.4). A dead idol obviously can be of no use. The infallible test as to just who this "true" God may be is that His identity is confirmed as the only living God; therefore, He is the only true God. He died for our sins, yes, but now lives forever as King of all His creation. We, like the Thessalonians, should turn from all our idols "to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered delivered us from the wrath to come" (I Thessalonians 1:9-10).
 
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Gwyneth

<img src=/gwyneth.gif>
I`m really pleased to see you here again, Watchman. Sheila alerted me to the fact that you were back.:wavey:
 
W

Watchman

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Salvation Is Now!

"For He saith, I have heard thee in the time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2Corinthians 6:2) There are many promises that we can look forward to in the ages to come, when the earth and our bodies are made new and the entire beautiful creation of God is open to us for all eternity. But there are also many wonderful privileges that belong to usright now as well. First of all, our eternal salvation is here and now, we are not going to be any "more saved" in the future, than we are now. This is the time acceptable to God in which to receive His great salvation through faith in Christ. No one will ever be saved in the ages of eternity, for all who enjoy His salvation then will have received it now. Those who have salvation now also have been set free from condemnation(or "judgement") now. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). "Much more than, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Romans 5:9). "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable andunreproveable in His sight" (Colossians 1:21-22). Not only do we now have the assurance of eternal salvation, but we alsohave all necessary provisions for a happy, fruitful, victorious life in this present age. "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20). Now, because all these doctrines are present realities, we have full confidence that all God's yet-to-be-realized promises are also true. "Beloved, now we are the sons of God...but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1John 3:2)
 
W

Watchman

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False Doctrine

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28)
On his way back to Jerusalem, Paul decided not to stop at Ephesus, fearing a lengthy delay. But this church was much on his heart, and he recognized that he might not see them again. In order to give them one last bit of instruction and encouragement, he called the elders to meet with him, where they had a most touching time together (vv.30-38).
What was Paul's main concern? "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember" (vv.29-31).
Later, Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus, "that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine" (I Timothy 1:3). The Greek word used here means "a different kind of doctrine" and is used only twice. Certainly, the false doctrine that concerned Paul the most was a works-oriented salvation. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1:6).
Paul also concerned himself with lifestyle. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness...from such withdraw thyself (I Timothy 6:3,5). The list of characteristics of the false teachers given (vv.4-5) contrasts markedly with those resulting from proper doctrine and life, "charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (1:5). May our lives be characterized by these qualities.
 
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Watchman

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Mount Hermon

"And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, O Lord my God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon" (Deuteronomy 3:23-25).
This was the heartfelt prayer of Moses, for he was longing to see the promised land that had been his goal for so many years. He knew that God, rebuking his disobedience at Meribah, had said: "Therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them" (Numbers 20:12). Yet he desired greatly to "go over" the Jordan, to see firsthand the "goodly mountain."
The "goodly mountain" most likely was majestic Mount Hermon, the 9,200-foot, snow-capped peak dominating the southern end of the mountain ranges of Lebanon. God would not allow Moses to enter the land, even though He "showed him all the land" from the top of Mount Pisgah before he died (Deuteronomy 34:1).
But then, in a marvelous and mysterious way, Moses finally did not only see but stand on Mount Hermon! "And after six days Jesus...bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them:...And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him" (Matthew 17:1-3). There, on the Mount of Transfiguration-that goodly mountain-was Moses, along with Elijah, speaking with Jesus "of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem" (Luke 9:31). God had answered his prayer! He had "begun to show" Moses the greatness of His might long ago in Egypt, but now he could see the greatness of His love as Christ prepared to die for his salvation, and ours.
 
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Watchman

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To everything there is a season.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted" (Ecclesiates 3:1-2).
In the first eight verses of Ecclesiates 3 there is a remarkable listing of 28 "times" arranged in 14 pairs of opposites (e.g, "a time to be born and a time to die"). Every timed event is planned by God and has a "purpose" (v.1), and everything is "beautiful" in God's time for it (v.11).
Although it is beyond our finite comprehension, it is still bound to be true that the infinite, omnipotent God "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11). Even when in our time we may not understand how a particular event can be purposeful or beautiful, we can have faith that if it occurs in God's time for it, it is (Romans 8:28).
The time of our birth is, of course, not under our control, but we certainly have a part in determining the occurrence of all the other thirteen "times," even the time of death.
With the exception of those still living at the time of Christ's return, each of us will eventually die. God has appointed a time for each individual, and it is wrong for him or her to shorten that time (by suicide or careless living, which can never be part of His will for any of us).
We should say with David: "My times are in thy hand" (Psalm 31:15), and seek to live in ways pleasing to Him as long as He allows us to live. We should pray that, when our time is finished, He will enable us to die in a manner that will be "beautiful in His time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Not one of us knows when the ordained "time to die" may be for us, so we must seek daily to "walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" (Colossians 4:5).
 
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Watchman

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Windows of Heaven

"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened" (Genesis 7:11).
Three times in the Old Testament we note the interesting phrase "the windows of heaven." It defies the concept of a deistic God, unconcerned with affairs on earth. For example, our text shows God's act of judgement on the wicked primeval world. Once the waters had accomplished God's task, we note that the "windows of heaven were stopped" (Genesis 8:2)
The next occurrence of this phrase is during the time Samaria was under siege from Syria. "Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand he king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" (II Kings 7:1-2). The chapter goes on to describe how God did indeed intervene from heaven to demonstrate His power and wondrously fulfill Elisha's prophecy.
The final usage of this phrase is in the last book of the Old Testament. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). Whether in judgement of sin, in demonstration of His glory, or to reward His followers, God has show His willingness to open the windows of heaven and supernaturally intervene here on earth.
 
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Watchman

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Jacob's Yearning

"I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord" (Genesis 49:18)
This heartfelt cry of the dying patriarch, Israel, expressed his life-long, but still unfulfilled -yearning for the coming of God's promised Savior. This is the first occurrence in the Bible of the word "salvation" (essentially the same in the Hebrew as "Jesus"). It is also the first occurrence in the bible of the word "waited for meaning, essentially, "looked for." This attitude of Jacob (Israel) has been shared by the people of God down even to the present day.
John the Baptist inquired expectantly of Jesus: "Art thou He that should come. Or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3).
Even though He has, indeed, come , bringing salvation, we still must wait patiently for the complete fulfillment of His promises when He comes again. It was the prayer of Paul that the Lord would "direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (II Thessalonians 3:5).
It is not only believers who are "waiting for...the redemption of our body." Because of sin, "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" and, consequently, "the earnest expectation of the [creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God," when it "shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Romans 8:23,22,19,21).
Finally, it is significant that the last reference in the Bible to waiting for something once again deals with the same promise. "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude21).
I may seem long, but the promise is sure: "unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).
 
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