The Carpenter's Chapel

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Monday, 12th April, 2004

Christian has just encountered the cross and been gloriously delivered of his sin. As he begins his walk as a believer he encounters three people still fettered by their sin.

Simple, Sloth and Presumption

I saw then in my dream that he went on thus even until he came at the bottom, where he saw, a little out of the way, three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name of the one was SIMPLE, another SLOTH, and the third PRESUMPTION.

CHRISTIAN then seeing them lie in this case, went to them, if peradventure he might awake them, and cried, "You are like them that sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is under you, a gulf that hath no bottom (Proverbs 23v34). Awake therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons." He also told them, "If he that goes about like a roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth" (1 Peter 5v8). With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort:

Simple said, "I see no danger."

Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep."

And Presumption said, "Every vat must stand upon its own bottom."

And so they lay down to sleep again; and CHRISTIAN went on his way.

His first witnessing opportunity, shall we say, was less than successful. Simple just didn’t get it. Sloth was too lazy to deal with it, and Presumption fell back on the fact that he could stand on his own two feet..

The fact that these men did not heed the warning does not make the warning any less real. Christian’s warning is clear, and it is a warning which must be sounded out today – "If he that goes about like a roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth" (1 Peter 5v8).

The reality of Satan as a roaring lion has been watered down by literary and Hollywood depictions of him. He his not some strange, mystical, androgynous being. He is very real and he is roaming the earth seeking to devour those in sin. Simple, Sloth, and Presumption describe the response to Satan of many people today. In 2004 Simple says, “Do you really believe in a devil? That’s an old myth.” Sloth replies, “Let me take a nap, I think about all that spiritual stuff later on.” Presumption says, “I am sure I am okay. I’ve never killed anyone so I am sure that God will not keep me out of heaven.”

No matter how men respond to the gospel may we be like Christian. His first task was to warn others of the wrath to come. O that Christians today would take the warning so seriously. Who are the Simple, Sloth, and Presumption around you. Have you shared with them the news that there is a way to be free from the fetters of sin?

 

[Watchman]

Reminds me of:
"But they all with one accord began to make excuses..." Luke 14:18a
Great message!

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you Roger!

 

[Jim1999]

Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Acts 21: 37-40; Acts 22: 3-18; 21f

Paul is being taken away to his captivity, and does he panic? Not at all. With full
confidence, the apostle gives his personal testimony. I read so often of Christians
who live in a state of fear and anxiety. If anyone had just cause, it was Paul. The
apostle shows no fear, and does not hesitate to speak of the things that God has
done in his life.

Paul was reminded of what he was. The very best of men have been castigated, but
we are reminded of what our Lord suffered at the hands of men. In a sense, it does
not matter what men may think of us. It matters only what God may think of us.
Are we a child of the King? Then why do we behave as paupers? Why do we
subjugate ourselves to the realm of the ungodly? Why do we fear what man may do
to us?

“Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest
out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?” They brought of
the worst of history against the best of men. Still, Paul stands stedfast against that:

“I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city:
and, I bessech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.” Here is my heritage, now
let me preach to the people. He stands and says, “Here is my defence.” What is his
defence? I was misled. I had zeal because of my former life. I am sorry for what I
did. He lays before the people just how zealous he was, sparing not men, women or
even children, and delivered them up to prison.

It is then we read the marvellous testimony of God dealing with Saul on the
Damascus road. He is blinded by the vision of God. So should we all be blinded by
the presence of God, and so should we emerge from such a visitation with the same
zeal to present the living God before all men.

I would like to say I had a Damascus road experience, but I cannot. I grew up in the
church, and never believed anything else but the gospel of Christ. I was baptized in
the Anglican church, schooled in Anglican schools, and later confirmed. It was at
my confirmation, I made a profession of faith. It was quiet, not earth shaking, but
sure as the day. I knew that I was a child of God at that very moment. Not everyone
will have an earth shaking experience, but everyone must have an experience of
conversion. Then we must go out and shake the earth with that experience. In the
Anglican church we called that “realizing the Christ”. I was not familiar with the
fundamental terminology until I joined a Plymouth Brethren assembly in London. It
was there I grew in the Lord and received my call to ministry. Since they didn’t
have a paid clergy, I joined the local Baptist church, went on to college and was
ordained by that group to be a minister of the gospel. What a glorious journey it has
been down through the years. Now I am old. This quiet faith has upheld me through
two wars, a journey away from my country and to a new land and a new people.
The faith went with me and has never failed.

There are many who doubt their salvation because they did not have this Damascus
experience, and I fear that many zealous pastors have left this impression. I assure
you that God can move in the quiet of your soul and do a work of salvation. To be
sure, there will be a change, and that change will move you to do great things in the
name of God.

Let us read of Paul’s experience and let us remember our own experience and never
forget the work that God did in us as we travel along our way. Our perseverance in
the faith is evidence of that great work. It is not by works that we have done, but by
the grace of the Lord working in us.

Lord, help us to remember the work you have done in us, daily, and help us to live
for the Lord, that all men may see Jesus in us.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

Amen!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Wednesday, 14th April, 2004

Christian was much troubles about the men who would not listen to his words to be freed from their fetters. He soon meets two more men, Formalist and Hypocrisy. Let us glean some thoughts from their conversation over the next couple of days.

Chr. Gentlemen, whence came you, and whither do you go?

Formalist and Hypocrisy. We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are going for praise to Mount Zion.

Chr. Why came you not in at the gate which stands at the beginning of the way? Know you not that it is written, that "he that enters not in by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?" (John 10v1)

Form. and Hyp. They said, that to go to the gate for entrance was by all their countrymen counted too far about; and that therefore their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall as they had done.

Chr. But will it not be counted a trespass against the Lord of the city whither we are bound, thus to violate his revealed will?

Form. and Hyp. They told him that, as for that, he needed not to trouble his head thereabout; for what they did they had custom for, and could produce, if need were, testimony that would witness it, for more than a thousand years.

Chr. "But, "said CHRISTIAN, "will your practice stand a trial at law?"

Form. and Hyp. They told him, that custom, it being of so long a standing as above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as a thing legal by any impartial judge. And besides, said they, so be we get into the way, what's matter which way we get in? If we are in, we are in: thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive, came in at the gate; and we are also in the way, that came tumbling over the wall. Wherein now is thy condition better than ours?

Chr. I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your fancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way, therefore I doubt you will not be found true men at the end of the way. You come in by yourselves without his direction, and shall go by yourselves without his mercy.

As we walk through our Christian life we will meet with many professors of eternal life. Here we have two who did not enter but the strait and narrow way, but instead came over the wall. They SAID that they were born in Vain-Glory, but were on their way to Mt Zion. Christian confronts them with scripture – “Know you not that it is written, that ‘he that enters not in by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?’ (John 10v1)” Their reply was that their way was much easier and therefore they had chosen that.

Formalist and Hypocrisy could not see the difference, seeing that they were on the same road as Christian. Note Christian’s careful words. “I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your fancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way, therefore I doubt you will not be found true men at the end of the way. You come in by yourselves without his direction, and shall go by yourselves without his mercy.”

O the tragic fate of those who are false professors who have come in their own way. How many, perhaps reading this devotional have tried to enter “the Way” on their own? Jesus said that such are “thieves and robbers” and as Christian says have “come in by their own direction and will go on without His mercy.” What are you depending on today?

 

[Dan Todd]

The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Thank you Roger!

 

[Jim1999]

Thursday, April 15, 2004

Acts 23: 1

“And Paul, earnstly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in
all good conscience before God until this day.”

Prior to this, Paul is charged by the religious people, bound and rboght before the
judges. First, Paul stands firm on the fact that he is Roman born, and he claims his
birthright as a Roman citizen. His hand were freed when it was learned he was born
free. He was, however, brought before the Sanhedrin council to answer the charges
brought by the Jews against him.

It is here where he tells them that his conscience is clear before God and before
men. How we would delight that we could clearly say that we have lived with clear
conscience before God and men. I fear that we in this day and age have allowed so
much of the world to enter into our lives and our religious experience, that we
cannot say with Paul that “we have lived with all good conscience before God.” If
we are at all honest, we will readily admit our shortcomings. Oh, we debate whether
it is legal to do this or that, and we clear ourselves by our own justification.
Something happens in our lives and we react not as we should. We excuse
ourselves. Not so with Paul. He is certain that all he has done since his conversion
he has lived with a clear conscience before God.

The immediate reaction of the religious right is to slap his face; to smite him on the
mouth for what he is saying. It is here I think about the reported reaction of the
Chinese Christian woman who is facing execution during the Boxer Rebellion. “I
am dying for a great cause,” She said, “What are you living for?” I am living in the
righteousness of God. What are you living for?

In verse three, we begin to see the temper of Paul. “Then said Paul unto him
(Ananias of the council), God shall smite thee, thou whited wall....” Have you seen
a whitewashed wall when it has weathered? It is spotty. Someplaces remain coated
and other sections show the wear of the wall. It has faded and it prolly looks worse
than the original wall before the whitewashing. This is what Paul calls Ananias,
Why? Because he is trying Paul under the law, but not applying the punishments of
the law. He is speaking out of the side of his face. “For sitteth thou to judge me
after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?” This
prophecy is fulfilled with the siege of Jerusalem, for Ananias is killed by the
daggers of his enemies.

Contrasted here is the meekness and silence of Jesus before His accusers, and the
robust and forthright reply of Paul. We often talk about living the life of Jesus and
modelling our lives after Christ. But here we see Paul boldly standing for the truth.
There are times when the “gentle Jesus meek and mild” just does not fit. It is
evident by scripture that we are to stand boldly for our Lord. Having taken his
stand, Paul also realizes that this is an example of preaching before swine. What
does he do? He knows the differing philosophies between the Sadducees and the
Pharisees, and how they hated each other, so he raises this question and turns them
against each other. They soon forget Paul and debate each other.

This does not free Paul, but the army takes him captive for his protection. He is still
a prisoner. Now we see where the Lord always comes to our relief when in time of
difficulty. Paul is visited by the Lord. “Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast
testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” (verse 11).
ote here that Paul is not out of danger, but the Lord visits upon him with new
courage. The Lord vindicates Paul, and what more do we need than the vindication
and approval of the Lord? Paul is going from the pan to the fire, but he goes
willingly because the Lord is in it, and Paul is confident in anything the Lord
commands of his disciple.

Lord, give us the heart to not only understand who you are, but the mind and will to
do whatever you bid of us, so that we may say, “I have lived in all good conscience
before God.”

Cheers,

Jim

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Amen Bro Jim!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Friday, 16th April, 2004

When we left Christian he was travelling along with Hypocrisy and Formalist, two professors of salvation who have entered the way by climbing over the wall instead of by the strait and narrow gate of genuine salvation through Jesus Christ.

Their mockery of Christian continues until they approach a hill called Difficulty.

I beheld, then, that they all went on till they came to the foot of the hill "Difficulty, "at the bottom of which was a spring. There were also in the same place two other ways besides that which came straight hill: but the narrow way lay right up the hill (and the name of the going up the side of the hill is called Difficulty). CHRISTIAN now went to the spring, and drank thereof to refresh himself (Isaiah 49v10 – “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.”) and then began to go up the hill, saying:

"This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend,
For I perceive the way to life lies here:
Come, pluck up, heart, let's neither faint nor fear!
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe."

The other two also came to the foot of the hill. But when they saw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go; and supposing also that these two ways might meet again with that up which CHRISTIAN went, on the other side of the hill, therefore they were resolved to go in those ways (now the name of one of those ways was "Danger, "and the name of the other "Destruction"). So the one took the way which is called Danger, which led him into a great wood; and the other took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.

What great comfort we find in the fact that Christ provided the strength needed to climb the hill called Difficulty. The way may be difficult, but in Christ we find all the spiritual nourishment that we need. As Isaiah said “He that has mercy on us will lead us.” Praise the Lord for His protecting mercy!

There is something else here though. The Hill of Difficulty is where we separate the professors from the possessors. Christians song as he begins to ascend the hill is a challenge to us all. “This hill though high I covet to ascend…” Here is the evidence of his salvation, he chooses to face the difficulty and go on the path that leads to eternal life.

On the other hand are the two professors who have never possessed eternal life. After all, they cam in the wrong way, by their own works. One chooses the path called Destruction and the other the path called Danger where they both missed the right path. “They that endure to the end” are the ones that show the evidence of their salvation.

 

[Watchman]

"Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Mt. 7:14
Thank you Roger.

 

[Jim1999]

Sometimes we view Christianity as a work completed and there is no need to labour. Christianity is no place for slackers. We do not labour to get saved, but we labour because we are saved. Huge difference.

Cheers, thank you, mate, and looking forward to the Watchman on Weekends.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Watchman]

Saturday April 17, 2004

As Jim just mentioned, I have been asked to write a devotional on the weekends. I thank Jim for the opportunity to do so and may God grant me
guidance and wisdom to do so in a way that is always honoring of Him.
Heading into this I am mindful to keep within the meaning of a devotional given to us by Webster's dictionary, "A short worship service." As such, I do not see my role here as one of a teacher; nor to discuss the difficult subjects that are so heavily debated elsewhere on the board. Instead, I see this as a chance to present a passage from God's word and give a comment on it that I hope will be uplifting to all readers.
This does not mean that I do not encourage feed-back and, if need be, criticism from readers, quite to the contrary; I too am a work in progress, I don't know everything.
Soon, if the Lord is willing, I would like to look into the Gospel according to John; but, for now I wish to spend some time here on subjects.

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 2:5)

Although our salvation is not conditioned on any meritorous acts of our own, the standard by which we must measure our lives is nothing less than the perfect life of Jesus Christ. In the first place, our words and deeds are to be compared to His: "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps."
(1Peter 2:21). Our standard of holiness is to be His life of holiness. "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1Peter 1:15)
The Christian life is to be characterized by unselfish love, but again the standard of that love is nothing less than the love of Christ Himself. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34)
To love as He loved; to be holy as He is holy; to follow His example in word and deed requires that we think as He thought. In position we do, "have the mind of Christ" (1Corinthians 2:16), but in practice, we still come far short. May God help us to cast down "imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God," and bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2Corinthians 10:5)

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Amen!

The mind of Christ. What a need. What a "simple" solution to all of our problems and divisions as believers.

Thanks!

 

[Jim1999]

Indeed, the Christian life is a walk of faith, and it is taken one step at a time. We ought not to be gluttonness, even in spiritual things, but portions according to our different abilities. The mind of Christ will unfold.

Thank you, and God bless,

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

Just had the opportunity to catch up on thur-sat devotionals. Thanks to each of you for the challenging thoughts!

Dan

 

[Watchman]

Sunday April 18, 2004

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12

Years ago I heard a preacher talking about casual conversation people will have in public places. There you can talk about the weather, you can talk about sports, or even about politics. But if you were to talk about The Lord Jesus Christ being the only way for a person to go to heaven, well, the fight is on!
Here in our passage of scripture today is the climactic declaration ending Peter's three great messages in the early chapters of Acts (2:14-36; 3:12-26; 4:8-12). On the previous day, he and John had seen the crippled man healed at the temple gate, saying: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). Testifying to the crowd that had assembled following the miracle, Peter said: "His name through faith in His name has made this man strong" (Acts 3:16)
But now, before the leaders of Israel, Peter goes beyond saying that the man was healed in the name of Jesus to boldly telling them that through Jesus we (and therefor they) must be saved.
This is only the testimony of one man, Peter. It is very worthwhile, I feel, to have a look at what Jesus actually said of Himself.

"Jesus said to him, 'I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father accept through Me.'" (John 14:6)
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the Door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1) "Then Jesus said to them again, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, I Am the Door of the sheep.'" (John 10:7)
From these, and no doubt many other passages where The Lord Jesus spoke of Himself, there would seem to be only three conclusions the hearer can make concerning Him: That He is a liar, He is a lunatic, or, He is Lord.

He is a liar.
That is, he knew what He was saying was false in order to deceive people. This was certainly the view held by some of the Jews:
"Saying, 'Sir, we remember while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, After three days I will rise.'" (Mt. 27:63) The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; You witness is not true." (John 8:13)

He is a lunitic.
That is, what He was saying was from a demented mind. This was also a view held by some of the Jews:
And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?" (John 10:20)
Or...
He is Lord.
That is, what He said, and what those who were with Him (including Peter) said, is the absolute truth.
The latter is the view that I submit is true and that Jesus is the only name under heaven given among men by which YOU must be saved.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Amen - excellent devotion on "THE way, THE truth, and THE life"!

 

[Jim1999]

Indeed so, Christ and Christ alone, or nothing at all.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

He is the Way - not a way among ways!

Thank you Watchman!

Dan