The Carpenter's Chapel

[Jim1999]

Monday, April 19, 2004

Acts 23: 12-30; 34f

“And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves
with an oath of execration, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had
killed Paul.”

We often think that such events only happened in biblical times. I am reminded of
the young Pakistani lad who was seeking in the Christian religion, but he feared his
family. His words, “My father will kill me.” I was not sure what to do, so I
contacted a Baptist missionary from our association and working in Pakistan. The
missionary could not give his location because there are some who lay in wait to kill
them. The lad could not move openly because his family would kill him. The
instructions I was given was to have this lad stroll by the church meeting place and
pass a note to one of the parishioners giving a time and place to meet. The
missionary would then survey the area on the given date and just watch what was
happening. Later another note was passed to the lad with yet another meeting place.
This took over three months. Can you imagine the patience it takes to be a
missionary in Pakistan? Can you imagine the patience on the part of the seeker?
I was amazed at what steps were to be followed, and this was in 2001, not in
ancient times. This is still ongoing. Could we survive working with one soul this
long?

There is a plot to attract Paul to the meeting place and assassinate him on the steps.
These Jews had virtually taken a blood oath to have Paul done with.

“And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into
the castle, and told Paul.” (verse 16) The Lord has provided a safe way for His
servant. Paul has a mission, and when God assigns a mission, all hell shall not
prevail against it. God will provide a way. Sometimes in our private lives, we think
we have come to the rope’s end. God is there ready to tie the sheep’s shank and join
ropes to extend the mission. How little faith we express by times. We think that all
hope is gone and we become desperate.We often fret over little things; a job,
income, our next meal and the roof over our head. All trivial compared to what Paul
faced, and what this Pakistani lad faced. But God has made a provision.

Paul summons the chief captain and tells him the story. The captain takes the young
lad and listens to his story. The enemy has an army of 40 dedicated to kill Paul, but
God raises an army of 500 protectors. The Lord’s army is round and about the
believers to lead us through the dangers and pitfalls of life. All we need to is obey
the Lord’s commands and follow Him.

Lord lead us on, and help us to trust in your word explicitly.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Tuesday, 20th April, 2004

Christian has begun making his way up the hill called Difficulty. We have been reminded that difficulty is part of the Christian life. It is not “all over” when we get saved. There is a long road ahead which we are called upon to “run with patience.

I looked then after CHRISTIAN, to see him go up the hill, when I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness of the place. Now about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill, for the refreshment of weary travellers. Thither, therefore, CHRISTIAN got, where also he sat down to rest. Then he pulled his roll out of his bosom, and read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take a review of the coat or garment that was given him as he stood by the cross. Thus pleasing himself awhile, he at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep which detained him in that place until it was almost night, and in his sleep his roll fell out of his hand. Now as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard: consider her ways, and be wise" (Proverbs 6v6). And with that, CHRISTIAN suddenly started up, and sped him on his way, and went apace till he came to the top of the hill.

Here Christian reminds us of the importance of diligence in the Christian walk. As he climbs the hill he finds a place of refuge which the Lord provides. Tragically, he lets down his guard and falls asleep at the task. We will see more later about the fact that he left his scroll on the ground.

For now, my thoughts are stirred by the danger of falling asleep spiritually. I think of the disciples, asleep in the garden despite Jesus’ call on them to pray. A few other thoughts on spiritual sleep.

Proverbs 6v10-11 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
1 Thessalonians 5v6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

My thoughts are especially drawn to Romans 13v11, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

Satan would love to lull us into spiritual slumber and sleep. We live in troublesome days for God’s people. Christ promises spiritual refreshment and rest. Let us be careful that we are not lulled into sleep like Christian was. If you have been lulled to sleep spiritually heed these words from God’s perfect Word

1 Corinthians 15v34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Ephesians 5v14-16 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Now is not the time for us to be asleep on the job!!

 

[Watchman]

Great messages guys, thanks!

 

[Dan Todd]

Jim and Roger - thank you!

 

[Jim1999]

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Acts 24: 24-27

“...Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; When I have a
convenient season, I will call for thee.”

Felix summoned Paul, and heard him talk about the faith which is in Christ. Paul
spoke of righteousness, of temperance, and of judgment to come. He did not leave
any doubt as to what Felix must do to be saved. Still, Felix would have noting to do
with this faith that would alter his life style.

This is often typical of the unsaved. They think that they can choose the time and
place when they will respond to the teaching of Jesus. The time is of the Lord’s
choosing, and this is a lesson, we, as believers, must also learn. We also want to do
certain things in our good time, but God will have none of it. We linger, dilly and
dally, and I wonder how many blessing we have missed because we wanted our
own time to prevail. A more convenient season and I will call you....It is not
convenient to study now.

A person is drowning in a river. We happen upon the scene, but we are busy, in the
middle of an errand. Hold on, I’ll be with you in a few minutes. Wait, another
person will happen upon you and they will rescue you. These thoughts are, of
course, pushing reason, but I wonder just how much we actually do the same
actions in the work of the Lord. God calls us to do a certain task, and we respond by
someone else can do a better job. Someone else may very well be better qualified,
but God chose you. He promised to equip us for any task, yet we think someone
else better qualified. When God calls; He qualifies.

We say we believe, and then we qualify that belief system. As a young man entering
mnistry, I was counselled by another minister of reputation. He said, “Jim, whatever
you become in ministry, be available.” I never forgot that. It may be some menial
task that needs attendance; “Be available”. It may be a herculian task; “be
available”. Whatever we become in life, be available. It is in the availability that
God speaks and does His marvellous works.

Let us never be like Felix and decide that we shall wait for a more convenient
season. When God calls; respond. This is what fellowship with Christ means. We
become available to the whisperings of God at all times, and take advantage of the
opportunities He affords us. The seasons pass so quickly and we just can’t afford to
let them pass us by.

Lord, teach us to “be available”.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

Excellent lesson Jim - thanks!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Thursday, 22nd April, 2004


Christian continues his climb up the hill called difficulty. We has waken from a spiritual sleep and now hurries on his way. At the top he is met by two men, Timorous and Mistrust. After he tells them that they are going the wrong way they tell him that the path just keeps getting worse and worse. They have seen two lions and have turned back in fear. He is troubled by their words, but knows that he must press on, for he cannot go back to the city of Destruction. Then tragedy strikes. He reaches for the scroll given him so that he might find comfort.

But thinking again of what he heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he might read therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not. Then was CHRISTIAN in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him, and that which should have been his pass into the Celestial City. Here, therefore, he began to be much perplexed, and knew not what to do; at last he bethought himself that he had slept in the arbour that is on the side of the hill: and falling down upon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went back to look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of CHRISTIAN'S heart? sometimes he sighed; sometimes he wept; and often times he chided himself for being so foolish as to fall asleep in that place, which was erected only for a little refreshment from his weariness.

Thus therefore, he went back; carefully looking on this side and on that, all the way as he went, if happily he might find his roll, that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He went thus till he came again within sight of the arbour where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing again even afresh his evil of sleeping into his mind. Thus therefore, he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, "Oh, wretched man that I am, that I should sleep in the daytime! that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! (1Thessalonians 5v7,8; Revelation 2v4,5); that I should so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh, which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the spirits of pilgrims! How many steps have I taken in vain! (thus it happened to Israel; for their sin they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea); and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow, which I might have trod with delight, had it not been for this sinful sleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over which I needed not to have trod but once: yea, now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent. Oh that I had not slept!"

It is clear that because of his spiritual lethargy he has forsaken the Word of God as his daily guide. He bewails the fact that he has fallen asleep spiritually and is reminded in his mind of 1 Thessalonians 5v7,8 – “For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” He is aware that he has forsaken that close fellowship that he had had with the Lord – Revelation 2v4,5 – “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Christian had the wisdom to realise that his walk with the Lord is not what it once was. This is where we can learn our lesson. As soon as he realised his distance from the Lord he runs back to where he had lost it. The tale goes on to tell how he labours and searches to re-establish that fellowship. Finally he finds the scroll and heads back in the right direction. Bunyan tells us that the scroll was “the assurance of his life and acceptance at the desired haven.”
Where are you today? Is your fellowship with the Lord what it once was? We have our greatest battles spiritually when we, like the church at Ephesus, leave our first love. We must strive to keep our fellowship with the Lord. When that falls away we lose all assurance of our salvation. We are powerless to fight the battles of this spiritual life when we forsake that sweet fellowship with our Lord.

 

[Dan Todd]

Ps 51:12 - Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.


Thank you Roger!

 

[Watchman]

Thank you Roger.

 

[Jim1999]

Friday, April 23, 2004

Acts 26

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Verse
28

Last time we had Felix saying “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient
season, I will call for thee.” Now to-day, one is “almost persuaded”. If we read the
entire passage, we learn that it is not a lack of knowledge, but a personal decision to
ignore the facts.

There are some of us who are convinced that our superior knowledge is sufficient to
win souls to Christ. I am not arguing here for ignorance. Get all the education
possible. Use ever academic lever available, but in the final analyses, it is all of
God. We are but a vessel, delivering the message, and unless God the Holy Spirit
does a work of convincing and conviction, we are useless. What does this mean in
our personal lives? Should we simply ignore the people? Should we just go about
our ways ignoring the world, and indeed, our own witness? Indeed not. We ought to
be the best that we can be, and at all times. We are God’s magnetic field, and unless
we are in good repair, we cannot attract as God designed. Have you ever seen a
magnet that has its fields backwards? The magnet repels when it should attract. It
takes a few strokes of a piece of metal to bring the magnet back into order; to
arrange the magnetic field, so it once again attracts. God does this in us in the form
of sanctification and perseverance.

“Almost thou persuadest me.” In this passage, we are learning about the
providential dealings of God. His purpose here is not to save Agrippa, but to free
Paul for greater things. God has a plan for our lives. We ought to delight ourselves
in the Lord, rather than in things and events and even our “soul winning” expertise.

Ultimately, the Lord will find His own, and by His own means and in His own
time. We are called to be true and faithful unto Him. When our lives are right with
the Lord, there is that deep consciousness of Him and the ultimate peace that passes
all understanding.

One of the marvels of scripture is that we can learn more about God and God’s plan
for mankind each time we read the same passage. It would be easy to understand
the historical lessons in scripture, but the scripture is offering much more. This is
what devotional reading means. We go beyond the direct content of scripture, the
historical facts, and we find God. We find what God is saying to us at that moment
in time. What can be more valuable than finding God, and finding out what God
intended for us?

Lord, help me always to seek your face and to alter my life to conform to your
likeness.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you Jim!

 

[Watchman]

Originally posted by Jim1999:
Friday, April 23, 2004
One of the marvels of scripture is that we can learn more about God and God’s plan
for mankind each time we read the same passage. .

Cheers,

Jim

That is something that I find is true everytime I look into the Bible, even to the point os saying to myself, "When did God put that in there?"
Thanks Jim.

 

[Watchman]

Saturday April 24, 2004

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." (1Peter 5:8)

It would be nice to only speak of pleasant subjects, but, every once in a while, one must look at very unpleasant subjects and such is the case this weekend. Today it is, and note the pronoun, YOUR adversary the devil and tomorrow a look at those who do his bidding: false teachers.

Now as to this being I do not think that if he were to appear in front of us now that he would look anything like the stereotype you have seen; that is, a hideous creature with horns wearing a red suit and carrying a pitchfork. No, he would, no doubt seem to be very pleasant to look at; and that makes him all the more dangerous. In Ezekiel 28 God is speaking to the king of Tyre, but, in the context He cannot be referring to a man:
"You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." vs 12b
"You were in the garden of eden, the garden of God;" vs 13a
"You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you." vs 15
You were, You were, You were, Till. What happened?
Another passage gives us a glimpse of just what this iniquity was:

"How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart:
I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God,
I will sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north,
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the most high." Is. 14: 12-14
Pride, the thinking of himself more highly than he ought to think.

Pride is, no doubt, the number one thing that keeps people from God. People say, as it were:
I will make it on my own.
I will be able to approach God because I am "good"
I will do this and do that to earn my way.
Sound familiar? Lucifer was separated from God because of this thinking, and anyone who thinks this will be separated from God as well.

The solution is to stop working and start trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. I go back to a passage from last week:

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Acts 4:12

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you Watchman!

2 Corinthians 11:14-15, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

 

[Jim1999]

As has been noted, we work, not to obtain salvation or righteousness, but we work because we have been made righteous in Jesus Christ. There is no place for the lazy Christian.

Notice "angel of light..." The preacher of truth, even the gospel, but "ministers of righteosness" have been transformed by the Holy Spirit. So one may very well be preaching truth and have nothing of the righteousness of God. There is nothing worse than one who preaches the truth, but fails to experience it. What a warning!

Thanks Watchman and Dan,

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Watchman]

Sunday April 25, 2004

Then He said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He', and, 'The time is near.' Don't follow them." (Luke 21:8)

Yesterday we spoke some on the number one adversary and deceiver: Satan. but this adversary, this deceiver, does not carry out his work of deception that he perpetrates on mankind all by himself. No, he has others that seem to be all-so willing to spread his lies so as to keep men and women from the knowledge of the truth.
God has placed in His Church people who are to teach the truth of His word:
"And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers." (Eph. 4:11)
And, so it is, you have Satan with his minister's of falsehood. In the Old Testament, you see them there as false prophets, but in this, the Church age, we call them false teachers.

There are many little deceptions that are usually harmless enough, though sometimes embarrasing to the victim.
But there are also many big deceptions being perpetrated against Christians, as well as the lost, and the Scriptures warn us not to be deceived by them. The Lord Jesus in particular has said to be aware of false religions.
Now, as I said in my first post on this forum last week, I do not feel that it is my duty to be a teacher here, this is a devotional. But I wish to present here, from the word of God directly, what it says on the word "deceive" What I implore the reader to do is to do what the Beroeans did as we see in Acts 17:11:
"The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these thing were so." Sound advice for all of us!

"Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God's Kingdom? DO NOT BE DECEIVED: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals...will inherit God's kingdom." (1Cor. 6:9-10)
"DO NOT BE DECEIVED: bad company corrupts good morals." (1Cor. 15:33)
"DON"T BE DECEIVED: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap. (Gal. 6:7)
"No one SHOULD DECEIVE HIMSELF. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God..."
(1Cor. 3:18-19)
"If we say, 'We have no sin,' WE ARE DECEIVING ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1John 1:8)

Thanks be to God, we can always repent when we have been tempted to follow such deceptions, and God will forgive.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9)

 

[Jim1999]

Indeed, Watchman, the lesson of Judges. The vallies of despair and the mountain tops of joy as the Israelites repented, prayed and climbed into the mercy of God. It seems we never learn. We complain and things get worse; we repent of this sin, and the sun seems to shine more brightly than before.

Thank you, and cheers,

Jim

 

[following-Him]

Thank you Watchman.

We all need to be reminded of God's truths to us be they good or bad. All our actions have consequences and we can't say we haven't been warned.

God Bless

Sheila

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Pardon the early posting I will be up and gone early tomorrow.

Monday, 26th April, 2004

Having retrieved the scroll which was his comfort and assurance of salvation, Christian resumes his journey.

Thus he went on his way; but while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold, there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was "Beautiful, "and it stood just by the highway side.

So I saw in my dream that he made haste and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off of the porter's lodge; and, looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the dangers by which MISTRUST and TIMOROUS were driven back. (The lions were chained; but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them; for he thought nothing but death was before him. But the porter at the lodge, whose name is WATCHFUL, perceiving that CHRISTIAN made a halt, as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, "Is thy strength so small? (Mark 4v40 - And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? ) fear not the lions; for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is; and for discovery of those that have none: keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee!"

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions, but taking good heed to the directions of the porter. He heard them roar; but they did him no harm.

Mistrust and Timorous had been turned back by their fear when they saw tow lions along the way. Now Christian encounters those same two lions. Like the two false professors Christian does not see that the two lions are chained.

When we face the lions of opposition in our lives, what do we do? Are a regular basis we face trials during which we are tempted to turn back. However, the lions of our lives are also chained – (1Corinthians 10v13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.) God will not allow more opposition in our lives that we are able to handle. Satan is chained and his opposition cannot overcome us, for God has provided a way to escape that opposition.

What keeps us from moving on when we face those trials? The answer is simple – it is a lack of faith. When the disciples were in the boat they faced a massive storm. When they woke Christ He calmed the storm has asked them, “Why are you so fearful, and why is it you have no faith?”

Christian handled the situation properly – he was shaking in fear, but in faith kept on going and the lions could not touch him.

What lions of opposition are you facing today? Satan can go no further in your life that God allows him to go. Even though you may fear, take good heed and “Walk by faith, not by sight” and you will be able to walk past those lions of opposition.

 

[Watchman]

"I am able to do all things through Him Who strengthens me." Ph. 4:13

Thank you Roger.