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December 23, 2017December 28, 2017

Nine Months Before Christmas

Why have I entitled this article, “Nine Months Before Christmas”? If you’re a mother, you would have no difficulty understanding what I mean. Every year at this time, we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. But there is another amazing miracle that is often overlooked during this season. If you believe that life begins at conception, as I do and as the Bible teaches, then the Lord Jesus Christ became a human being at the moment of His conception in the womb of Mary. I personally think that this is an even more amazing miracle than His birth. Since this event is often overlooked during the Christmas season, let’s take a look at the sequence of events and the miracle that occurred at His conception as recorded for us in Luke’s Gospel.

I. THE SETTING (verses 26-27)

The story begins in Luke, chapter 1. Verses 26 and 27 say, “Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke states that it is the “sixth month” He means the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. He’s marking time from the last appearance of the angel Gabriel, and the miracle of pregnancy that was promised to the aged priest, Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. They were going to be the parents of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah.

In verse 27 we are introduced to Mary, a virgin girl, probably in her early to mid-teen years, and she was engaged to a man named Joseph. Among the Jews at that time, the marriage vows were said at the engagement (betrothal), and it required a divorce to end the relationship. It was the custom for there to be an interval of usually a year before she could take up residence in her husband’s house and the physical union could be consummated. It must have been near the end of that engagement period. Mary and Joseph were both from Nazareth and so they were both very poor. This town, and the Jews in it, were despised by the Jews in Judea because Nazareth was a small, poor, out-of-the-way town in the region of Galilee where there were more Gentiles than Jews.

II. THE GREETING (verses 28-29)

Everything seems to be going according to plan for Mary and Joseph, and then something unexpected happens. God sent the angel Gabriel on another mission. this time to Mary. Gabriel’s name means “the strength of God”, and he is often seen delivering messages of kindness and blessing.

There seems to be a fascination with angels, especially at Christmas time. Recent surveys have shown that anywhere between 55-70% of Americans believe in the existence of angels and their activity in our world today. There have been several major motion pictures about angels, as well as movies having angels in them. The classic film, “It’s A Wonderful Life” is shown every Christmas season, and the angel, Clarence (Henry Travers) shows George (James Stewart) what life would have been like if he had never been born. If you have never seen this movie, please put it on your “must-see list” this year. You will really enjoy it!

The Bible says that angels are “innumerable” (Psalm 68:17). There are too many of them to count. Yet only two angels are named in the Bible: Gabriel and Michael. It’s interesting to note also that both Zacharias and Mary recognized that it was an angel who was visiting them. I’ve often wondered whether the faces of angels shone because of being in the presence of God and seeing Him face-to-face. We will know some day!

Let’s see what the angel Gabriel has to say to Mary. Luke 1:28 says, “And coming in, he said to her, ‘Hail, favored one, the Lord is with you’.” He’s not putting her on a pedestal above other women. He is letting her know that God has given her a unique role to play in His plan of salvation. It is an unmerited favor from God. She didn’t earn the right, nor did she deserve it, but, as we shall see, she didn’t gloat over it but humbly accepted it. Steven is also called “full of grace” in Acts 6:8. In verse 29 we see Mary’s initial response to his greeting: “But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of greeting this might be.” I can imagine that many thoughts and questions were going through her mind, such as “What an unusual greeting”. “Why would he be saying that to me?” “I’m supposed to return his greeting; what words should I say?”

III. THE ANNOUNCEMENT (verses 30-33)

The angel Gabriel seems to understand her fears and concerns because he tells her: “Do not be afraid”, calling her by name. Then he declares to her the announcement that was given to him by God.

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”

After that description, I don’t think there was any doubt in Mary’s mind that this child he speaks of is going to be the Messiah. The phrase, the “Son of the Most High” is a Messianic title, and His lineage and everlasting reign eliminate all other possible contenders. (Psalm 89:36-37; Isaiah 9:6-7)

As a Jewess, should Mary have known that the Messiah was going to come by virgin-birth? Yes. Was it her fault that she didn’t know it? No. This information given by the angel Gabriel should not have come as a surprise to the nation of Israel.. There are at least two passages of Scripture in the Old Testament that point to the virgin birth of the Messiah. The first is Genesis 3:15. After the serpent tempted Adam and Eve, and they sinned, God said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heal.”

A woman doesn’t have a seed. She has eggs. The man has the seed. If this mother of the Messiah is going to have a seed apart from man, she will remain a virgin, right? If the seed doesn’t come from man, then it has to come from God. Isaiah 7:14 confirms this. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and she shall call His name ‘Immanuel’.” The Scribes and teachers of the Law ignored, overlooked, and failed to teach about the suffering Messiah because they were looking for the conquering Messiah.

IV. THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER (verses 34-37)

Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s announcement is not the same as that of her relative Zacharias. Mary believed that God could do what the angel said. She didn’t ask for a sign as proof that what he is saying is true. She is just curious as to the “process” by which it would be done since she was a virgin. So she asks the question: “How can this be since I am a virgin?” Just how is this all going to come about? Obviously this was going to be no ordinary conception!

First, Gabriel says, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you”. He is answering her question with words she can understand – words from the Old Testament Scriptures. His words reminded her of Old Testament stories she heard from her parents, and lessons she learned in the synagogue, about how the Spirit of God “came upon” Joshua (Num. 27:18), Saul (I Sam. 10:10), David (I Sam. 16:12-18), Bezalel (Ex, 31:2-5, and others. In each case the Spirit came upon them to empower them and enable them to accomplish the work that God called them to do. This would have directed her thoughts to the power, the provision, and the faithfulness of God. As she did this, her worries would begin to fade away.

Secondly, Gabriel says, “The power of the Most High will overshadow you.” The word translated “overshadow” means “to cover”. Any Jew during that time would associate that word with the tabernacle in the wilderness during the forty years of wandering in the desert. Exodus 40:34, 35, and 38 describe God’s “overshadowing” of the tabernacle after it had been erected. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. . . . For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”

The cloud over the tabernacle was a symbol of God’s glory and His continual presence with His people. To an Israelite, it was comforting to think that God was hovering over them like an eagle over its nest, with its wings outspread, keeping an eye on them and protecting them. The cloud also depicted the holiness of God, and therefore His worthiness to be worshipped. The angel Gabriel was telling Mary that her womb would be the tabernacle of the Son of God for nine months. He was directing her thoughts toward the holiness of God and the continual presence of God over her (and in her).

V. THE SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT (verses 36-37)

The angel Gabriel’s second announcement is one of joy and encouragement to Mary. She learns that her relative Elizabeth is pregnant and in her sixth month of pregnancy. Elizabeth was old enough to be Mary’s grandmother or even great-grandmother! What a pleasant surprise that must have been to hear that news about Elizabeth, and to hear the words that followed. In verse 37, the angel Gabriel ends his announcement with these words: For nothing is impossible with God”. It’s a reminder of the prophet Jeremiah’s words to God in Jeremiah 29:17, “Ah, Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”

VI. THE ACCEPTANCE (verse 38)

Verse 38 tells us Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement: “Behold the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” The Message puts it this way: “Yes, I see it all now; I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.” Then the angel left. As a humble servant of God, Mary accepted her calling from God immediately, in spite of the suffering, misunderstandings, and adjustments that might lay ahead for her. She joins the ranks of other virtuous women, such as Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, and others who chose to obey God, and desired to be used by God in spite of the consequences to themselves.

VI. THE LESSONS

Thomas a Kempis, a Catholic priest in the 1400’s who wrote the book, The Imitation of Christ, had these words to say about obedience: “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience.” Are there things you know God wants you to do or complete, and you haven’t done them? Are there people you know God wants you to visit or contact; are there relationships God wants you to mend and you’ve been putting it off? You’re probably familiar with the saying, “Better late than never, but better never late.” Let’s turn that saying around for the things we need to catch up on with God, and then turn it back. “Better never late, but better late than never.”

Finally, is our devotion to God motivated by a fervent and grateful love for Him. Do we gladly and consistently spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer before we begin the other activities of our day? As we begin the Christmas season and look forward to celebrating His birth in Bethlehem, remember that the Lord Jesus spent nine months pretty-much incapacitated in Mary’s womb out of love for us. He loves us “in season and out of season”. Let’s keep that in mind this Christmas season and all the way through the coming year.

November 21, 2017November 22, 2017

Thanksgiving Day – Relearning and Reliving That Day in History

In the year 1620 A.D, 102 English settlers, called the Pilgrims, and their crew of about 30 men, arrived at Plymouth Rock, what is now Plymouth, Massachusettes, on their ship, the Mayflower. These people had a deep faith in God, and believed that they were on a mission from God. In spite of the cold weather and the lack of food, they gave thanks to God for the safe journey across the Atlantic Ocean. and for the freedom from an unjust government. It was a very harsh winter, and by Spring only 52 Pilgrims were still alive.

The Mayflower Was an English Ship That Famously Transported the First English Puritans, Known Today as the Pilgrims, from Plymouth, England to the New World in 1620

The Native American Indian chief, Squanto, had pity on these settlers and befriended them. He and his tribe taught them what things to grow, gave them seeds and told them when to plant them. By Fall they had a bountiful harvest. In gratefulness to God, they had a worship service, and then they had a feast and invited their Indian friends to join them. Five of the remaining women made the meal, and there was joyful celebration of friendship. Two hundred and fifty years later President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

The Word “Thanksgiving” Comes from the Old Anglo-saxon Term That Meant “Thinkfulness”.

If you can’t think of anything to be thankful for, you have a very poor memory! Psalm 103:2 says,

“Bless the Lord, O My Soul, and Forget Not All His Benefits.”

The psalmist is saying:

“God Has Given Me So Many Benefits That I May Forget Some of Them, But Don’t Let Me Forget All of Them.”

A story is told of a gifted preacher who suffered a nervous breakdown. A friend told him that, by God’s enabling, he could overcome his depression. The key was to practice thanksgiving, in obedience to God’s Word. He suggested that the minister think of all the people who had a special influence on his life over the years. Then he asked, “Did you ever thank any of them?” The down-hearted man confessed that he couldn’t ever recall doing so. His friend challenged him to think of one person and write to him, expressing his appreciation. The pastor took his advice, and when he learned that his letter had greatly encouraged the person, his heart was lightened. So he jotted down a list of all who had helped him, a list of over 500 names, and he wrote a letter of appreciation to each one. As he counted his blessings, the depression left him. Realizing that God had been showering him with encouragement through these individuals, he began thanking God daily for His love and goodness. Let’s take the advice of hymn writer, Johnson Oatman, Jr.

“Count Your Blessings, Name Them One-by-one: Count Your Many Blessings, See What God Hath Done.”

Psalm 92:1-2 says,

“It Is Good to Give Thanks to the Lord, And to Sing Praises to Thy Name, O Most High; To Declare Thy Lovingkindness in the Morning, And Thy Faithfulness by Night.”

Thankfulness is good for us because it leads to a deeper fellowship with God, to growth in godliness, and to wholeheartedness in daily living.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says,

“Rejoice Always, Pray Without Ceasing, in Everything Give Thanks, for This Is God’s Will for You in Christ Jesus.”

Remember, God never gives a command without providing the desire and the power to obey it. His grace is always sufficient if we humbly depend upon Him completely, and confidently ask Him to supply it.

Happy Thanksgiving Day! May every day of your life be Thanksgiving Day!

November 8, 2017November 13, 2018

Why Can’t I Have It My Way?

Did you know that in the early days of baseball, the batter signaled the pitcher where to throw the ball? That’s right, he actually told him where he wanted it! He held out his bat to show him. As the sport of baseball progressed, however, the batter had more and more obstacles to overcome – for example, the curve ball! As pitching the ball became more complicated, hitting the ball became more difficult. This illustration points us to a modern-day problem.

Many People Believe That They Can Determine What They Want Life to Give Them. but the Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ Who Expects His or Her Christian Life to Be Easy Is in for a Shock!

James, the half-brother of Jesus, addressed his letter to the Jews who were living outside the Promised Land because of the persecution of Christians. He was writing to Christian Jews. They had been filled with sorrow and fear as they quickly packed up what belongings they could carry, and fled with their families from their homes and their cities. They were now living in countries outside Palestine and were beginning their lives over again. The word “scattered”, in verse 1, is the Greek word “diaspora”, and it carries the idea of “scattering seed”. When the Jewish believers were scattered at the beginning of the persecution, it was really the sowing of seed in many places; and much of that seed bore fruit as many gentiles heard the Gospel and received the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. So God’s purpose in these trials was to deepen their faith and dependence on Him, and to use them as His witnesses to the Gentiles, fulfilling His Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

James tells us, in verse 2, to expect trials. He does not say, “if you fall into various trials”, but “when you encounter various trials”. We can’t always expect everything to go our way. Some trials come simply because we are human. Sickness, accidents, disappointments, and even tragedies are the lot of the human race, but God uses them to deepen our trust and dependence on Him. Other trials come because we are Christians. Satan fights against us and the world opposes us, and this makes for a life of battles. But the victory comes from God as we rely on Him.

Are you undergoing trials in your life at this moment? Are there physical, mental, or emotional ailments or conditions that place limitations on your daily living? Are you experiencing any opposition or ridicule because of your Scriptural stand on social and moral issues?

You’re not alone! As you well know, the trials of life are not all alike. They are like the multicolored yarn that a weaver uses to make a beautiful oriental rug. God arranges the colours and experiences of life. The final product is a beautiful thing for His glory. Have you ever looked at the underside of an oriental rug? The patterns are unclear and there are loose ends of yarn dangling. We are looking at the wrong side of life! Only God sees the finished pattern. Let’s not judge God, or His workmanship in our lives, based upon what we see today. His work isn’t finished yet! The following poem says it beautifully:

“My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him”

Corrie ten Boom
(the Tapestry Poem)

May God give us the desire and the enabling to live above our circumstances and find joy in serving the Lord Jesus and bringing glory to Him. May our countenances be lifted, and the expressions on our faces be that of peace and joy because He lives and reigns in us. May we find His grace to be sufficient for all our needs.

November 5, 2017February 5, 2018

Designed to Work Together

A man broke his left arm. One night when he couldn’t sleep, he imagined a dialogue between his right and left hands. The Right Hand said, “Left Hand, you are not missed. Everybody’s glad it was you that was broken and not me. You are not very important.”

Left Hand asked, “How are you superior?”
Right Hand replied, “Why, my owner cannot write a letter without me.”
Left Hand: “But who holds the paper on which he writes?”
Ri ght Hand: “Who swings the hammer?”
Left Hand: “Who holds the nail?”
Right Hand: “Who guides the plane when the carpenter smooths a board?”
Left Hand: “Who steadies the board?”
Right Hand: “When our owner walks down the street and lifts his hat to greet someone, which of us does it?”
Left Hand: “Who holds the briefcase while he does it?” Then he continued, “Let me ask you a question. When our owner shaved yesterday, you held the razor, but his face is cut. Why? Because I wasn’t able to help. Also, our owner’s watch has stopped. Why? You may do the winding, but if I’m not there to hold it, the watch won’t get wound. You can’t take money out of his wallet to pay for something because I’m not there to hold it. The master can do very few things without me.”

So to each of us has a place of service for the Lord. None is greater – just different.

Imagine the Master Carpenter’s tools holding a conference:

Brother Hammer presides, but several suggest he leave the meeting because he is too noisy. Brother Hammer replies, “If I have to leave this shop, Brother Screw must go also. You have to turn him around, again and again, to get him to accomplish anything.”
Brother Screw then speaks up. “If you wish, I’ll leave, but Brother Plane must leave too. All his work is on the surface. His efforts have no depth.”
To this, Brother Plane responds, “Brother Rule will also have to withdraw, for he is always measuring folks as though he were the only one who is right.”
Brother Rule then complains about Brother Sandpaper: “He ought to leave also because he’s so rough and always rubbing people the wrong way.” And so goes the discord.
In the midst of all this discussion, in walks the Carpenter of Nazareth. He has arrived to start his day’s work. Putting on his apron, he goes to the bench to make a pulpit from which to proclaim the gospel. He uses Brothers Hammer, Screw, Plain, Rule, Sandpaper, and all the other tools. After the day’s work, when the pulpit is finished, Brother Saw arises and remarks, “Brethren, I observe that all of us are workers together with the Lord.”

In I Peter 4:10-11, the apostle Peter says,

“As each one has received a special gift,
employ it in serving one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were,
the utterances of God;
whoever serves, let him do so
as by the strength which God supplies;
so that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ,
to whom belong glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen

Every believer in Jesus Christ received a spiritual gift from God at the moment when we repented of our sins and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, choosing to follow Him as our Lord and Savior. How do I know that? Because the Bible tells me so. “As each one has received a special gift.” Borrowing from the words of a Negro spiritual: “All God’s chillun got gifts” How do I find out what my spiritual gift is? First of all, you need to open the gift. Not to open it is a sign of disrespect and lack of appreciation for the giver. Your spiritual gift has to be opened in a special way. At your birthday party, you opened your gifts before the eyes of everyone present at the party, didn’t you. The givers wanted to see the expression on your face, hear the words of appreciation, and know that you intend to make good use of that gift.

God wants us to open our spiritual gifts before the eyes of a local body of believers. He wants us to build relationships with the other members in the church and get involved in the activities and ministries of that church. The best way to show appreciation for a gift is to make use of it. That was the purpose for which the gift was given, and using it brings joy to the giver and the receiver.

God only gives good gifts, and each of those gifts is necessary for the building up and encouragement of the body of Christ, the Church. Along with the spiritual gift God has given us, comes the responsibility to use it for His glory. The apostle Peter calls us “stewards”. As Christians we are “under New Management”, and God has given each of us the privilege and responsibility of being managers of the gift that He has given us. We are told to “employ it in serving one another”. As we become active in serving the body of Christ, other believers may recognize our spiritual gift before we do. Either way, we’ll come to realize the spiritual gift we have received from the Lord if our desire is to serve others, our ability comes from God’s enabling-power, and our goal is to give glory to God when He empowers our use of it.

Those gifts fall into two categories: speaking gifts and serving gifts. Included as part of each gift is a supernatural desire to use it, a supernatural power when using it properly, and great personal enjoyment and fulfillment when using it. Remember, every spiritual gift is important and necessary or God wouldn’t have given it to you. Every one of us is a member of God’s orchestra under His direction, and each of us has an important part to play so that the Conductor, the orchestra, and the audience (the world around us) would experience the full effect of the harmony that is produced, thus drawing us closer to the One who wrote the music, arranged the score, and conducts each performance.

I hope you’re in the orchestra. It’s practice time again, and every day is a concert! Let’s play our parts well, enjoy the harmony that results, and save the applause for the Conductor!

November 1, 2017November 13, 2018

I Shouldn’t Have Said That!

Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap? It isn’t a pleasant experience! There was an older kid in our neighbourhood, when I was a child, who was accustomed to using filthy language. When my little brother and I were around him, we tried to imitate him because we thought that was how big kids talk. We knew that what we were doing was against the rules, but we thought we could get away with it. One day, while we were practicing “big-kid talk” and laughing at what we were saying, my mother overheard our conversation!

Since I was the older son, and should have been a good example to my brother, I received the “cleansing treatment” first. She explained to us what she was going to do. It didn’t take long and wasn’t scary, but it sure was humbling! I could hear my little brother snickering behind me as I was going through the ordeal. Then it was his turn! He didn’t think it was funny anymore! The soap she used had a pleasant smell to it, but it did not taste good! As you probably already know, it wasn’t my mouth and my tongue that were the real sources of the problem. It was my heart. But having my mouth washed out with soap gave me a change of heart!

My mother got the point across and the lesson was learned. As I think of my mother, I cannot ever remember her cursing, swearing, or using filthy language. I’m thankful to God and to her that the use of such language has never become a habit for me. However, there are other kinds of language that we have all been guilty of, and struggle with from time-to-time. Evangelist Billy Graham said, “You can use your tongue to slander, to gripe, to scold, to nag, and to quarrel, or you can bring it under the control of God’s Spirit and make it an instrument of blessing and praise.”

There is a verse of Scripture on stewardship of speech that I memorized many years ago, and I continue to review it often. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it might impart grace to those who hear.” (Revised Standard Version) That verse reminds me to ask myself two questions before speaking: First, “Is this the right thing to say, in God’s sight?” And, if so, then secondly: “Is this the right time to say it?”

“Let the words of my mouth
And the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 (NASB)

October 20, 2017October 23, 2017

The Deity of Christ – it’s QED!

When my high-school math teacher solved a math problem on the blackboard, he would often write QED in large letters next to it. QED is an abbreviation of the Latin words, “Quod erat demonstrondum”, which means “What has been demonstrated”. What he was saying to us when he wrote QED on the board was, “The problem has been solved; it’s obvious!” “Let’s move on to the next problem!”

In John 5:30-47, Jesus gives us five witnesses to His deity.

Himself – Jesus was completely unbiased because He was not seeking His own will, but the will of the One who sent Him. As He later told Philip, “He who sees Me sees the Father” (John 14:9). He told His accusers, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), and they picked up stones to stone Him to death because He was claiming to be God.
John the Baptist – who claimed to be the forerunner of the Messiah, and the “friend of the Bridegroom”. Thousands of people came to listen to him and be baptized as a sign of repentance in preparation for Messiah’s arrival. John the Baptist referred to Jesus as “the Lord”, “the Lamb of God”, and “the Son of God”, and told his own disciples to follow Jesus.
His works – Jesus’ miracles were examples of His divine power and substantiated His claims. As Nicodemus said to Jesus in John 3:2, “No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” There were others in the Bible who performed miracles, but none of them claimed to be God.
The Father – At Jesus’ baptism, the Father’s voice was heard from heaven saying, “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22). The voice of the Father from heaven also came on two other occasions: at Jesus’ transfiguration (Luke 9:35), and after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:28). It wasn’t thunder they were hearing. They heard His words, loud and clear, on all three occasions!
The Scriptures – Jesus Christ is not merely in the New Testament Gospels and Epistles. He is also found directly and indirectly in the Old Testament Scriptures: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. He is found in the promises to Adam, Abraham, Moses, and David. He is also in the symbolism of the ceremonial Law and sacrifices. Jesus tells the Jewish leaders in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me”. The Old Testament Scriptures were a signpost that pointed to Jesus.
The Conclusion: Q.E.D.! The problem is solved! It’s been demonstrated! It’s obvious! Let’s move on to a deeper relationship with God the Son: the Lord Jesus Christ!

October 20, 2017October 20, 2017

Whose Side are You On?

There’s a battle going on and you’re in the midst of it, whether you know it or not. It’s a world war. I call it LOE (Life On Earth), and lo and behold, you are in it every waking hour. You restless sleepers may even be experiencing it in your sleep! There are only two sides in this war, and if you’re not on one side, then you’re on the other. Do you need some help choosing sides if you haven’t done so already? Do you want further information as you reconsider whose side you want to be on?

Frances Ridley Havergal wrote a hymn based upon David’s call to commitment given to his army in I Chronicles 12, and his army’s response to him. Verse 13 says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse.” The title of her hymn is: WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE? Below I’ve written the first stanza of that hymn.

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are Thine.

With our enlistment papers already signed, may we be clothed in His armor and standing together at the battle line. May it be obvious to everyone we know and everyone we meet, that we are on the Lord’s side, and we will not retreat!

The Scriptures have already told us Who is ultimately going to win. The question is: “Who is going to win on your own battle field today?” If you are on the Lord’s side, trusting Him as you pray, then you won’t have to worry, for you both will win today, hands down!

A NOTE ABOUT THE WRITER OF THIS HYMN:

Frances Ridley Havergal struggled with debilitating illness for most of her life. She wrote several inspirational hymns as well as a book for invalids entitled “Starlight Through the Shadows”, dying at the age of 43 before completing the book. Her sister added the final chapter from Havergal’s unpublished papers. That chapter is entitled “Marching Orders” and concludes with the words to this hymn: “WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE”.

October 13, 2017October 14, 2017

Sleepy-Head!

“How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” (Proverbs 6:9). Remember, the same God who “gives to His beloved in sleep” also created the rooster! It’s time to rise and shine for the Lord! He has work for you to do!

You city-folks, don’t forget to turn-on and turn-up your “mechanical” and “electronic roosters (i.e. alarm clocks)! What’s your version of cock-a-doodle-do?

See you bright and early tomorrow morning! It’s going to be a wonderful day – God wants to speak to us, and listen to us, before we’re on our way!