The Carpenter's Chapel (4)

Sheila,

Feel free, my friend. Since I started both devotionals, it has always been my intent to encourage involvement. This is how we grow.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Amen and amen.

I had a chap in one church wo was illiterate. Ge worked shifts and almost invariably, he worked Saturday evening. He came to church Sunday morning, without sleep, without shaving and without a shower. But he was always there. If something needed to be done in the church; he was there. If you needed someone to talk with; he was always there. What a valuable jewel in the kingdom he was....Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling...he was always there.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Monday, May 24, 2004

1 Corinthians 7

To-day is Memorial Day in he USA and it is Victoria Day in Canada. May both countries take time to relax, enjoy the day, and remember your country and your God.

In this chapter, Paul is answering the questions the Corinthian church had about marriage. What we see here is a lesson on equality. Husband and wife have equal responsibilities and they are interdependent with each other. He is talking about marriage, but he is still addressing the issues of fornication. "It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. In verse 3 he reaffirms the loyalty to one another. In Timothy we have more details as it relates to headship, but here he keeps the message personal and generic. How important a message for to-day with the rate of divorcement reaching such high levels even amongs twice-born believers. I like the word used in the KJV, "benevolence" My Oxford dictionary describes benevolence as "wishing to do good; active, friendly and helpful." This is not a passive role. We are to be active in our relationship. In marriage counselling, I have found so many couples have come to the place where they give up, and then they come for intervention counselling. My first step, after individual sessions, so that I can determine the actual problem, is to have each person write down a list of likes and don't likes side by each. I then have them cross off the unimportant things and the things that they can work with. In doing this, they realize the trivialities that have become a barrier to their love. They haven't fallen out of love, but they have circumvented benevolence. D.L. Moody wrote: "Religion is a plant that will die without watering. Ungodliness is a weed which grows without planting, and which will not die without being plucked up." A marriage is a plant that requires watering. Neglect it and it will surely die. Benevolence. We can address some of the little things that divide couples. I had one couple that had actually separated. You know what it boiled down to? The tapping of a fork on the edge of a plate! Rather than discussing this act, it was allowed to fester and grow into a huge problem and it magnified everythig else. The Love was neglected; it was not watered and it had almost died. Benevolence. When a dirty person in rags and hungry shows up at the mission, we do not address the physical needs and wants such as bodily cleanliness. We feed the body. We look after the immediate need. The person can then discuss other matters in relative comfort. They are ready to listen. We show benevolece. If each member of the marriage bond can address benevolence, everything else will be drawn into line.

We can approach spiritual matters much the same in our personal lives. We have a relationsip with the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have a benevolent God. He first loved us and died for us. The garden has been sown, and we are duty bound to water it, tend it and make sure it is developing. If we do not nurture our new life, we are no better than fornicators in the physical realm. We have fornicated against Christ.

Let us be certain that our personal relationsip with our partner is on a benevolent level; that we are active in this regard. It is our duty to love. On the same hand, let us not neglect our spiritual relationship and not fall into sin against our God.

I heard the words of a country song this weekend. Now I am not a fan of this style of music, but the words caught my attention. "In my daughter's eyes, I see what I want to be..." Here the singer doesn't only see herself in her offspring, but sees what she wants to be. Isn't this a lovely thought for the Christian life? In my Lord's eyes, I see what I want to be....It must be an active thought flowing through to fruition.

Lord Jesus, lead us, each one, to that place where we want to following in your image and actively seek to be one with You.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

1 Cor 9

"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." verse 19

This is one of the clearest chapters on the calling of a minister. There are some who object to certain tests establishing their call to ministry. They think that graduating from a seminary is sufficient. Paul is here establishing the basics of being called unto Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. He had more to prove. He was an apostle.

PROOF

"Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?"

There are certain proofs we must demonstrate. Here Paul is talking about seeing the Lord in life. None of us can meet that qualification, Then, none of us claims apostleship. If anyone has the audacity to make such a claim, they will fail the test on this point. We might add that those called of Jesus must know Jesus. He must have an intimacy with Jesus. There are some who are saved, but will never amount to anything in their lives. Here, Paul gives specifics for leadership. First, you must be intimate with Christ; and then, one must be fruitful in the Lord. "Are not ye my work in the Lord?"

PRIVILEGE

It is then we have the privilege of the gospel. If one lives the gospel and preaches it day in and day out he is entitled to live of the gospel. Paul makes it very clear that ministers should be paid. It was Paul's choice not to accept a pay for his services, but he does not deny the right.

PASSION

We then come to the final word on one's calling to ministry, and it is the passion of the call. Paul says, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." (vs 16). Paul was qualified to do ,amy things. He is not saying he is unable to work at anything else. Paul was eminently qualified, and he largely made his living as a tentmaker. He worked with his hands. This "woe" is a curse, and it shows the emotion that Paul connects to the call. If any man does not have this passion when he enters upon ministry, he should resign immediately. This is the state where one is fully qualified to do numerous things. He may be a lawyer; an accountant; an architect; or he may be a labourer in industry or construction; he may be an office clerk. He should be able and effective in other things. The call to ministry is different. "Woe is me". There is a curse here. If you enter upon ministry because you want an easy go of life. Time to read books, preach on Sundays, and loads of wedding dinners, you have made a wrong choice. A number of men have qualified themselves in other fields long before entering upon a ministry. This verse qualifies the call to ministry: "Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. What a passion! What zeal!

Lord, help us to reach this place where we have a passion for nothing else, but for you in our lives.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Thursday, May 27, 2004
1 Corinthians 10: 12-33

Paul addresses the sins and chastisement of Israel and now addresses the churches
regarding sins, idolatry and the faithfulness of God to deliver us. Idolatry does not
always take a religious posture, but always affects our spirituality. Sometimes we
engage in religious things and believe we are doing the right thing. An example is
standing before a cross and doing religious things. We think that we are gaining the
approval of God. It is just that; religious posture, and does nothing for our
relationship with God. The cross is empty, my friends. It empty for good reason.
The Christ of the cross is not there; He is risen and seated at the right hand of the
Almighty.

Other forms of idolatry have to do with the things of this world we deem necessary
to our daily living. We have become dependent upon them, and we have replaced
God with them. Much of this is subconscious, but nonetheless real. “Wherefore my
dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” vs 14. Run from it; don’t walk.

In verses 16-22 Paul is dealing with the Lord’s Table. It is here we have the
strongest verse supporting separation of souls at the Table: “Ye cannot drink the
cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table,
and of the table of devils.....Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger
than He? My friends, there be some who hold to an open table and welcome all to
sit, but it is clearly an open defiance of the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose
table it is. With this truth I add caution. I think we can go overboard. We do not all
agree on certain doctrines. The question of baptism, the candidate and the mode.
Are we to so police the table that we forbid those who so differ? This was never my
practice. I announced that as baptized believers we will partake of the Lord’s
supper. Let a man judge for himself. The underlying passage is this: “Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” vs 31

We do not go far wrong if we endeavor to glorify God in all things. All things may
be lawful, but are they expedient? The soul that gives God first thought, seldom has
second thoughts as to whether something is right or wrong.

Lord, help us to always consider You first in all things, knowing that we will be
given first place in Your kingdom.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I was asked about a regimine for approaching Bible study and devotions. A simple idea is to follow the same questions reporters use: Who, What, Where, When and How. Read the scripture with these questions in mind and quite often the word will fall into contextual place.

Cheers,

Jim