Twice already my son-in-law has been out to Bulgaria with a friend. Their concern is to help widows and orphans. On the 8th December they will be travelling east once again, this time for a week’s stay, where funds raised at home from the sale of calendars will be distributed personally, as they see needs. The following is an article describing his second trip. [Read more…]
42. The Bottle
“You number my wanderings; You put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8)
Grief, sorrow, pain and death cause the flood-gates of the human eye to open, with some more than others. Does God see? Does He care? The above verse from the Psalms seems to say that He is very much aware of human suffering, and by the use of this delightful poetry, He puts our tears in His bottle. [Read more…]
43. The Egg-Timer
The Rev Grant Cable spoke emotionally in his sermon. “Last Sunday you listened to my hell-fire sermon, and I frightened some of you. Did it bring any of you to repentance? . . . No, I can see you shaking your heads. . . You see, I had painted a completely false picture of the Divine Character. I had depicted God as a Salt-Cellar. I had predicted a time in the near future when the salt would run out. There would be no more mercy, no more forgiveness, no more love, just overwhelming wrath. But I was brought to my senses by an act of God’s wrath upon me. And then the Lord used a young lady, a member of your own congregation, to cleanse my mind and teach me what the Lord was really like. Whereas I had used the symbol of a salt-cellar, I was shown that God’s character was best depicted by an Egg-Timer. Once His wrath has been poured out, the Divine Hand turns the timer over, and the love and mercy begin to flow once again. And a Scripture was brought to my notice, ‘I am the Lord, I change not, therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.’ Oh how gracious is our God. ‘Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.’ Our Lord is truly the same, yesterday, today and forever. May His name be praised.”
(Taken from a story I wrote in 1995 entitled “Susan’s Journal”, page 199.
44. Miracles
Peter the fisherman had listened to Jesus’ oratory, whilst sitting in the boat, along with his brother Andrew. But suddenly, and unexpectedly, the Lord turned to him and asked for the nets to be let down. “Master, we toiled all night and caught nothing.” But Peter was thinking to himself, “I admire this Man for His words and teaching, but He knows nothing about fishing. Night-time is best for that job, when the fish come to the surface. . . . .” However, perhaps grudgingly, he said, “Nevertheless, at Your word I’ll let down the nets.” Peter’s unspoken assessment was his undoing when the catch was so large as to break the nets and swamp, not only his boat, but that if his associates James and John. The effect of the miracle was to bring repentance. “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Luke 5:8
Job’s arguments with his three friends brought neither light nor understanding to his sad situation, but then the Lord appeared to him, and he said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6. The miracle of the Lord’s presence brought repentance.
Isaiah was granted a magnificent vision of the Lord, seated on His throne, and this was Isaiah’s response. “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5.
Our Lord’s ministry was mainly centred at Capernaum, where He performed a vast number of miraculous healings. But near the end of those three and a half years, this was His assessment.
“And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” Matthew 11:23
“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.” Mt 12:41
Miracles were (and still are) intended to bring men to the realisation of God’s presence, His power, His holiness, and also their own sinfulness, thereby producing repentance. But this seldom happens. The man with the gift of healing, for example, is sought by all, as a means of obtaining relief from suffering. His elevation may cause him embarrassment. The multitudes treated the Lord in this way. But as we have seen, sometimes the miraculous produces repentance, as the Holy Spirit touches heart and conscience.
Zechariah spoke prophetically about a future time when, as in most times of revival, the greater majority will repent.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zech. 12:10
This, of course, was the experience of Saul of Tarsus, and it can happen at any time, to anyone, when the Spirit of the Lord causes that person to become aware of God’s presence, and his own sinfulness.
In the midst of all the distressing scenes that now afflict the world, may it not be a propitious moment for us all to spread our hands before the Lord and ask for His presence to be seen across the world? That “the covering cast over all people, the veil spread over all nations” be destroyed, as prophesied by Isaiah? (25:7) This, rather than sitting back waiting for a rapture to remove us from the scene?
45. Which Love?
In the Greek of the N.T. the verb to love, AGAPAO, occurs some 135 times. Seldom is this word found in secular Greek writings. Why is this? With a little discernment one discovers something of great importance. God’s love required a special word, and it is highlighted throughout the N.T. writings. What sort of love is depicted by AGAPAO?
God’s love flows from Himself, regardless of the receiver. “God so loved the world that He gave . . . ” God’s love is impartial, unselective, flowing outwards to the needy world of humanity.
The impartiality of God’s love towards the most wicked of men may be seen in these three devastating examples. Manasseh, king of Judah ruled for half a century in flagrant disregard of God’s laws, but was taken captive to Babylon, where he repented, and God restored him. His prayer may be found in the Apocrypha. Nebuchadnezzar was an autocratic king, acting in total disregard of anything he found displeasing. Whom he would, he slew, and whom he would he kept alive. But he was “put out to grass” for seven years, and on return to sanity declared his allegiance to the God of Heaven. His testimony is found in Daniel. Saul of Tarsus was hell-bound to destroy anyone and everyone who followed the teaching of the Nazarene. But dazzling light struck him blind just outside Damascus. He repented, and became an Apostle.
But there is a more common sort of love, found liberally in all Greek writings, using the verb PHILEO. In the N.T. it is found some 22 times. He who loves someone is generally found to do so because of what he receives from that person. We see pleasurable, acceptable characteristics in a person, and it brings forth our PHILEO love. Therefore PHILEO is reciprocal love, selective, based on what the eye sees, and the ear hears. A man may see something wonderful and attractive in a woman which leads to marriage. But the marriage will only last for years if he then learns to love her with AGAPAO love.
In John chapter 21 the dialogue between the Lord and Simon Peter is a beautiful example of the difference between AGAPAO and PHILEO. Unfortunately many translations fail to distinguish, and use “love” to translate both.
Here is the passage showing the original. John 21:15.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (AG) Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (PH) You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (AG) Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (PH) You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (PH) Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love (PH) Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (PH) You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
One can now understand Peter’s distress when Jesus asked whether he even loved Him in the PHILEO sense.
Here is the first stanza of a hymn by Samuel Crossman, written in 1664, in which he presents the true meaning of AGAPAO with poetic majesty. May the Lord help us to love others in the AGAPAO way.
My song is love unknown, my Saviour’s love to me; Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die?
46. UNTIL. Part 1
The little word “Until” is very important. Unlike the press, giving yesterday’s news, UNTIL speaks of the future, and the certainty of prophesied events. In this series we shall have a look at a few important references where “Until” occurs.
Part 1. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you declare the Lord’s death till He come.
The gruesome spectacle of our Lord’s crucifixion and death is not something we like to dwell upon as we read the accounts in the Gospels. Some find they cannot watch this sequence in films such as “The Passion”. This is understandable. But there is great majesty connected with our Lord’s death because it represents the greatest victory ever achieved on earth by any human being. It was the Lord’s last victorious cry as He succumbed to death – “It is finished!” In other words He was saying, “I came to this earth for one reason, to give my life for the sins of the world, and now I have achieved what I came to do. It is finished. My task has been completed.”
It was because of this great victory that He was raised from the dead by the power of the Father, to declare to all the world that His death had been the instrument to bring salvation to mankind. But nowhere are we enjoined to perpetually remember His resurrection in the same way, only His death.
Flesh and blood, bread and wine, symbols of His death. Whenever we join together to break bread we make a declaration, a statement witnessed in heaven by the angels, and also the Satanic hierarchy, to the greatness of His victory.
“As often” surely cannot be equated with “as infrequently”. Some Christian groups only remember the Lord once a year. Others, once a month. Yet others each week when gathering for worship and fellowship. In the early church we are told that they “broke bread daily from house to house”. Someone living alone can do so daily at breakfast, remembering that he is part of a global church, and his membership within it. Each to his own persuasion.
“Till He come.” This is the prophesied end point of the series of remembrances. If we have been identified with Jesus’ death, we shall also be raised by the power of the Father to eternal life. As Paul put it when writing to the Philippians, “That I may know the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death . . . . (until) . . . . the prize of the calling on high.”
47. UNTIL. Part 2
The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Psalm 110.1
The Lord quoted this verse, (Matt.22:44, Luke 20:43) and Peter at Pentecost. (Acts 2:35) One thing is absolutely certain. This great event WILL HAPPEN. It is tomorrow’s Good News, recorded by King David some 3,000 years ago.
The word UNTIL suggests a process which may take quite a while for accomplishment, but we can be sure that it will happen. It is God the Father’s promise to His Son. Jesus quoted it 1,000 years after David. Is there any reason why we should not continue to believe it, some 2,000 years further on?
The “footstool”. To some this may sound like enforced slavery by a reigning tyrant. But in the days of the Kingdom of God, we are told, “When Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Let grace be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.” Isa 26:9-10. So the Kingdom of God is all about teaching, and multitudes will give ear to what God has to say. However, some will still rebel, and will need further time and opportunity to learn.
The Hebrew figure of the footstool doesn’t teach enforced slavery, but instead speaks of that voluntary change of heart that comes about by the ministry of God’s Holy Spirit. Paul told the Philippians, “God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil.2:9-11. Confession, not coercion.
“Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Isa.45:22
In Psalm 110.1 God the Father promises His Son that He will be in charge of this, and we should not doubt His ability to bring it to fruition, thereby to bring glory to His Son.
48. UNTIL. Part 3
“That He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets from the past age.” Acts 3:20-21.
“Times of restitution.” Peter also spoke about “times of refreshing coming from the presence of the Lord.” Many are looking for a wholesale rapture of all Christians, followed by something diametrically opposite to “refreshment” and “restitution.” But here we are presented with information which we are required to believe, because it has been the message of all God’s prophets from past times.
The last of God’s earlier prophets was Malachi, and his final word was this. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Mal:4:4-6. Elijah has yet to come, and his work will be that of restitution, restoration, and reconciliation, exactly as Peter said.
Our Lord upheld this when He said, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.” Matt.17:11.
Therefore the coming of the Lord will be accompanied by refreshing days, times of restoration. Some may ask, “What about the great tribulation?” But when Jesus came the first time, didn’t He bring times of restoration, healing, and much teaching? Didn’t countless people share in His times of refreshment? But what was the result? A great tribulation descended on Him, and they put Him to death.
Our Scripture from Acts 3 implies that there will be something parallel to Joseph’s seven good years before the lean days come, years of great revival, times of much teaching, healing, and cleansing of the earth from evil, violence, lies and deception.
49. UNTIL. Part 4
“Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high.” Isaiah 32:15
The context of this statement is found in the first verse of the chapter, namely, “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.” In other words it is the beginning of the Kingdom of God, the setting up of a Theocratic Kingdom under the Headship of the Lord Jesus, together with His “princes”, who will rule in righteousness and equity.
Isaiah had painted a picture of desolation, “On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city,” figurative language of the divine perspective on the Nation, once surrounded and protected by His Hands, but now left to the devices of human corruption. Very much like the present situation in Britain and America, nations that once looked to God, but have now shown Him the back door.
But all is not lost. There is still hope, and the message needs to be taken to heart, prayed into action, and declared before the Throne of God as utter, reliable, dependable truth. The Spirit WILL be poured out from on high.
“Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” (16-17)
“Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
The reckless mind will gain knowledge, and the hesitant tongue will speak clearly and fluently.
A fool will no longer be called noble, nor a scoundrel said to be important.” (3-5)
Jesus asked us to pray that His Kingdom would come, that God’s will may be enacted on Earth, as in Heaven. Isaiah saw this in his mind’s eye 2,500 years ago. Though it delay, it will surely come, and what if in our own generation?
50. UNTIL. Part 5
“I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it him.” Ezekiel 21:27
These words were spoken of Zedekiah, the last king of the House of Judah, whose reign had been one of unspeakable corruption. This is how the “Message” translation puts it. “So this is what GOD, the Master, says: ‘Because your sin is now out in the open so everyone can see what you’ve been doing, you’ll be taken captive. O Zedekiah, blasphemous and evil prince of Israel: Time’s up. It’s “punishment payday.” GOD says, Take your royal crown off your head. No more “business as usual.” The underdog will be promoted and the top dog will be demoted.”
And in fact there was never another king of the House of David. But “the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.” 2 Chron.21:7
And so, 400 years later there was “A Man born to be King” of David’s line, and He was the rightful Son and Heir. During those four centuries God had “overturned” any effort to re-establish the Davidic kingdom. It had to wait UNTIL He came whose right it was to possess the Kingdom forever.
Israel crucified their King, but God raised Him up, and seated Him at His own right hand in glory, awaiting the day when His Father would give the signal for the Kingdom to begin on Earth. Surely that day must now be very near. Let us be ever waiting, watching, and praying UNTIL He comes again to establish His Kingdom.
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