Jan - March 2008
“Christmas, The Cross, The
Conquest of our King, and the Clock”
It has been said; “That time waits for no
man.” We can’t stop time or buy more time, but the Bible teaches us that we
can be good stewards of the time we’ve been given. Ephesians 5:16
In the 90th Psalm, the Psalmist is
thinking about how small and brief man is and how big and eternal God is. So he
writes: “Teach me to
number our days, that we might apply our hearts unto wisdom” - Psalm 90-12.
After we’ve
celebrated Christmas, our minds turn to the Passion of our wonderful Lord. His
willingness to endure the cross and His victory over death and the grave. I am
so thankful that He is eternal and unchanging. I am comforted by these truths.
It comforts me when I think about it being March 2008. Months are going by like
weeks, weeks like days and days like hours. I feel pressed to do the Lord’s work, to be about
our “Father’s
business”- Luke 2:49.
It should be the desire and the determination of
every Christian to be sober minded and sincere when comes to how we spend our
time. Remember, once it is spent. You can not earn it, trade for it or borrow
it. The word impresses upon us that now is the time and today is the
day-yesterday is gone and tomorrow is uncertain. I’m praying that these thoughts
will guide our work for the Lord. Our 17,500 sq. foot building addition is for
the next generation. We must make sure that our children are well grounded in
the faith, able, ready and willing to stand and defend the fundamentals of the
faith.
“It
was needful for me to write unto you that ye should earnestly contend for the
faith, which was once delivered unto the saints”- Jude 3.
All of us should pray the prayer of the Psalmist
in Psalm 71:18 - ”O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength
unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to
come.”
Great Is the
Lord!
What
is the greatest thought that can occupy the human mind? It's the contemplation
of God. Human intellect can find no subject more lofty and more worthy than
this. No other theme comes close. Thinking about God is the highest occupation,
the most sublime exercise of our mental faculties.
How grateful we should
be that God has given us minds that are able to consider His knowledge,
holiness, love, power, and wisdom. We see through a glass darkly. But never
mind! It is still a tremendous privilege to stretch our minds to the limit in
contemplating His divine attributes.
I often think of the great
scientists and philosophers of the world and of the tremendous issues they have
grappled with. But many of them have never wrestled with the greatest issue of
all--the eternal God!
Genesis 22:16-17 tells us that He is the God of the
telescope, and He is the God of the microscope as well. “He heals the brokenhearted and
binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). The one who knows every detail of the celestial
expanses is vitally interested in His sorrowful creatures. Such personal concern
is awesome when you consider what a speck of cosmic dust our planet is in the
universe, and how tiny we are, even in comparison to the earth. Yet the same God
who counts the stars and gives a distinct name to each one also stoops low in
grace to heal the brokenhearted and to bind up their wounds.
Christ as
Intercessor
"He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto
God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25
When God had said, in Isaiah, that
He wondered that there was no intercessor, there followed the words:
"Therefore His arm brought
salvation unto Him. The Redeemer shall come to Zion." Isaiah 59:16,20 God Himself would provide the true intercessor, in
Christ, His Son, of whom it already been said: "He bore the sin of many, and made intercession
for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:12
In His life on earch, Christ began His
work as Intercessor. Think of the high-priestly prayer on behalf of His
disciples, and all who should, through them, believe in His name. Think of His
words to Peter, "I
have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." - A proof of how intensely personal His
intercession is. And on the cross, He spoke as Intercessor: "Father forgive
them."
Now that He is seated at God's right hand, He continues
as our great High Priest, the work of intercession without ceasing. But with
this difference, that He gives His people power to take part in it. Seven times
in His farewell discourse, Herepeated teh assurance that what they asked, He
would do.
The power of Heaven was to be at their disposal. The grace and
power of God waited for man's bidding. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit,
they would know what the will of God was. They would learn, in faith, to pray in
His name. He would present their petition to the Father, and through their
united intercession, the Church would be clothed with the power of the
Spirit.
Watch &
Pray Matthew 26:40-41
“And He cometh unto the disciples,
and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, what, could ye not watch with me
one hour? Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the Spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I want to give us four very important questions that we
need to ask ourselves everyday.
1. What am I thankful for today?
Thanksgiving has the power to
transform our attitudes and our outlook about life and death. Psalm 92:1 says, “It is a good thing to give thanks.” 1 Thess.
5:16-19
says, “Rejoice
evermore, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” The will of God is the place and position of safety and
contentment. The old song says, “Count your blessings, name them one by
one.”
2. What have done in the past 24 hours that I am ashamed
of?
The Bible
encourages us to examine ourselves and when we see our failure and faults, ask
for forgiveness. I am thankful that God remains faithful and just to forgive.
God’s grace says, “We don’t have to be burdened with guilt.”
-1 John 1:9
3. Where is the devil tempting me? What is he using to tempt
me? Why is he tempting me?
One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Corinthians
10:13, “There hath no temptation take 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 of escape that ye may be
able to bear." 1 Corinthians
10:13 as
well as in 1 John 1:9, these verses give us a great source of strength
and confidence. The faithfulness of God! He is ready and able to help us when we
are tempted-Hebrews 2:18, says, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he
is able to succour them that are tempted.” The word succour means: to protect, defend and empower by
refreshing and reviving.
4. Have I prayed today?
Prayer is the key to victorious, successful,
Christian living-According to Jesus: “If we fail to pray, we are going to faint,”
Luke 18:1. We can never go overboard in prayer. The Word of
God encourages us to pray without ceasing!
Good Church
Members Acts 11:24
I thank the Lord that I am a part of
a church that is filled with good members. Being a good member begins with
loving the Lord and loving one another.
1. A GOOD MEMBER MUST BE SAVED.
Titus 3:5 -"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of Holy Ghost.” Psalm 37:23; Acts 11:23
2. A GOOD MEMBER ATTENDS CHURCH.
Acts 11:26 - “And when he had found him, he brought him unto
Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they had assembled themselves
with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called
Christians first at Antioch."
3. A GOOD MEMBER SUPPORTS THE CHURCH.
I Corinthians
16:2 -”Upon the first day of the week let everyone of you lay
by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I
come.” Acts 20:35
4. A GOOD MEMBER NEVER TALKS NEGATIVELY ABOUT HIS
CHURCH.
James 1:26 - ”If any man among you seem to be
religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s
religion is vain.” Exodus 32:26
5. A GOOD MEMBER RESPECTS PASTORAL
LEADERSHIP
Hebrews 13:17”Remember them which have the rule
over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow,
considering the end of their conversation.” Acts 20:28, I Peter 5:2.
6. A GOOD MEMBER PRAYS FOR THE CHURCH
Acts 4:31 - ”And when they had prayed, the
place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 12:5
7. A GOOD MEMBER IS INTERESTED IN THEIR
TESTIMONY
Matthew 5:16 - ”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Acts 1:8
God Understands
"But thou, O Lord
knowest me."
Jeremiah 12:3
"God knows our down sitting and
uprising, He understands our thought afar off. He compasses our path and our
lying down, and is acquainted with all our ways." Psalm 139:2-3. “Nobody understands me.” Well, you are no
exception. Does anybody really understand anybody else? We do not understand our
own selves. How often have we done things and wondered afterward what made us do
them!
Paul said, (I Cor. 4:3-5) that neither he nor others ere capable of
judging his ministry. Only God is competent. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until
the Lord come.” While we are to judge sin in our lives (I Cor.11:31), we cannot size up ourselves or others properly.
We may put our estimate too high or too low. God knows all the facts and He will
give the correct measure of praise or blame.
Do not unduly boast or
belittle. You do not know the hidden motives, the complicated tangle of your own
self or anyone else. But He knows. So wait patiently for that day, and let God
make His appraisal.
“An Appointment with
God”
"God…commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because he
hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by
that man whom he hath ordained." Acts 17:30-31
We have an appointment with
God, Many a man is careful to keep business and social engagements who ignores
the supreme date on his calendar. God had set a day, he has ordained a judge,
Christ Jesus. And this is the test by which men are judged, that light is come
into the world in Jesus Christ and men loved darkness rather than light because
their deeds were evil.
By the Man He has ordained, He will judge the
world on the day appointed.
And because of this He has commanded repentance.
He does not merely invite us to repent, He does not simply suggest that we
repent, he commands it against the background of the Man Ordained and the Day
Appointed. Too much preaching today lacks the solemn background of approaching
judgment.
It is politely recommended that men repent when God sternly
commands it. Men need to be reminded of their appointment with God, their date
with Deity. The Day is appointed, the Man is ordained, and we are commanded. Put
it on your calendar. It is on God’s!
At the Feet of
Jesus
Ruth 2:10,14
In our messages from the book of Ruth, we have noticed
Ruth, the willing worker, bowing at the feet of the “Lord of the Harvest.”. From
her humble position at Boaz’s feet, he invites her to his table and she wisely
responds. She is seated and she is served, not by a servant, but it is Boaz that
graciously waits upon the little gentile from the cursed land of Moab. If we
desire to fellowship with the Lord at His table we must deliberately bow at His
feet. Listen to New Testament record of those that were blessed when they fell
at Jesus’ feet:
1. IT IS A PLACE OF PARDON-Luke 7:38
“A woman…a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat
in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment. And stood at his
feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears.”
(verse 38)
Jesus said to
her, “Thy sins are
forgiven”
(Luke 7:18).
2. IT IS A PLACE OF LEARNING- Luke 10:39
“Mary…also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his
word” (verse
39).
Jesus told her, “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good
part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42).
3. IT IS A PLACE OF PRAYER-Mark 5:22-23
Jarius, a ruler of the
synagogue, “When he
saw him, he fell at his feet. And besought (or prayed) him greatly.”
(verses 22, 23) It is a place
of answered prayer. Jesus healed Jarius’ twelve-year-old daughter (Mark 5:41, 42).
4. IT IS A PLACE OF THANKSGIVING- Luke 17:16.
“And (he) fell down on his face at his feet, giving him
thanks: and he was a Samaritan”. (verse 16). The only one who thanked our Lord was a
stranger and a despised Samaritan. Such is typical, but
tragic.
5. IT
IS A PLACE OF REST-Luke 8:35
There was a demon-possessed man among the tombs. When
he was healed, he was found “in his right mind” (verse 35). His mind was no longer warped and twisted by
demon powers. He had the mind of his Master.
6. IT IS A PLACE OF
COMFORT - John 14:1-3
“When Mary… saw him, she fell down at his fee, saying
unto him. Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
(verse 32).
She came to the
right place, “When
Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the a Jews also weeping…he groaned in the
spirit and was troubled.” (verse 33).
If we expect to be blessed at His table we
must begin by bowing at His feet !
A copy of this was found in the Bible of my
Dad’s mother and my Grandmother, Ellen Bingham
An Unknown Author says of the
Bible:
“This book contains the mind
of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the
happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its
histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe
it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food
to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s
staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s character.
Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ
is its grand object, our good its design and the glory of God its end. It should
fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. It is a mine of wealth, a
paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, and will be
opened in the judgment and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest
responsibilities, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who
trifle with its sacred contents.”
Comfort & Faith in
Christ John 14:1-3
“If ye believe in God believe also in
Me”
There can be no abiding
comfort without faith. Shall we put our faith in our nearest relatives and
dearest friends? They are among our greatest and best possessions, but our faith
must go far beyond them if we are to be comforted.
The best of our
friends cannot remove our pains, nor replace our losses. When He comforted his
disciples, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Believe also in me.” He meant for them to believe in him as a personal,
living, omnipotent ever present Savior and friend, like no other friend can
be!
A lack of faith in Christ makes our difficulties appear gigantic and
sometimes leads us to imagine that we are the only ones who have ever had such
troubles. A genuine faith in Christ is the foundation of all peace and happiness
in every relationship of life. One Christian said to another, “Please tell me
how you have been able to bear your sorrow so beautifully.” The reply was, I
just brought my aching heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and cried.”
Faith
in Christ was exemplified beautifully by Mr. H.G. Spafford, who was a devout
Christian and successful Chicago lawyer, which had his investments and savings
swept away during the financial panic of 1873. To cushion his wife and 4
daughters from this shock he decided to send them to Europe. But during the
blackness of a November night, the French liner on which his family was sleeping
collided in mid-ocean with the Glasgow clipper and sank in 12 minutes. Two
hundred and fifty persons, including the 4 Spafford girls were
drowned.
When Mr. Spafford reflected that his property was gone, that his
wife was overwhelmed that she was spared but the girls were buried in the depths
of the Atlantic Ocean, there came from his heart a song of
trust:
When peace like a
river, attendeth my may,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my
lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my
soul.
Thought Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,
Let this
blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And
hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin-oh the bless of this glorious
tho’t-
My sin-not in part but in whole
Is nailed to the Cross and I bear
it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord O my soul.
And Lord,
haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a
scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so, it
is well with my soul.”
Only a real genuine faith in Christ enabled him to write
that beautiful hymn in the time of great sorrow. As we pray for comfort, may we
find ourselves praying,
“Lord I
believe, help thou my unbelief.”
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU
OUGHT
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9:6
I
can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. Philippians 4:13
Paul
did not mean that he could do anything he wanted to do or some foolish thing. He
could do all things that God wanted him to do. We can do anything we ought to
do, anything He wants us to do. And that leaves plenty of room for miracles!
There is wide latitude within the limits of God’s will. We shall not feel
cramped.
There is much we know is God’s will without making further
inquiry . There is more of His will that opens up as we trust and obey. He would
not ask us to do what cannot be done. But it is done through Christ, who keeps
on pouring His power into us. His strength is made perfect in
weakness, “that the power of Christ may
rest upon us.”
We can do all the work
that is within His will. He who said, “Go
ye,” said, “Lo, I am with you,” and “All power
given unto me.”