Psalm 8: God's Handiwork

As of a few days ago, this being October 26, 2015, there is a beautiful sight in the pre-dawn sky, that being the planets Venus and Jupiter being close to each other.  The sermon below, fits so beautifully with this beautiful sight.  I just don't know how anyone can look at the stars and not be convicted or believe in the Creator.

God's Handiwork

Psalm 8:1-9 "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger.  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.  O LORD our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth."
 
This Psalm detaches us from human problems and anxieties and transfers our mind to distant unexplored regions.  This Psalm is true elevated thought.  If you have ever gone out on a clear starry night, away from those street lights which obliterate 90% of the glory of God, if you stay in the dark until your eyes get adjusted to the dark and then you look at the heavens, the things that God has made, and you see the different colors, and the shooting stars;  if you use binoculars and look at the night sky, just the pure size of it, you will feel very, very small.  And that is what David saw, and when he saw it, it made him think about God and it made him worship God because creation points to the Creator.  The Psalm opens in V1 with admiration of God, "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens".  O Jehovah, our Jehovah.  Excellent means how large, how wide is the authority of thy name in all the earth.  The word glory means grandeur, majesty or outshining.  God's glory, the outshining of God is above all the heavens.  It is pre-eminent over the heavens.  God you are so great, your glory - your outshining is beyond the heavens.  You outshine the heavens in your glory.  

When David looked at the creation, the earth and the heavens, it made him think of a big God.  It didn't lead to petty thoughts.  He didn't go out and see this creation and then have little petty thoughts.  He was thinking that God is great and other things receded into the background.  It gave him a proper view of God, a proper perspective.  Sometimes as Christians we think of a limited God like us, but we need to look at the stars more.  So in this Psalm of David firstly we see an admiration of God, and secondly the admiration led to a wonder of God's greatness revealed in his creation.

Are You Too Busy?

Are you too busy?  Busy for what, you may ask.   My husband and I have found over the years, that many times people are “too busy” to do things that they do not want to do, but they are never too busy to do the things that they do want to do.  Should this be?  We have family members that say they are “too busy” to have us over for dinner, but that they would be available months down the road.   But what if they really wanted to have someone over for dinner?  We know that they are not too busy for that, but find the time because it is something they want to do.  We know other people who do not answer emails because they are “too busy” when actually they did not want to deal with the subject matter of the email, and this to their shame because being in a position of authority, they should never have been “too busy” to respond to something concerning the place they were in authority over.

“Too busy” is too often a very sad excuse.  Websters 1828 dictionary defines busy thus:

“Employed with constant attention; engaged about something that renders interruption inconvenient; as, a man is busy in posting his books”

Note the above, engaged with something that renders interruption inconvenient.  Inconvenience, that is the key.  “I am too busy, I don’t want to be bothered because I am too busy doing other things and I will get around to you eventually”..

What should be the attitude of a Christian?

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

So let us never be weary in well-doing, and let us always be ready to help a person who may ask,  and let us never be so busy with things of this world that we cannot or do not want to  spend quality time wherever or however it is asked of us.

Wild Rose with Matthew 5:8

This photo was taken in summer at the walk way of Somenos Marsh in the Cowichan Valley.  I loved the textures of this wild rose against the sturdiness of the fence and it reminds me the beauty of the pure in heart who will see God.

Bible Women: Jochebed, mother of Moses

(Exodus 1-2)

The story of Jochebed and the birth of Moses was at a time of great trial and tribulation for the people of Israel.  Background is necessary before introducing Moses' mother Jochebed. 

It is amazing to look back on the life of Joseph and remember how God protected him, and put him in a position of power and authority, so that the people of Israel would be preserved  in the time of famine...but in the passage of time, the new king of Egypt did not know of Joseph, and so things are about to change mightily for the children of Israel, and yet, in their misery, God is ever in control bringing things to pass that would lead to the exodus of the children from Egypt back to the promised land.

Exodus 1:7-11 "And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.  Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.  And  he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.  Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.  And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities..."

But  the more that the children of Israel were afflicted by the Egyptians, the more they increased in numbers, and so the more the Egyptians afflicted them.  It was a vicious circle.  Exodus 1:13-14 "And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field....."
 
Now the king seeks to stop the increase in a very drastic way, and he spoke to the Hebrew midwives whose names we are given.  Exodus 1:16 "And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live."     
And here is a wonderful verse - Exodus 1:17 "But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive."  Perhaps we are given the name of the midwives as a memorial to them because their reverential fear of the LORD God caused them to disobey the order of the king, and save the baby boys.  When the king found this out,  he called for the midwives "And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharoah, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them."  It is true that they made the excuse that the babies were born before they got there, but still, they preserved the male children..and God blessed the midwives, Exodus 1:20 "Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty." Proverbs 11:18 "The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward."  And so now Pharaoh orders not the midwives, but the parents to kill their baby boys.  Exodus 1:22 "Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive."

Should a Christian Judge: Seeing Wrong and Speaking Out

Yesterday I posted my concerns regarding whether or not a Christian should judge.  After that I listened to this sermon on the subject and it was very helpful to me.  At the beginning of this sermon, Paul Dowling speaks of society professing not to believe in any rights or wrongs, and in my life I have heard many times certain family members speaking of "my truth" or "your truth".    These notes are quite long, but I hope that you will read all of them. 

Should a Christian Judge: Seeing Wrong and Speaking Out

Matthew 7:1-5 "Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest  not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
 
The purpose of this series (on judging) is to correct the thinking in the area of our cultural attitude.  Our society and culture thinks certain things and the Christian church has suckled from society's views and have come to read our society's views into new testament Christianity.  And in this series, people that do such things have made Christianity to be toothless.  Our society likes to say of itself that it is non-judgmental.  "I wouldn't judge" is the common blurb.  Our society also professes not to believe in any rights or wrongs, any absolutes.  If you don't believe in rights or wrongs you are not going to be judgmental.

If something is right, than the other is wrong.  Therefore society says that no matter what people say or do, say nothing because everyone has a right to their opinion, just say or do nothing about it.  And all these things hang together.  If you don't believe in right or wrong, you don't speak out about right and wrong. This wouldn't be so bad if that attitude stayed in the world, but now this whole pollution from our society has entered into the church of Christ.  And people have come to think that it is spiritual to be non-judgmental.  Let me tell you it is not spiritual to be non-judgmental.
We study this because the popular view today is never judge anything, never be angry about anything, never call anybody any name and just be nice and encouraging all the time.  That is the vast majority view of Christianity today.  That view is a twisting and perversion of new testament Christianity.

Christian Essentials: You Must Be Born Again

The following notes are taken by myself from a sermon preached by Rev Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed) on October 18/15 upon his return to preaching after a serious illness.

Christian Essentials:  You Must Be Born Again

John 3:1-8 "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
 
Everything that is in the bible is important. Everything.  Church practice is important or it wouldn't be in the scriptures.  Some things are more than important, they are absolutely essential.  What brings the essential things home is when we are unwell.  When I was unwell, after I was unwell I thought much about the essential things in the bible that we must be clear on.  The first night when I was taken in the ambulance to the hospital to intensive care, that night when the doctor said that I was seriously ill, and then when the pain came and my blood pressure went down to 50/20,  it just came into my mind, "maybe this is it".  And immediately following that thought, was the thought "are you ready to meet God?" and immediately following that was this "all I know is I am trusting in Jesus Christ alone and if that is not good enough there is no salvation".  The one thing that matters is this, are you trusting in Jesus Christ, nothing else counts for anything.  There is nothing in me or you, there is nothing in any one of us that will commend us to God except being in God's way of salvation, Jesus Christ, and that is the essential thing. 

Cowichan River Trail in Autumn with Proverbs 2:8

The trail beside the Cowichan River is particularly beautiful in Autumn when leaves are blowing in the wind and the trail is strewn with them.  and even though this path is not very narrow, it is a reminder to me of Proverbs 2:8, that God preserveth the way of his saints and keepeth the paths of judgment.

Ephesians: All of Grace

Ephesians 1:3-10 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption though his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."

The blessings of God towards his people are amazing, they are spiritual blessings, and believers receive these spiritual blessings in that they are chosen in Christ from before the created order and they are chosen in Christ to be holy and without blame.  They are chosen in Christ to be sanctified, separation from sin to God, chosen to be made positionally holy and blameless.  God chose you for that before you existed.  We are adopted as his own children, he determined beforehand, he decreed from eternity that we would be adopted as his children, that we would be brought into the household of God and receive an eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus. 

By pure grace, which we have no right to, he has made us accepted in the very holy presence of God.  What blessings.  Anyone that would say "so what" or take these blessings for granted has never understood sin or God's holiness because that God would do those things for sinful wretches is absolutely astonishing.  Not to be amazed at these things that the bible says that God has done is to be an easy believer who sees salvation as a human right.  But the true Christian is saved by grace, undeserved mercy.  By grace, no one is saved as a human right.  The church needs to get away from the idea that humans have any right before God.  No one has rights to those things because salvation is of grace through faith.  Only grace.  It is only after we are adopted into his family that we become his children and the inheritors of eternal blessings from God and even then it is by Jesus Christ.  

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.  

Halloween and Christmas as Church Practice

Deau 18:9-12 "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.  There shall not be found among you any one that.....useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee."

What about the practice of Halloween and Christmas?  Should we be putting Christ back into Christmas.  What's the harm of trick or treat, or bonfires, or witches or wizards or monsters and children pretending to be them. God says these things are an abomination, but it is great fun for the unthinking.  Truth should guide our thinking and not the world's idea of fun.

Should we be putting Christ back into Christmas?  the problem is that this question overlooks the question of whether or not these festivals are right at all.  There can be no Christian way of doing things that are wrong, so we cannot speak of the Christian way to observe these things unless they are legitimate in the first place."

Churches have Halloween parties, and Christmas trees in pulpits.  Should this be?  Can we Christianize that which God has not even commanded or hinted at?  

What biblical command or principle is there for celebrating Halloween or Christmas:  There is no command or principle at all.  We are told to remember the Lord's death and that is it. 1 Corinthians 11:26 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."  Neither Halloween nor Christmas was celebrated in scripture nor were they given a Christian veneer until the Roman Church..  until then both these celebrations were by pagans.. pagan festivals.  And both were hijacked by the Roman church and given an unbiblical Christian veneer.  Well what is the origin?  

He Bled for Us

He Bled For Us 

1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:20-25 "For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

A lovely section of scripture is 1 Peter 2.  What is the context of verse 24? "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed"  Well, who was the letter written to? It was not written to everybody in the world.  According to chapter 1:2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."  This letter was written to the elect, those set apart by the Holy Spirit unto obedience, for those who are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, that's who this letter is for.  It is addressed to believers, those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ.  If you are not saved, this letter is not for you, and the blessings of this letter are not for you.  But if  you are saved, redeemed by the blood of Jesus than these promises are for you.

In Chapter 2 Christians are told to be good in their life, (V1) be hungry for spiritual food (V2-3)  because you are God's spiritual house (V5-8) you are priests (V9)you are to be  holy (V11-16) be respectful (V17-18) patient in suffering (V19-21) and Christ is your example (V22-25)  Addressed to Christians, to the saved, to the born again blood-bought obedient believer.
V24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." This verse contains gospel truths, contains the good news of the gospel, and what happened on the cross of Christ.  Here is salvation in a person.

Bible Women: Rachel - Loved by her husband

Wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin,  sister of Leah,  daughter of Laban, Rachel is one of the most prominent women in the book of Genesis.

We first meet Rachel upon Jacob's arrival in Haran, where he has gone to search for his uncle Laban after being sent on this journey by his father Isaac.  (Genesis 28:1 "And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Betheuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.").  Upon arriving in Haran, Jacob saw a  well in the field, and 3 flocks of sheep lying by it, and so Jacob asked the keepers of  the sheep of what land they were and they told him Haran, and that is how Jacob discovers that he has reached the land of his uncle.  Jacob asked if they knew Laban, and they did, and at that moment, "Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.  And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban...that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother." (Genesis 29:9-10) and he kissed Rachel a kiss of greeting and wept..he must have been so glad that his journey was finally over.  And Rachel, hearing that Jacob was her cousin, ran to tell her father, upon which Laban came running, and Jacob was brought to their house.

After a month, Laban asked Jacob what he desired to be his wages for serving for him, and Jacob gives his answer.  "And Laban  had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and wellfavoured.  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter." (Genesis 29:16-18)  And so Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and that "they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." (Genesis 29:20)

God Will Provide Himself With a Sheep?

A few weeks ago in one of the meetings of the church I attend, an older gentleman quoted Genesis 22:8 from his J.N. Darby translation and it is noted that there is a big difference, and an important difference, between the J.N.Darby translation and the King James..

Genesis 22:8 King James

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Genesis 22:8 J.N Darby translation 

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself with the sheep for a burnt-offering. And they went both of them together.

Both of these verses say that it is God that will provide, but here is the big difference.  The King James says "God will provide himself a lamb"  while the Darby says  "God will provide himself with the sheep"

We know that God did provide himself a lamb, for the Lord Jesus Christ is God incarnate, Philippians 2:7 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."  John 1:1, 14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."  John 1:29 "The next day John (the Baptist) seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

The Darby translation is only speaking of this specific occasion when Abraham went with Isaac to offer him as a burnt offering as he was instructed to do in Genesis 22:1-2 (King James)  "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."  The reason why I say that the Darby is only speaking of this occasion is by the use of the word "with", this word "with" was added, it is not in the King James.  And also, in the Darby translation it says that "God will provide himself with the sheep"...  while the King James speaks "God will provide himself a lamb".

The King James is speaking of this occasion, because it is Abraham speaking to Isaac, believing that God will intervene,  but it is also looking forward to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was crucified on Calvary's cross, who shed his precious blood and took upon himself the penalty for sin and then gave up his spirit, to be raised from the dead on the first day of the week.   The Darby translation is not looking forward to the Lord Jesus in this verse.

We know from Genesis 22:13 that according to the King James "..Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns..."  the very fact that it was an adult ram that was provided for this instance, this makes the words "God will provide himself a lamb" so much more significant.

This is one of the reasons why I use only the King James, for I trust it.

Let Your Women Keep Silence in the Churches

Let your women keep silence in the churches..  here is another admonition of the apostle Paul that has brought about much debate.. I believe that the main reason for this debate is that many women today do not hold to being submissive to men.  Things today are not what they were in the days when Paul wrote these words.  But does this mean that they are not in effect today?  I believe that they are in effect. Even though we have the bible in completed written form, we are still living in bible times, for the Lord Jesus has not yet returned.  It is easy to lose sight of this fact, that we are part of bible times..

Here are the verses in question:

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
As always, it is not wise to take a verse out of context, we have to look at the whole chapter, and in this case at the reason why Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in the first place.  In chapter one we learn that Paul told this church that they should "all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, ...that there are contentions among you." (chapter 1:10-11)  So we know that this was a church with problems, just as there are many churches with problems today, and so are these teachings not for today also?

In chapter 3:3 we learn that "ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

This church had some members that were not walking by the Spirit's leading, but, because they were believers, Paul wrote them this letter to teach them the way that things ought to be, that everything be done "decently and in order" (chapter 14:40)

So with this background, this brings us to the verse in question, that of women keeping silence in the church.  What is the appropriate time that Paul tells these women that they are keep silence? The following verse explains it.  (V35) "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."

Ephesians: The Doctrine of Divine Choice - Are You Offended at God's Choice?

Ephesians 1:1-5 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

Ephesians is a letter of blessings, the blessings are for the steadfast and faithful, they are spiritual or heavenly blessings, they are from God the Father through Jesus Christ.  Now we come to the question, why do the blessings come to us?  Why?   V4 tells us why.. this is a study on the first half of V4, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world"   This verse teaches a doctrine that is taught in many other verses of the bible, but this verses teaches a doctrine that many people do not like.  The doctrine of divine choice, or God's choice.  Humans fear those words, they feel uncomfortable and uneasy.. if the subject was the doctrine of human choice, people would be at ease and comfortable, but that God should have a choice, humans don't like that.  It makes us feel uncomfortable, that we are not in control.  There is no other doctrine that is more offensive to human choice than this doctrine that this verse teaches.

We are all born with a nature that automatically believes in free will.. we all automatically believe in human choice.  If we can't decide our choices, than that is not fair.  We are born thinking that we as humans have the right to control our destiny.  Well, no we don't.  God has the right.  He is the creator and we are his creation.  It was God's choice that the sky would look blue, it was God's choice that grass and leaves would look green. He did not ask for our opinion.  Because he made it, he has the choice to decide, not us.  Because he is the Creator, he has divine choice.  Unconditional election, predestination.  God chooses people to be saved according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.

Bible Women: Leah - Wife by Deception

Sister of Rachel, daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob..this is Leah.  Her story is one of obedience to her father, desire for her husband,  envy by her sister.  She bears the honour of being the mother of half of the twelve tribes of Israel, and one of her sons, Judah, was to be the line through whom came Joseph,  the husband of Mary, of whom was born the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 29:16-17  "..Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and wellfavoured."   I would like to believe that the expression "tender eyes"  is an expression of a compassionate, gentle soul, but Strongs concordance interprets this expression as one who has weak eyes. This is in contrast to her sister who was beautiful,  "Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.   Still the important thing to remember here is that the Lord does not judge us by our physical appearance, and praise His name for that.  Truly, "...the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

The story of Leah begins when Jacob was called by his father Isaac who "blessed him and charged him, and said unto him, ....go to Padan-aram,to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother." (Genesis 28:2) Jacob was specifically instructed "thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan) (Genesis 28:1)  Leah was not present when Jacob arrived at Padan-aram, and it was Rachel that Jacob met first, and Jacob loved Rachel.  Genesis 29:18 "..Jacob loved Rachel; and said (to Laban her father) I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter."   No doubt Leah came to know Jacob quite well as he worked those seven years for Rachel to be his wife,  but we do not know whether or not Leah knew that it would be her that would be given to Jacob on his wedding night.  The custom of the time was that the younger daughter should not marry before the older daughter, and so perhaps Leah was aware of what was to happen.. in any event on the night when Jacob was to receive Rachel as his wife, Laban took Leah instead, and brought her to Jacob.  Genesis 29:23 "And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her." No doubt Leah was covered, as was the custom of women in those days to be wholly covered when the marriage took place.  Jacob would not have recognized the deception until morning which is exactly what happened "...in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, what is this thou hast done unto me?..." (Gen 29:25) and Laban gives his explanation Genesis 26-27 "..Laban said, it must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years."  And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also."  and so Leah had Jacob for herself for a period of seven days, before Rachel was given to him also as his wife for which he then had to serve Laban for seven more years.

Colossians 1:14 "...in Whom we have Redemption Through His Blood..."

This morning in our worship service, one of the older gentlemen read Colossians 1:14 thus “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins;”.  Because I use the King James, I noticed right away that this version left out a very important phrase..  in the King James Colossians 1:14 reads thus “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”   So my question is, how can there be redemption without the precious blood of Christ.  I do not know why the translators of his particular version left out the blood, but to me that is a very important thing.  What does the bible say about the blood of Christ?  I do not know how many times “blood” is left out in other versions, but here are some verses on this subject from the King James that I think are very important, and I have a challenge to anyone who reads this..  Compare these verses with your version, and see how many times the precious blood of Christ is left out..  If it is, you have a watered-down version, and a watered-down version brings a watered -down gospel, and a watered-down gospel brings a  watered-down salvation..
Matthew 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood”

Romans 3:25 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Ephesians 2:7 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

Colossians 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

1 Peter 1:19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”

An Introduction to the Book of Ephesians

The book of Ephesians is a most beautiful book, I know people who have memorized it in its entirety.    This post is the first of many based on notes I have made from sermons on this book by Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed).  I hope that these posts will be a blessing.

Understanding Ephesians, Introduction

Acts 20:17-38

Ephesians 1:1-4 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be  holy and without blame before him in love.:"

Ephesus was the most important city in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.  In those days Ephesus had a population of over 600,000 people.  It had a harbor in which trade ships traveled.  Ephesus was the commercial center of the whole region, built on major trade routes.  Ephesus also boasted the temple of Diana, which is the Greek god Artemus, the huntress.  This was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.  The amphitheatre could seat 25,000 people with excellent acoustics.  In this city there was a Christian church, a body of believers and the first mention of Paul the apostle visiting the city is in Acts 18. They wanted him to come back again and he said that he would, God willing.

This church was founded or planted by the apostle Paul.  Acts 19:1 "And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus:.."  He came and preached and lived in Ephesus for two years, Acts 19:10 "And this continued by the space of two years.." When he lived there he was their pastor and taught them sound doctrine.  That is why in the book of Ephesians you will not find Paul correcting any faulty doctrine that the Ephesians have because they were well instructed in the word of God.  They were a doctrinally sound church.  They also were saved from paganism, some of them from witchcraft.  When they were saved, they made a clean break with their worldly occultic practices in the past.  Acts 19:18-20 "And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." When they were saved they burned their magic books to a value of 50,000 pieces of silver.  They burned them because they were converted and the books were evil.  They would not sell them because they did not want to pass on that which was evil, they did not want to make financial profit.  They did not want other people to read it, they wanted other people to be saved.  What is more valuable to you, money or people's souls?  Evil and the promotion of evil must be destroyed to obey the bible.  Some modern professed Christians love money more than souls, but the Ephesians would not do that because they loved Christ so much.  They wouldn't promote anything contrary to Christ. 

Who are Abraham's Descendants? What are the Covenants of Scripture?

Genesis 12:1-3

Genesis 15:1-21

Abram obeyed God, he left his father's house and his father's land when he was 75.  In Genesis 12 God is voicing a covenant with Abram;  an agreement, a promise between two parties.  There are certain things that Abram has to do, and in light of this there are certain promises that God makes to Abram.  I will give you the land, I will make of you a great nation, I will make you a blessing to all nations, in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.  People have called this covenant that God made with Abram the Covenant of Promise.  In Genesis 15 we see the covenant ratified or made legal in a powerful way.

An explanation of the covenants of scripture.  God always deals with people by way of covenant in the bible.  The Adamic covenant made with Adam: The covenant of works, certain duties imposed by God and then a warning..  "do not eat of the fruit....."  there were consequences for breaking covenants.  This was a contract of relationship between two parties, God and man.  Adam and Eve disobeyed God and broke the covenant and now man is under the sentence of death.  Humans cannot approach God by our works.  It was finished at the fall.

Then the Noahic covenant, the covenant of preservation.  The rainbow is the sign of that covenant.  God promised to do certain things, not to flood the world with water again.  Then there is the Mosaic covenant, the covenant of law and sacrifices.  The law was never meant to save.  If the law was meant to save why did they have a sacrificial system? The law was to show sin, failure to keep the law.  All these covenants can be summed up under three broad sections:

The Mothers Who Came to King Solomon: His Wise Decision

1 Kings 3:5-28

Some background is necessary regarding how king Solomon came to have such great wisdom.  After the death of King David, when Solomon was made King, God appeared to him in a dream one night, and said "Ask what I shall give thee." (1 Kings 3:5) We know that our God is omniscient, and knows the hearts of men, and knew what Solomon's answer would be, still  Solomon's answer was a true blessing.  "..O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in....give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people." (V7-9)

So much here, Solomon refers to the LORD MY God, this is a personal relationship Solomon has with the LORD.  He is humble, referring to himself as "A little child" in need of guidance and wisdom.  He asks not for silver or gold or great riches, but "an understanding heart" to judge "thy people" not his (Solomon's) people.  Truly Solomon is devoted to the LORD.  And so  the LORD is pleased and answers "I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart: so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee......" (V12)  What a wonderful gift that would be, I wonder how many of us would ask for wisdom rather than riches?

And so this is the background to the two mothers that soon come to Solomon. The bible calls them harlots, but they are not denied an audience with the king whom they stand before and begin to tell him the reason for their appearing before him.

They both live in the same house, and they both bore children, indeed three days apart they had their children, and there was no one with them, they were alone in the house.  (V17-18) And then a very sad occurrence, one mother speaks "this woman's child died in the night because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.  And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. "(V19-21)

Contend for the Faith - Witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 “For Christ sent me…to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”

Have you been visited by Jehovah Witnesses? or have you seen them standing at the corner ready to talk about their religion and hand out tracts?  Three years ago an older husband and wife who are Jehovah Witnesses moved in next door to us.  They were very nice people, they kept their property in beautiful order, making many improvements.  We employed their son-in-law to paint the interior of our home and then to build us a new fence each for which he was well paid as would have been any other contractor we hired.
However, on the “religious” front things were not so smooth as indeed they should not have been because my husband and  I are Christians, saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are Jehovah Witnesses whose beliefs are very different from ours.   But I do believe that as Jude 1:3 says, we are to  earnestly contend for the faith, and so one day it fell upon my husband (as it should) to do exactly that.

One day shortly after they moved in, the lady was getting into her car while my husband was in the front yard and so he asked her if she was going to work and she replied that for years she had been leading a bible study at the Kingdom Hall, and that is how we learned that they were Jehovah Witnesses.  After that my husband took it upon himself to talk with her about what the bible says concerning the deity of Christ and after that he wrote down some bible verses and gave them to her.  She responded with a note saying that we were neighbours and they would have to agree to disagree.   So 3 years went by, with a few pleasantries exchanged, but no other inter-action.  The only time she came to our door was to ask if we planned on moving because they knew someone who wanted to move into the area and they thought it would be nice if they could be close..  But no, we were not planning on moving.

Bible Men: Nehemiah - Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem

According to the book of Ezra 2:2, Nehemiah, whose name means "consolation", was one who came out of captivity in Babylon to return to Jerusalem.. but how he did that is told in the wonderful book that bears his name.

The book of Nehemiah is written in the first person.  We learn that Nehemiah was the cup-bearer to the king Artaxerxes,  (Chp 2:1 "And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king....." where he was placed by the Lord in order to accomplish His purposes for Jerusalem, and Nehemiah was in the palace of Shushan, the same palace we read about in the books of  Esther and Daniel.

And one day Nehemiah was able to inquire of certain men of Judah about Jerusalem.  He was told that the wall of that great city was broken down, and the gates burned with fire.  Upon hearing this news, Nehemiah wept and mourned, fasted and prayed before the God of heaven (chp1:4-11) confessing his sins and the sins of the children of Israel, and beseeching the LORD to remember his words to Moses and to hear the prayer of Nehemiah and those who desired to fear the name of the LORD.  He also prayed for mercy in the sight of the king.  Because Nehemiah, as stated before, was the king's cup-bearer, and as such was able to approach the king directly.

Nehemiah's actions are very convicting.  when he heard of the devastation of Jerusalem, he was overcome with grief, and immediately went before the Lord in prayer.  So my question is, what do we do when we hear of problems within our church?  do we go before the Lord in prayer?  do we get involved?  or do we go on with our lives with no heart for reviving that which has fallen.   In this case, the LORD gave Nehemiah a heart for Jerusalem.  Has He given you a heart for a place that has fallen into hard times? 

The Temptation to go Ahead of God.

This past summer my husband and I decided that we no longer want to take part in what I now call “Commercialmas”  and what the local news called the “Christmas Creep”, the stores already carrying all Christmas things decorative.  This past summer we gave away our tree and all the decorations as well as an extensive village..  and we decided that in late September we would tell our family that we no longer want to celebrate the day.  We were invited to a family member’s house for dinner this past Sunday and it seemed a perfect time to tell them of our plans, and the next day my husband would have emailed another family member, also telling them of our plans.  But something happened to change these plans and so this is the reason for this post.

This past Sunday the sermon was on Genesis 24, when Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac after the death of Isaac’s mother Sarah.  The speaker went through the chapter, and how Abraham told the servant (V3-4) “I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the god of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites…but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac”..

But the servant thought that perhaps the maiden would not want to follow him, he wanted to do things his way instead of waiting on the LORD, and so he said (V5) “if the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?”  This is speculation on the servant’s part that the woman would not want to follow.  But Abraham trusted that (V7) “the LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me…he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”  The servant must not consider what might happen, he must be obedient to his master, and trust that the LORD God is in control.

So the servant swore to do as Abraham said, and departed and he also prayed  (V12) “O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.”  and then he made specific request regarding the woman who would come to a well, and give water to the servant and to his camels, “let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shown kindness unto my master.”

Elisha Part 2: Crossing the Jordan, Healing the waters and the Children that mocked

 2 Kings 2:1-24

 In the first study of Elisha, we learned that he was promised a double portion of the spirit be upon him if he saw Elijah translated.  And so it was, that when Elisha saw that "there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2:12)  and Elisha "took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces" (2 Kings 2:12)  but he must carry on in the place of Elijah, as the anointed man of God.

And so Elisha took up Elijah's mantle and now we see the first miracle given that Elisha is God's own .  "he went back and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and he went back and smote the waters, and said Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over." (V13-14)  This is the first miracle that Elisha did by the spirit of the LORD. There were others watching, the sons of the prophets from Jericho, and they are witnesses that "the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha..and they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him." (V15) And this is the reason that the sons of the prophets knew that Elijah would be taken, so that they could see that Elisha was the anointed successor to Elijah.

The sons of the prophets thought that perhaps God had cast Elijah down again onto a mountain or into a valley and wanted to go look for them, and wanted to send fifty strong men to look for him, but Elisha said "Ye shall not send" (V16)  So Elisha went to Jericho while the men searched for Elijah but they did not find him. When they returned Elisha said to them "Did I not say unto you, Go not? (V18) And so because Elisha knew that Elijah would not be found, the men of the city tell Elisha the situation in the city, "the water is naught, and the ground barren." (V19)

Elisha requests a new container with salt inside.(V20)  This must be a new container, not an old that has been used for other things..  healing requires the new, the old is put away.  The salt is cast into the water,  and Elijah gives glory to the Lord "Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land." (V21)  The man of God makes it clear that this healing is by God's will, not his own. "so the waters were healed unto this day,according to the saying of Elisha which he spake." (V22)  

More on the Subject of Election

A few days ago I posted on the subject of election quoting bible verses.  This is a piece I wrote years ago on this subject.

The Word of God teaches us that God is sovereign.  Daniel 4:34-35 teaches us "..I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

Romans 3:23 teaches us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  But John 6:37 teaches us "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out".  The choice of these people, the number of whom is known only to God the Father, is because of His grace, mercy, and love to undeserving sinners, and not because of anything they have done: Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

This does not mean that God is unfair, because of the fact, as previously said, that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  All deserve to come under the wrath of God on the day of judgment, but because God is merciful, He has chosen by his grace through faith to save some.

References from the Word of God:

Jonah 2:9 "Salvation is of the Lord"

Psalm 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

Psalm 65:4 "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts..."

Psalm 4:3 "But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:  the LORD will hear when I call unto him."

Matthew 19:25-26 "...when his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." 

Aging Bulrushes with Proverbs 16:31

There is a special beauty in aging bulrushes, and Proverbs 16:31 is self-explanatory.