October 19, 2017 - - I Corinthians 10:14 Idols, Tributes and True Praise

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

I Corinthians 10:14 NKJV

Breathlessly the media was reporting the death of Gord Downie all day yesterday. Certainly I wish to offer my condolences to the family and his friends. However, what troubles me is the fawning superlatives heaped up in tribute.

"The Hip is the soundtrack of my life." This and other such statements the media elicited from fans. Our own PM had a few crocodile tears as well as he made his public statement.

The LORD, the One Who gives us life, He alone is worthy of praise. The LORD, the One Who rescued us from slavery to sin and the dark spiritual forces of this world so that we can serve our Father in heaven--He alone is worthy of accolades. The LORD, the Spirit Who leads us in all truth and gives our life meaning, He alone is worthy of praise.

Our world names actors and singers and famous personalities 'idols.' It is a sad and appropriate and damning because it shows their allegiance. In sharp contrast, as Christians, our highest praise and the dearest place in our hearts belongs to the Living God and no other.

Creator of Music and All Artistic innovation, let the heavens declare Your glory and all creatures Your praise.

Captain of our Salvation, the Desired of All Nations, be enthroned in my heart as the highest prize and my life's goal in obedience.

Spirit of Wisdom, mentor me in the ways of Christ, the way of fullest life which is found in Christ alone.

Amen. Blessed be Your Name! Amen.

October 18, 2017 - - I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from Evil, Embrace Good

Abstain from every form of evil.

I Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV

In a Supreme Court decision of 1964, it was determined that the Constitution protected all forms of pornography except "hard-core" pornography. Exactly what "hard-core porn" is was left undefined and Justice Potter Stewart said "I know it when I see it." How sad.

How easy it is to make allowance for some supposedly lesser evil while trying to keep worse evil at bay. It is not possible. Watching a progressive parade of lesser evils which become greater evils opens the heart and numbs the mind so that ever greater infections and corruptions of evil are tolerated.

The text above is set in the context of: embracing all that is good, drenching all of life in prayer, and pursuing all that is wholesome in Christ.

What evil are you toying with in your life? What evil things are you allowing in your life and pretending to put up a limit against greater evil by saying: "I know it when I see it"? As Paul wrote in that same passage: "test all things: hold fast to what is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21).

Mighty God of all Holiness and Power send Your Spirit to rinse out all traces of evil infection and moral rot so that the grace of Jesus Christ may reach every part of the heart, the mind and life. Let Christ and His work be the standard of good and the goal. Amen.

October 17, 2017 - - II Corinthians 6:1 Grace and Working with God

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you

not to receive the grace of God in vain.

II Corinthians 6:1 NKJV

What a glorious picture is painted in these few words. Men and women are co-workers with God. At the cross of Jesus Christ the penalty against sin and the curse against creation are answered. Men and women then are called and urged to work in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring the peace and blessing of Jesus Christ to all persons.

The grace of God is not given so that we will hole up in our churches, pull up the drawbridges, fill in the moat against newcomers and expect God our Father to minister to our needs. Instead, we face every and any hardship and suffering with this one goal: that as believers, ordinary men and women, we minister the grace of God to those who don't yet know Him. We feed the hungry, in Jesus' Name. We encourage the hopeless with the vision of Christ. Orphans and vulnerable persons receive the love and care in Jesus' Name. We endure hardships, losses, tumults and rejection with the rock solid assurance that God is in charge and will use our debasements for His glorious purposes. We need no reward here other than this: knowing God Who our very great reward.

It is a great and blessed thing to lift up our hands in the sanctuary and worship You, God our Rich Reward. Blessed be Your Name. When the music ends and the blessings have been poured out, then compel us to go out of these places of worship in Jesus' Name through the strength of Your Spirit to share Your grace with those in need. Amen.

October 16, 2017 - - Romans 2:11 No partiality with God

For there is no partiality with God.

Romans 2:11 NKJV

One simple sentence loaded with so much wrath and grace.

Jewish people and those who are not Jewish--the Gentiles--all of them are sinners and worthy of death.

Jewish people and Gentiles, no one can by his own merit or actions earn the favour of God.

The way of life for both Jews and Gentiles is this: confess one's sins and admit to God the need for the Savior, Jesus Christ. If someone is already aware he is a sinner, the grace of Jesus is already being applied to his heart by the Spirit of God. Turn from sin and follow Jesus. Read the Bible. Talk to God. Find a Christian you admire and get advice on how to walk with God.

As long as you live, as long as you draw breath in this life, you can find the grace of God. He offers to you life that is full and free from the chains of sin and guilt.

There is no partiality with God, when a sinner dies, refusing Jesus, whether he is a Jew or a Gentile, he will face the wrath of God.

Thank You God, that You show no favoritism, rather, in Jesus You show Your great love to all. Help me overcome my unbelief. Spirit of God, help me to continually turn from sin and from its siren call. Spirit of Truth, lead me in joyful obedience to Jesus and HIs Word. Triune God, may my life and my confidence in You, bring hope to those who are weighted down by sin and guilt and in sore need of the Saviour--in Whom alone is our refuge and strength. Amen.

Oct. 12/17 Hebrews 13:1 NKJV Brotherly love

Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 13:1 NKJV

This is an imperative--a command. It can be written: Remain in brotherly love! Given the context in Hebrews it means: in view of all that is ours in Jesus Christ, live in brotherly love!

It is a very difficult command. There are those in our lives who have wounded us and offended us. To us the command is written: Live in brotherly love! I remember when our sons were young, and right on up through their late teens, they would play fight and wrestle. Sometimes it would move from play to rough-housing that hurt. But they always knew they were and are brothers. Scratches and sore arms and bruised egos notwithstanding, they let brotherly love continue.

As adults we can easily rehearse our hurts and because people have troubled us and we are too shy to ask why, we begin to make up reasons and imagine their motives. Smaller incidents great blown out of proportion. And problems that truly are big and troublesome fester because of the stubborn unwillingness of Christians to continue in brotherly love. Do not allow it. Decide each moment of each day again, to live in brotherly love. Make things right. Ask God's forgiveness. Seek the power of the Spirit so that you can face your fears and seek your brother out and with fear and trembling before God work with him to sort it out. If your brother refuses to do so, at least keep your heart open to and your hands folded in prayer for your brother that things will be restored.

The verse prior to this one is: "For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29 NKJV) In view of the fire of God's dreadful majesty, in view of the honour of the reputation of Jesus Christ and His forgiveness won for us by fiery trial of the cross, in view of the fact that our troubles are light and momentary in contrast with the worthiness of God and His just burning wrath against sin--put away your own small hurts and imagined wrongs.

The cost of the cross and required obedience to Jesus is real. Let brotherly love continue--put it into practice. Exercise your love towards those who are easy to love and those who are difficult to love. Remember, while you were yet a sinner, while you were hateful against God, He sent Christ to die for you, in order that His consuming fire of wrath against your sins would be spent on Jesus so that He could bring you, forgiven and free, to Himself in love. Do not take up the molten robe of anger and drape it around your shoulders as if you had a right to be angry. For you yourself will be consumed by it. God alone has a right to be angry against our wrongs and He has provided the way of healing peace.

Forgive me, Father of Fiery Justice and Costly Love. Forgive the times I want the forgiveness You offer in Jesus to be mine, but still want others to be scorched by Your wrath. Bathe my soul in healing work of Your Spirit so that I will be tender towards others, no matter their attitude towards me. Strengthen me to continue in brotherly love for the sake and glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.

October 11, 2017 - - Ephesians 4:11-16 New Life in Jesus

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4 NKJV

When God created the world, in six days, each 24 hours, and the seventh day He created the Sabbath and rest--God declared it was very good. The world we see today is savage, broken, and violent--it doesn't fit God's description of "very good". When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, sin swept into their hearts, into creation and affected all of creation.

God in His great mercy provided a way for sin to be overturned. Jesus Christ came into the world, becoming fully human and remaining fully divine, and He lived His life without sin and therefore He is the One Man Who takes on behalf of all people, the punishment of God against sin.

Today we see the effects of sin: people in this world hate God, or worship their representation of God rather than worshiping Him as He reveals Himself (this too is hating God). The people of this world hate one another and without the reconciliation of Jesus, there can be no peace. Marriages are affected by sin, parenting is tarnished by sin. Governments are sin-soaked. Sin affects our relationship with our own selves. We lie to ourselves, fool our selves and act in ways that are self-destructive.

Jesus, now the King of Heaven, sends His Spirit to all who believe in Him. Jesus is undoing the work of sin and restoring our relationship with God our Father, restoring relationships between people, and healing broken hearts and minds. When believers confess their sins, and walk with Jesus, they will grow cold to sin and in the warmth of His love and grace mature in faith and grow in love towards God, others, creation and the self.

Christians are sinners as well. Christians need Jesus' constant cleansing work and His Spirit to hold their noses above the sewage of sin all around and to bring holiness into their relationship with God, the world, others, and the self.

Jesus, You Who takes away the sin of the world, I confess I need You. Many times I want to project an image of myself as an "all-together" Christian, rather than showing what I truly am: a ruined sinner being made clean. Jesus, let the Light of Your love shine on me and through me so that others who also know their need for something, Some One, more, will be drawn to You. I must decrease, and You, Jesus, the Delight of my heart, must increase. Amen.

October 10, 2017 - - I Timothy 5:8 Caring for others

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I Timothy 5:8 NKJV

Recently there has been a spate of posts about refugees to Canada. There are comparisons of how much a refugee receives versus how much a life-long tax paying citizen receives and the citizen is shown to be wanting. Leaving aside the whole issue of our porous borders, there are some things worth noting, about the refugees who come under Canada's policies of resettlement.

A refugee has no other financial resources.

Usually a Canadian citizen has family.

A refugee has no community to draw from for help.

A Canadian has a neighbourhood, peers, friends.

A refugee lacked health care for years, decades, maybe longer.

A Canadian benefited from the wonderful health care system.

Christians in particular are called to care for the vulnerable of society. And Christians begin by caring for the members of their own family and extended family and faith community. For a Christian the evidence of our faith is found in how we care for those in need.

God of all mercy and glory I confess knowing You is the greatest treasure of my life. Where I am able to help others out, by spending time, in using my talents, in giving of my treasures, let me give as freely as You have given to me. Where I am in need, let me be humble and grateful when others supply my need. Where needs go unmet, remind me again and again by Your Word, through prayer and the community of Christians, You, O God are my Shield and my very Great Reward. Increase my faith. Increase my desire and ability to serve You in Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

October 9, 2017 - - Numbers 6:24-26 Sapir-Whorf and Christian Language Theory

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

If you immerse yourself in a new language, you will think in that language, you will act according to the dictates of that language. What is described above is the Sapir-Whorf Theory, proposed about a century ago.

Christians were long aware of this; in fact the world is just now dimly perceiving what Jesus taught so long ago and what the Bible has made clear from the beginning. Jesus said that when the devil lies he speaks his native language because he is the father of lies (John 8:44). Jesus Himself is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Bible is the Word of Truth and those who learn its language and immerse themselves in it see the world in an entirely new way--the way it was meant to be seen.

The LORD--the creator of heaven and earth alone can bring life and blessing. The LORD, the One Who makes covenant with His people is the Only One Who can preserve people from the clutches of the devil.

The LORD, Jesus, alone can give us the light of understanding for our new language and new life. The LORD Jesus alone can give us grace so that we leave sin, which He defeated at the cross.It is the gift of Jesus that allows us to learn the new language of life which enables believers to discern the lies of the world which are rooted in the devil's talk from the Truth which alone flows from Jesus' throne..

The LORD the Spirit shows us God's face is tilted towards us in all circumstances. Those saved by the blood of Jesus face all the same challenges of life that everyone else does, but we know this: the Spirit is giving us the keys to understand our circumstances in the light of God's language of blessing. The LORD the Spirit keeps us in the peace of God the Father and God the Son. Everything that happens to believers is for the building up of our faith, all things--including walking through the valley of the shadow of death--all things work together in order that the believer may be immersed in the new language of God's blessing and through this learn to live to the honour and praise of His Name.

Thank You, God our Father, for Your blessing and for keeping us in Your care--stubborn and rebellious though we are. Thank You, Jesus for rescuing us from the father of lies and bringing us a whole new language and a whole new way of seeing and understanding this world. Thank You, Spirit of God, for giving us peace (which is both head knowledge and inexpressible assurance) that those who belong to God will be kept in His shalom. Let all Your people grow in our ability to speak the language of blessing, the language of Truth. Immerse us in Your Truth so that the lies of this world will be exposed and we will speak truth, faith, and love to this sin-soaked world. In our lives be glorified and let Your fame be magnified--Amen.

October 6, 2017 - - Acts 3:1-3 Christian Giving and Jesus' Glory

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked for alms.

Acts 3:1-3 NKJV

Later in Acts we learn this man, the lame beggar, was over forty years old at the time of his healing. I wonder how many times Peter and John had already passed him as they went into the temple? How many times had Jesus passed this man also going into the temple to teach? I wonder how many times Peter and John had given him alms and how many times they passed him by until the Spirit of the LORD had prepared this lame man's heart and faith to receive all that the LORD had in store for him?

Each week there are so many email pleas for money for various excellent causes. There are organizations that still use snail mail and have all kinds of heart-compelling stories and pictures to woo a potential donor. Recently at my "go-to" grocery store the clerks at the checkout were asking customers if they would like to donate a few extra dollars to a particular cause. We are inundated with requests.

With this particular story a few things stood out for me. At the "God-appointed time" Peter and John helped out. Peter and John gave not alms, but gave what they could: the power of Jesus Christ. The moment was prepared for the glory of God and the growth of Christ's kingdom.

When the Spirit of the LORD stirs your heart to help someone, listen and obey according to the prompting of the Spirit. Give alms. Spend time in prayer with that person. Write that card. Invite the stranger into your home. Visit the lonely person who is on your mind. Sure, when you are prompted to give money to a cause, by all means, do so. If it is not the time to do so, do not feel guilty. The purpose in all our acts of obedience is the glory of the LORD Jesus Christ and His renown and fame.

Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ that You have given Your Spirit. Spirit of God, so direct all our living and obedience that all the credit will be reflected back to Jesus and through Him all recognition is given to the Father, Who is worthy of all praise and honour. Forgive me for the times I have ignored such promptings. Forgive me for the times I have acted and taken the credit for whatever it is I did. Let me decrease and let Christ and His glory increase in my life. Amen.

Post-script: for those who have been passed by; for those who are in great need of help--know that the LORD has appointed the circumstances of your life so that you will trust in Him alone. Perhaps in asking for help and in not receiving it, you are learning more of patience and what it is to rely on God when all other helpers and all other comforts have fled. Perhaps in receiving help, you are learning the humble cost of receiving when you can in no-wise repay the kindness shown to you. This too is not for the credit of the one helping you, but it is to the glory of our Savior and brings joy to the heart of our Father in heaven Who gave the Saviour to the world.

October 4, 2017 - - Proverbs 4:14-18 Pareidolia: seeing faces

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,

And do not walk in the way of evil.

15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;

Turn away from it and pass on.

16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;

And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,

And drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,

That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Proverbs 4:14-18 NKJV

Pareidolia. Though you make not have heard the term before, by the way it is pronounced: par-i-DOH-lee-a, likely you have had the experience it describes. Pareidolia is the term scientists and psychologists use to describe a person who looks at an inanimate object and sees a face. You have seen maybe two blueberries near the top edge of a plate and one raspberry near the centre and a smudge of chocolate and for a brief instant it looks like a face. Or you see a gnarled old willow tree and the twists in the trunk and the exact placement of bits of green growth make it look like it has eyebrows and a branch stump nose and hollow for a mouth.

The author of proverbs is describing two kinds of people. Each person can see a face in or behind every activity. It is the face that compels them and draws them.

The first group are the wicked, and they are drawn to the face of the devil. Through his many disguises and foul trickeries these folks see and are taken in deeper and deeper into sins. Violent consequences notwithstanding, such people keep pursuing that elusive face that at first appeared so human, so captivating.

The second group are those who see the face of Jesus. Each day's activities, each verse of scripture, each trial and each triumph are bits of reflecting glass that allows them to catch a brief glimpse of the Glorious One. No matter the trials and suffering, there is a clear pathway to the Person Who ultimately can make sense of it all.

Today, before you waste time on your computer, whose face are you seeking out? Before you watch another movie, whom do you hope to meet? If you haven't articulated whom you hope to meet, do not be shocked when it is the devil toying with you. When you are making your plans, or talking about a co-worker, or cleaning your place--in each moment of each day you are entering a path and I ask you: whose face are you perceiving?

Spirit of Understanding and keen perception, it is all too easy for me to stumble and fall, following false paths pursuing a barely recognizable visage. Let my heart and mind seek only Jesus and direct my feet on the right road. Increase my ability to know and recognize Him in every part of my life so that I will wind up in the arms of my Father in heaven with the crown of glory He has prepared for all the just who walk in the way of the Son. Amen.

October 3, 2017 - - Luke 13:11-13 NKJV Suffering and praise

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luke 13

She was already glorifying God in her weakness. Bent down with a spirit of infirmity though she was, she got herself to the place of worship over those 18 years. And when Jesus healed her and her praise intensified. Healed or not, she praised God.

On Suffering, K. C. Haugk wrote:

The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy loved the workers on his family's estate, so for a while he worked with them and shared their food and slept in their primitive cottages. But he was shocked when the workers told him, "We're not really impressed by your coming to live with us. You've got your rich father to fall back on. You can stop living in poverty any time you choose. But this is just what we cannot do. You just act as if you were one of us.

As Christians, when we meet Jesus, we meet God in the flesh. Jesus did not merely act as if he were like us. He suffered like us and for us. He even experienced the sense of being godforsaken that we may feel when we suffer.

We are never alone in suffering because God suffers with us. The idea of a suffering God is distinctively Christian. Perhaps because God is a suffering God, he is uniquely qualified to be the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort." God is with us as one who understands pain and suffering from personal experience.

Kenneth C. Haugk "Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart" p. 28

Father of compassion, when the suffering intensifies, please increase within the powerful Presence of Your Spirit so that whether or not Jesus heals me, I will bring You praise. Amen.

September 30, 2017 - - Psalm 147:1 Beautiful praise

Praise the LORD!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

Psalm 147:1 NKJV

Praise is beautiful!

It is beautiful activity--because God is worthy of praise.

It is beautiful to contemplate the attributes of God: love, justice, majesty, power, and wisdom.

It is beautiful to praise Him rather than to be fearful of the things in the news and media.

It is beautiful to praise our God acknowledging His great salvation.

Praise is beautiful because here in this world there are never enough words or visions of splendour or songs or works of art which will do justice to Who He Is.

What a joy the new heavens and the new earth will be as we will no longer be held down by old patterns of sin and sinful thoughts but we will be free to see Him and love Him and praise Him just as we were made to do. It will be the beautiful activity of eternity.

Praise the LORD!

Praise be to You, LORD God Almighty.

When I see the brokenness of this world, I praise You for the work of Your people who bring justice and help and healing in Jesus' Name.

When I see the sinfulness of my own heart and confess it, I look forward to the day when all sin will be utterly thrown down and be no more and I will praise You, God of Glory, praise You most beautifully as I was created to do.

When I see glimpses of love and justice in this world, praise be to Your Name, Jesus the Just and True, for Your reign.

When I join in with Your people in homes or churches and sing Your praise and acknowledge Your Splendor, what joy is ours.

Praise be to You, Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Praise be to You, now and forevermore.

Amen.

September 29, 2017 Psalm 145:14-19 The God Who Holds Me Up

The Lord upholds all who fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways,

Gracious in all His works.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them.

Psalm 145:14-19 NKJV

Yesterday I had the opportunity to preach my senior sermon before the ministers and elders of the Canadian Presbytery. This was sustained--I passed that with great words of encouragement given to me.

Then, in the afternoon, I failed 3 of the 4 parts of my oral exam. The door to ordained ministry in the A.R.P. has been closed for me. Gently, but firmly. Then, this morning, these beautiful words were part of my devotions. The LORD really is near to all who call on Him. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him. My one desire is to be faithful to Him. I long to serve Jesus, whether or not I am a minister, I am His.

While I grieve the closed doorway to what had long been a dream of mine, to be restored to the ministry, I can only say: LORD, I am Yours. Do with me as You will. I am prepared to go where You send me next.

Today is the first day of my new life. Who knows what God will have in store for me from here on out. Thanks be to God for the gift of a wonderful wife, my strong partner and friend. Together we will delight in all God's rich blessings as we seek out what is next.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD--each morning I will bless His Name, every night I call call on Him alone. Thank you for Your great love, shown most perfectly in Jesus Christ. Thank You that no matter my joys or my sorrows, riches or poverty, strengths or weaknesses of my life, by the power of Your Spirit I am yours and You will hold me up in Your tender care. Bless the LORD, O my soul, bless Him all my inmost being. Amen.

September 28, 2017 - - John 14:25-27 The Peace of Christ

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 14:25-27 NKJV

Jesus, speaking to His disciples just before His betrayal and crucifixion, set His peace on them. When He rose from the dead He appeared to His disciples and confirmed His peace (John 20:19,20) even as He showed them the nail prints and His wounded side.

Christ's peace is not given so that we may avoid trouble and controversy, His peace is given as we walk the way of suffering for His Name's sake. In order that we may endure what is too much for us to endure on our own, He has given us the Holy Spirit, Who guards us in Christ and keeps us in the will of our Father in heaven.

Whatever it is that I shall face in this day, whatever joys or trials, Jesus my King, thank You for the gift of Your peace. Thank You for the sure confidence that Your will triumphs no matter my circumstances. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, the deposit guaranteeing this peace and victory in Jesus Christ, which is all to the glory of our Father in Heaven. Amen.

September 27, 2017 - - II Corinthians 6:16-18 Truth

And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

"I will dwell in them

And walk among them

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people."

Therefore

"Come out of them

And be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean

And I will receive you.

I will be a Father to you,

And you shall be My sons and daughters,

Says the LORD Almighty."

II Corinthians 6:16-18

In preparing for my final steps in joining the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, I have been reading books on polity (church government and organization). One book recommended to me was "Handbook of Church Discipline" written by Jay Adams. In dealing with cross-congregational discipline--that is, where one person leaves a congregation and takes up visiting another congregation rather than facing discipline in his home church--Adams has some strong advice.

'Where you have certain knowledge that a congregation denies the essentials of Christianity, you should not send persons back. Indeed, you should do all you can to get people out of such "churches". Jay E. Adams, page 109

We live in an era where all sorts of gatherings call themselves "church" but deny essential truth, denying such things as:

Christ's bodily resurrection;

God created ex nihilo (out of nothing) all of creation in six 24-hour days and on the seventh day created the Sabbath;

the clear commandments of God--such as His will for men and women to honour Him with their bodies, which means all men and all women remain within the God-ordained bounds for human sexuality.

Examine your heart own--the temple of God--are you devoted to Jesus and His Word? Examine your church--is it a place that follows the teachings of Christ and the Word of God, or is it trying to please the world? Believers will cause a stir in the world because we are to be separate from idolaters and no matter the cost, follow the Truth that is found in Jesus alone.

God of Glory, Jesus, the Truth, the Life and the Way, Spirit of Wisdom, help me to be a pure temple for Your dwelling place. Give me discernment to root out of myself the falsehoods and lies of the world which would make my heart and mind unfit for You. I desire You and You alone as My Father. Instruct me by Your Word. Direct my living by the power of Your Spirit so that I will follow Jesus, in Whose Name I pray. Amen.

September 26, 2017 - - John 8:32 Truth

You shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:32 NKJV

Therefore, faithful Christian, seek the truth, listen to the truth, learn the truth, love the truth, tell the truth, learn the truth, defend the truth even to death.

Attributed to Jan Huss 1369 - 1415

A person cannot learn the truth by studying the world or listening to false teachings. That seems so obvious. A Christian cannot learn Truth from professors, teachers, and pastors who do not believe the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

Many Christians are barely subsisting on the Word of God, they are consuming just enough of the Word to stay alive. Then these very same Christians are inundated by the lies and misdirections of the world and are shocked they do not have the strength to withstand the lie. Only in the Bible can we learn the Truth. By the power of the Spirit we can live the truth. For the sake of the Name of Jesus we will defend the truth.

Keep me faithful to You, King Jesus. Send Your Spirit so that I hunger and thirst for more of You and find my satisfaction in Your Word. In Your Truth set me free from the lies and the slavery to things that are touted as true in this world. In the light of Your Truth let all the counterfeits of this world be exposed for what they are. You, Lord Jesus, are the Truth and my highest joy. Amen.

September 24, 2017 - - Ezekiel 34:11 One lost sock, one lost sheep

For thus says Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out."

Ezekiel 34:11 NKJV

How tiresome it is on laundry day to find I have one sock missing. I carefully made sure each sock was paired up before I threw them into the washing machine. They weren't. I had go look around for it. There it was on the floor in closet next to where I usually keep the laundry basket, was one black sock. Then, when I transferred the things from the washing machine into the laundry basket, once again I made sure each sock had its mate. The weather has been so beautiful here, I hung the clothes on the fence to dry. Sure enough, as usual, one sock was missing its mate. It was one of the black sock again.

They are my work-out socks and my go to socks for jogging. I have many pairs of them. So, I can easily just leave one wherever it fell. But I went back into the house and found it. I realized as I was transferring it from the washing machine to the laundry basket, which was on top of the dryer, the one unlucky sock of the pair of them had fallen in the small space between the washing machine and the dryer. The silly thing was dirty because of lint and dust. I wondered if it was worth the effort to hand wash it and clean it off. That is when I thought of the text for today.

The LORD our God has a whole, huge, massive flock of sheep, what difference does one little sheep make? Yet, He does not let one go missing. Jesus left the splendour of heaven and became incarnate. He took on flesh. He suffered. He resisted all sin and all temptations. His life, start to finish, ending with His death on the cross, was lived for the glory of God. God did indeed go out Himself and search for His sheep. One lost little black sheep would be too much for Him to lose. Strange how laundry day reminded me of His greatness and His tender care for His people.

Today is Sunday. Join a friend at church. Learn, perhaps for the very first time, of the great love of our Father in heaven.

God our Father, thank You that You searched me out. Thank You that You seek and save lost sheep. I pray for my friends and family members who don't yet know the love of Jesus and His tenderness in seeking people out. Spirit of Jesus, give me holy boldness and compassion so that I will ever introduce people to You, the God Who seeks and finds lost sheep. Amen.

September 23, 2017 - - Psalm 119 selected verses Vivification, new life, new purpose

Selected readings of Psalm 119

My soul clings to the dust;

Revive me according to Your word. verse 25

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things,

And revive me in Your way. verse 37

Behold I long for Your precepts;

Revive me in Your righteousness. verse 40

This is my comfort in my affliction,

For Your word has given me life. verse 50

I am afflicted very much;

Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. verse 107

When a person says: "I give you my word" he is making a vow or solemn promise. Psalm 119 shows us the solemn promises of the LORD. When you read the Name and it is spelled with each letter all in capitals like that: LORD, it is the revelation of the Name of God Who Is eternally present. Scriptures show He is the Promise-Making and Promise-Keeping God.

The Word of God revives the believer. In Jesus Christ the Word of God is proved true. In Jesus Christ the believer is brought from death to life.

The new life that belongs to the believer in Jesus means the Spirit of God will bring new life and new strength to walk in the way of the Word of God. As the old sinful self is put to death, the Spirit helps Christians walk in the way of new life--there is a great theological word for this: vivification.

If you are worn out. If you are finding things in this life do not satisfy you, know that the Word of God brings vivification. If you wonder what this life is for: turn to Jesus. His Word revives us, in His body He has paid the penalty for all our sins and we are freed from death and revived. Tomorrow is Sunday. Get to a bible-believing church and find out more. If you are shy, ask a friend who is a believer to go with him to his church.

~Prayer~

Sometimes it seems the riches of this life are like irritating smoke to my eyes. It can feel like the activities that gave me the most pleasure are now like food that has grit mixed into it so that even these are becoming distasteful. The psalm-writer has discovered something amazing and writes with such feverish enthusiasm, LORD, help me to understand this. God, the psalm-writer describes You as the One Who brings animation and joy to a person's life. So I ask You: raise me from the dust, from boredom, from discouragement and hopelessness. Show me Jesus. Spirit of God lead me away from worthless things and revive me according to the Word. My life is continually in my hands and it feels like sand slipping away through my fingers no matter how hard I try to hold onto it. Let my life have meaning. Amen.

September 22, 2017 - - Psalm 116:12-14 Prayer and thanks to the LORD

What shall I render to the Lord

For all His benefits toward me?

I will take up the cup of salvation,

And call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord

Now in the presence of all His people.

Psalm 116:12-14 NKJV

Consider how often you have prayed, faithfully and intensely, asking God for His help and HIs answer. Now ask yourself how often have you thanked Him for His answer to prayer?

It would be my guess that sometimes believers miss God's answers for a lack of examining what He is doing. Prayers are aimed at God without any sense of expectation for what He is doing and how He will answer.

Some believers, disappointed with the response of God (who sometimes says "wait" and other times says "no") sulk rather than bless His Name. Perhaps God's no is a gracious answer as He knows what will harm or overwhelm the petitioner.

There are a number of churches that have specific prayer request times. People in the pews can ask the minister or prayer leader to remember these needs in the prayer time. How many of these churches have times of blessing God for all His answers? Sure, Thanksgiving Day, or that weekend is the obvious answer.

Know this, God hears prayers and He answers our requests all year through.

The Psalmist, in light of God's streams of answered prayer, is asking: "how can I give a fitting response to the LORD for all the answers the He is giving?" What a great question for us all to consider each day.

God of Splendour, how astounding it is, that You, the Majestic and Glorious LORD of heaven should hear the prayers of Your people and stoop to answer these! Thank You for Jesus, in Whose Name believers dare to pray. Thank You for the Spirit by Whose presence believers don't have to formulate perfect prayers or say just the right words. Thank You, Spirit of God, for taking feeble prayers and even inarticulate groanings and carrying these to the throne Jesus, the mercy seat--the one place of help in all the universe. As the Psalmist asked, so do we, what praise, what song, what offering, what can I give to You, Lord, for all Your blessings and benefits given to me? Amen.

September 21, 2017 - - Psalm 106:2 So many reasons to praise God

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?

Who can declare all His praise?

Psalm 106:2 NKJV

Can you name all the intricate interactions that take place in a single cell of your body? Exchange of oxygen. Expelling toxins. Receiving nourishment. Providing structure. Repairing itself. Fighting against foreign invaders. There are all kinds of things that happen in a single cell of the human body. Let alone mentioning how cells function together. How systems of the body work together.

Think of the intricacy of life on earth. The symbiotic relationships. The variety of life forms and the places they live in creation. The way in which each fulfils a function. The majesty of some creatures. The beauty of others.

Think of plants. Each part of the day different flowers are open. Bees delight in this, need this. Each part of the season different plants flower and others cast their seed. Photosynthesis, what a marvel that sunlight becomes energy for the plant. Who can speak the mighty acts of God?

Think of His patience with sinful men and women. Think of the glory of Christ and His obedient love for His Father. Think of the work of the Spirit Who convicts people of sin and brings them into relationship with Jesus.

What works of God make you experience wonder? What acts of God cause you to pause and shake your head with reverent astonishment?

As all this is recounted, the heart swells with praise for God. There are not enough hours in the day to think about all the reasons to sing, pray and shout His praise. In view of Who He Is and all He does there are not enough days in a month to declare His praise.

You are glorious, God of Creation. You are victorious, Jesus, Lord of History. You are powerful, Spirit of the Living God, for You are bringing rebellious hearts into joy-filled submission to the Saviour. Train my thoughts this day, Spirit of Wisdom, so that I will reflect on the mighty acts of God, throughout the day, and bring genuine and awe-filled praise to God. Hallelujah. Amen.