|
Year 2 Day 362
Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Thessalonians 2v1-12 Message - Scott Woodburn There is nothing that tickles our theological tastebuds quite like a discussion of the end times. This isn't a new phenomenon. The Thessalonians were a people with a well developed eschatology, they were eagerly expecting the return of Christ and grew concerned about those who died before that day. In today's passage Paul wrote to calm the fears of his brothers and sisters and to educate them about the Lord's return. Firstly, Paul urged the church to be neither shaken in mind or alarmed (v2) by any false word related to the return of Christ. Tragically there were many who had made it their business to lie about Christ's return. They were deceivers (v3) who claimed revelations from the "spirit" or who spoke false words or who sent letters supposedly from Paul (v2). Their message was that the day of the Lord had already come and therefore the Thessalonians had missed it. With this calming word in their ears, Paul then turned to true and solid teaching about the day of the Lord. None of us know the day or hour of Christ's return but the Scriptures are clear about the events that precede the coming of the Lord. Paul tells us that the day of Christ will not come "unless the rebellion comes first" (v3). What does this mean? In the time before Christ's return there will be a great departure from the faith. There will be many professing Christians who will turn their back on Christ - another word for this is apostasy. Connected to the great rebellion is the revealing of "the man of lawlessness" (v3). Who is this man? Perhaps you will have heard of the Antichrist? Paul also describes him as the "son of destruction" and this individual will rise up within the church in the last days. He opposes Christ and is therefore "against" or "in place" of Jesus - he is anti-Jesus. The man of lawlessness will exalt himself over and above Christ and proclaim himself to be God (v4). The man of lawlessness is brought forward by the direct activity of Satan (v9) and he will be empowered to do many false signs and wonders (v9b). Those who have refused to believe the truth and be saved will believe the lies of the Antichrist (v10). During the days of rebellion the Lord will send a great delusion across the world bringing condemnation and judgement upon those who took pleasure in unrighteousness (v12). Amazingly the Scriptures tell us that there have been many antichrists throughout history (1 John 2v18). There are many in this day and age who oppose Christ and just before the return of Jesus there will be one final Antichrist. He will deny the Father and the Son (1 John 2v22) and for a time will be a fierce and final enemy for the people of God. We can be thankful that even though the mystery of lawlessness (v7) is already at work, the Lord currently restrains the coming of the man of lawlessness (v6). How does the Lord exercise this restraint? There is much debate over the issue and much ink has been put on paper in response. It is my view that the Lord restrains evil and the coming of the final Antichrist by the preaching of the Gospel throughout the world. It is the good news of Christ that thunders through the nations calling all to repentance and faith in Christ. In this way sin is restrained and the coming of the Antichrist is delayed. Paul speaks of the one who restrains the forces of evil (v7) who will be moved out of the way before the Antichrist comes. Who is the restrainer? Perhaps it is the mighty angel of Revelation 20? Regardless of the restrainer's identity our sovereign God is supreme over the forces of evil. I'm aware that today's devotion is alarming but my brothers and sisters I offer you the same word of comfort that Paul offered to the Thessalonians. Do not be shaken and do not be alarmed. Yes things are not wonderful and yes we can expect them to get worse before the end - but take heart. God is sovereign and Christ is coming. The ultimate victory isn't in doubt. Christ will come and will kill the antichrist with the breath of his mouth and bring him to nothing (v8). Those who oppose Christ do not win. Evil may seem to flourish but a day of reckoning is coming. It has been said that everything is going to be okay in the end. This isn't pie in the sky fantasy, it is true. Do not be shaken and do not be alarmed for when all is said and done, Jesus wins. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q6 How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
0 Comments
Year 2 Day 361
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 8:22-26 Message - Alan Burke Repetition, repetition, repetition! For many of us when we were children that is how were were taught, rote learning. Things are different today but repetition still has its place. Today once more we look at this passage of the healing of the blind man but let’s have a look as we do that to Mark 1:32, where we are told “That evening at sundown they brought to him (Jesus) all who were sick or oppressed by demons.”, then Mark 2:3 "And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men”, then Mark 7:32 “And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.” And finally here in this passage Mark 8:22 “And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.” There is something all these passages have in common, do you see it? The repeated idea of others bringing people to Jesus! You could also say that Jairus was ‘bringing’ his daughter to Jesus (Mk 5:2143), that Syro-Phoenician woman ‘brought’ her daughter to Jesus even though she didn’t physically bring her (Mk 7:24-30). Now I know it’s not the thrust of these passages but there is an application here for us and it’s important, in each one of these cases their lives were transformed because they were brought to Jesus by those who cared enough to do something, to bring them and their needs to Jesus. In the case of the Deaf and Mute Man in ch7 and this Blind man in ch8 those who brought them to Jesus ‘begged’ Him to touch then because He was their only hope. Each and everyone of these people brought someone to Jesus because they were desperate for Him to work, all of these people were healed but one day they all, each on of them died. But Mark wants us to know that Jesus’ coming was to bring salvation, not from temporal worries or ailments but from sin and death. Jesus is the Christ the Son of God (Mk 1:1), it is through him alone that we may have life (Jn 10:10), for whoever knows Jesus has life (1 Jn 5:12). It is in Christ alone that we receive the benefits sonship, not through what we pay, nor through what we do, for none of us can atone for our sin, none of us can break its power, we can never come to God and say, surely what I have done is enough to compensate for my sins, instead God sent his own Son, who stood in for place, who lived a perfect life, and since He had no sin of His own to atone for He was uniquely qualified to atone for our sins. Here’s the thing, do we care enough to bring others to Jesus? To beg the Lord to work? I’m not talking about shooting a wee prayer up but in desperation doing all that we can to bring them to the Saviour, to hear His life giving word, sincerely pleading Jesus to work? And are we bringing them to the word, for faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Rom 10:17)? Some weeks ago I was talking with a minister who is seen as the one who has to knock on the doors, to plan the events, to work wonders and to draw people back after covid, he’s the one who has to grow the church, fix all the problems and evangelise the town, but that’s nonsense. He is there to Preach Christ Crucified and as a people we need each one of us to stop abdicate our responsibility in this! You have a role if you’re stuck in the house, when you’re out at the shops, when you’re on your knees in prayer, when your talking to the grandwains, caring enough to bring people to Jesus or bringing them to the word preached! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q5 Are there more Gods than one? There is but One only, the living and true God. (Deut. 6:4, Jer. 10:10) Year 2 Day 360
Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Thessalonians 1v5-12 Message - Scott Woodburn The Lord our God is a righteous judge. He is not swayed by money. He is not deceived by false testimony. He never judges falsely and imposes an unfitting punishment. He is good and just and righteous in all His ways. How can we be sure? The Bible tells us that the evidence for God's righteous judgement can be seen in two ways. Firstly, God is a righteous judge because He will certainly punish evil. When Christ returns, those who have sought to harm His church (v6), those who do not know God and those who do not believe the Gospel will surely face the wrath of God. The sight of this will be beyond our comprehension. Christ will come with His angels in flaming fire (v7-8) with the purpose of pouring out vengeance on all workers of evil (v8). What will this vengeance look like? Any enemy of God will know eternal punishment in the fire of hell. They will be away from God's presence and from His glory (v9). My friends I trust that you tremble at these words. The judgement of God is right. No mistakes will be made. If you reject Christ then you will not stand in the judgement and your destiny will be the place called hell prepared for the devil and his angels. This will all take place when Christ returns. On that day His saints will bring Him glory as they marvel at Him in His resplendent majesty (v10). When this day comes it will be too late for the unbeliever. If you are reading this without faith in Christ it is essential that you repent and believe the Gospel. Do it now, without delay for God the righteous judge will not leave your sins unpunished. So God shows Himself as righteous by punishing evil but what about Christians in the judgement? Paul saw the steadfastness of the Thessalonians under trial as sure evidence of the righteous judgement of God. How can this be so? As the Thessalonians endured various kinds of trials they were being sanctified by the hand of Almighty God. Paul would explain this very point in Romans "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5v3-5) Suffering for the sake of the Gospel plays a wonderful sanctifying role in the Christian's life. As we suffer the Lord is at work. He is shaping us and changing us and producing good fruit in us. He is fitting us for heaven so that when Christ comes the Christian can stand before Him without shame. Our sins are paid for by Jesus and each day we are being transformed to His image. It will be impossible on the last day to accuse God of injustice. The unrepentant will see with their own eyes the tragedy of their unbelief. They will have no ground to stand on and no words to say. On the other hand Christians will be openly acquitted of their sin by their righteous judge Jesus. They will stand on the firm ground of the Gospel and their words will be filled with praise for their Redeemer King. And so brothers and sisters, while we wait for that great and terrible day may God make us worthy of the calling He has placed upon our lives. May He fulfil our every desire for good and our every work of faith (v11). May the name of Christ be glorified in our lives and actions (v12) for God is both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3v26) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q4 What is God? God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Year 2 Day 359
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 8:22-26 Message - Alan Burke If you have read or watched the film Lord of the Rings you will know about the Ents. Ents are a species of beings, they are trees but they can walk and talk. That is what this man saw, not Ents from Lord of the Rings but rather people as tress. Jesus had healed this man, he had given him sight but in the first instalment all that he could see is people as trees walking around (v24). But Jesus wasn’t done with this man, as the passage continues Jesus Grants Full Sight to this man! It’s not that he wasn’t healed, Jesus had imparted sight to this man but the miracle wasn’t complete. Then in v25, Jesus puts his hands on the mans eyes once more and then we are told his eyes were opened, his sight restored. It was at that point that this man was able to see clearly again, no longer were there Ents walking around, he didn’t see people as trees, he saw people, his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly, but why was this healing in two stages, why wasn’t he completely healed the first time? Well we’re not told specifically in the text, were not given the reason and the breakdown of why this miracle, this healing was in two parts. But when we look at what has come before with the disciples who had seen and heard Jesus, who were eyewitnesses to His power, and yet had sat in the boat after the feeding of the four thousand worrying about a loaf of bread, and we look at the question of Jesus to the disciples we understand that Jesus is teaching his disciples and us a spiritual truth. If you have your bibles open before you and look to verse 17, where Jesus speaking to his disciples, asks them; “…why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand?”. Then here Jesus is asking this man do you see anything, it’s an unusual question, but it is an echo of what has just happen, he asked the disciples, "do you still not see” he asked this man “do you see anything”. Jesus was healing this man in stages, he was gradually moved from darkness, to light, from being blind to seeing in part, to seeing clearly. The disciples of Jesus who were in the boat were being given sight of the truth of who Jesus was and is, and it would lead Peter to confess that Jesus is the Christ. These disciples had started to see, but it was dimly, they had not come to full sight, they were with him and although Peter would confess it would only be after His death and resurrection that they would see and understand fully. This miracle that comes in stages, as this man is V22-24 ‘Granted Partial Sight’ before being V25-26 ‘Granted Full Sight’. They were blind to the spiritual reality of who Jesus was and is, but even though they still did not see, Jesus could make them see. It wouldn’t happen by their own effort or work, rather the ability to see and also hear like the man who was deaf and mute is a gift of God. This mans healing in stages is like that of the disciples, who did not see or hear, they did not understand (8:17-21), to what follows this misunderstanding (v29-33) to finally to clear sight so that they have eyes and see and they have ears to hear that Jesus is the Son of God (15:39). The remaining blindness of the disciples, their deafness to the message that Jesus proclaimed, Jesus could relieve, by his power. There are those around us that we may think to ourselves they will never see or understand, that there is no hope for them, but this healing of this blind man should be an encouragement to us, God may yet change their hearts that He would enable them to see. So we should continue praying for them and sharing the gospel to them as we have the opportunity. Finally we grow in our knowledge and understanding of our great God, and are able to see more clearly as we hear His word, by praying to Him, by participating in the sacraments. These Ordinary means, God has given us and are the way that he communicates to us the benefits of redemption. If you want to grow more, come faithfully under His Word each Lord’s day, praying to Him, partaking in the sacraments and He will enable us to grow to spiritual maturity. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q3 What do the scriptures principally teach? The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. (2 Tim. 1:13, 2 Tim. 3:16) Year 2 Day 358
Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Thessalonians 1v1-4 Message - Scott Woodburn How should we measure growth in the local church? Modern wisdom suggests that we need to have a healthy balance of all ages. Music should please the ears of every demographic. We should be "in the community" around us and eventually we'll become so large that we will plant other churches in other towns and cities. There's discussion to be had around of these things but in Paul's second letter he gives us another view. Paul, Silvanus and Timothy write to the church in Thessalonica and pray that they will know the grace and peace of the Lord (v1-2). It is a simple but loving greeting. Paul and his companions write tenderly to fellow Christians who have caused them to be always thankful (v3a). Why is Paul so appreciative of his distant brothers and sisters? Because their faith is growing and their love is increasing (v3b). How should we measure growth in the local church? Let me humbly suggest that the Word of the Lord points the way. The local church is healthy when its faith is growing and its love increasing. Have you ever considered that for your own church family? Other things are noble and desirable for any church but imagine if we worked hard at seeing faith increase and love develop? What would such a church look like? Faith comes through hearing the Word of Christ and it is by that same Word that faith is strengthened. The Word goes forward every Sunday and it is studied and proclaimed throughout the week. My brothers and sisters if our church is to be healthy and if our faith is to increase then we simply must attend to the Word of God. I know that sounds a little bit dull. More sermons? More Bible studies? We'd rather have a prophetic dance group or longer children's addresses. Do we really need more of the Word? Yes, yes and yes. If we desire to see our church and faith grow then we simply must engage with God's Word. Secondly, growth is taking place in the local church when its members love each other more and more. What should we expect to see in such a place? A place with no divisions. A place where we refuse to have our own little group to the exclusion of all others. A place where members love one another so much so that we are quick to forgive and refuse to hold grudges. A place where Christians help one another to carry each other's burdens. A healthy growing church is one where love abounds. Paul recognised these marks in the Thessalonican church. Indeed his experience with them had caused him to boast in various other fellowships (v4a). This isn't the "my child is better than your child" boasting but instead as Paul made a report of the Thessalonians it acted as a great encouragement to Christians who had never set foot in Thessalonica. The Apostle told others about the steadfastness and faith present among the Thessalonians (v4b). They had known trials, persecution and afflictions and yet they continued to endure. As Paul shared this news the hearts of other believers were encouraged. I suspect when we consider our own fellowships we all long for change. A change in music, a change in minister, a change in demographic, a change in levels of commitment...we all have our own frustrations and we all long for a new day. We want change! But as our fellowships slowly come out of the Covid nightmare, perhaps we can heed the Word of God in the second letter to the Thessalonians? May we call upon the Lord and ask for a movement of the Holy Spirit in our fellowships. May He grow our faith, cause us to abound in love and keep us steadfast under any trial that comes. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. Year 2 Day 357
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 8:22-24 Message - Alan Burke If you are reading this devotion today, then it’s safe to say you have sight. It may not be twenty twenty vision, but you have sight to see and to read. Sight is one of those things that we often take for granted, recently I have in different homes sat with individuals who have shared the challenges that they face with deteriorating vision. One individual expressed their frustration not only that they were loosing their sight but how little others understood of the impact it was having. Today we come to a passage where Jesus restores the sight of a blind man, it is not a promise to us that He will heal our deteriorating sight, but it does teach us that ‘Spiritual sight is a gift from God’ as this man is granted first partial sight (v22-24) and then full sight (v25-26). Jesus is the one who enables him to have Sight! But why was he Granted his sight in instalments? Once more we are told of people who bring someone to Jesus and we are told that he was blind and they begged Jesus to touch him (22). This mans lack of sight would have impacted this man in so many ways that are unimaginable to many of us. He would have been unable to work, he would have been reliant on family, friends, those whom he knew, there was no such thing as brail, audio books, radio, and this man would have possibly had to turn to begging to survive (see also Mk 10:46). Not only that but among the Jews there was a belief that conditions like this were a judgement of God because either the sin of the individual or the sin of the parents (Jn 9:1-2), this is the question the disciples ask in John 9. So this man was a man who blind, who could not see, is brought by others to the only person who could help him, the only hope those who brought him, was in Jesus. They would have heard and known that Jesus had the power to heal, and so they bring him to the one whom they know has the power to work in him and they begged Jesus to touch him. In a sense by taking the man by the hand Jesus already did what they asked, but unlike Simon Peter’s mother in law in chapter one (v31) he took her bay the hand, helped her up and was healed by this simple touch it wasn’t the case for this man. Here Jesus taking him by the hand is unlike that of what came before, he could have healed this man in that moment, even without touch by the power of His will from a distance, but he didn’t. Then he grants the man partial sight. Look at what we are told, Jesus spat on the mans eyes. Spittle, although could make one unclean, it was considered by some Jews to have healing properties, especially when it was accompanied by conversation, applied to the area of sickness or injury, and accompanied by a formula or prayer. Then we are told that Jesus laid his hands on this mans eyes. The question of Jesus to this man is surprising, we see it there in v23, “do you see anything”. It seems more than a little strange doesn’t it, after all every other miracle it took place instantaneously, but here Jesus asks, and then when the answer comes and we read it there in v24, as the man looked up and said “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”. Yes the man was healed, he was granted partial sight, we might argue that he was only partially healed. On the other hand we might think that this man wasn’t healed at all, what use is seeing people and seeing them as trees. Here this healing required a second touch by Jesus, but then why are we being told this? Well it is this, spiritual sight is a gift from God and spiritual maturity is never instantaneous. None of us will see unless God works to give us sight by His Spirit within us, and when we have been given spiritual sight it grows as we see to know our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ more and more. So believer this day, know that you have spiritual sight because God has given it to you, and seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18) knowing one day when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 Jn 3:2). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q1 What is the chief end of man? Man’ s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him for ever. (Ps. 73:25–28) Year 2 Day 355
Pray (ACts) Read - 1 Thessalonians 5v23-28 Message - Scott Woodburn Do you know what sanctification is? The shorter catechism tells us "Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness" So sanctification is the process by which the Lord makes us more and more holy and more and more dead to sin. We are being renewed in the image of God. Sanctification is important, it is necessary, it is happening and its success is guaranteed by God Himself. It is also Paul's great wish for the Thessalonians. He prays that the God of peace would sanctify the Thessalonians completely (v23a). This prayer would be answered. The success of sanctification does not depend upon you or me. We attend to the means of grace and the Lord sanctifies us. He is doing this work and therefore our whole spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless at the coming of Christ. Christ's return to judge the living and the dead is a fact and it has been discussed abundantly in this letter. Yet the return of Jesus holds no fear for the Christian. We have been saved, we are being sanctified and we will stand in the judgement. How do I know? For the Lord who has called us is faithful and will surely sanctify us completely (v24b). This is wonderful encouragement for the weary Christian who sees little or no evidence of sanctification in their own soul. My brothers and sisters, you may not see it but I assure you it is happening. By His Word and by His Spirit the Lord is sanctifying His people. As Paul prays for the sanctification of the Thessalonians so too he urges them to pray for him. Even Apostles needed the prayers of God's people. They may have been extraordinarily gifted men but they weren't supermen. Paul knew trouble and Paul desired the prayers of the church of Jesus Christ. We would do well to remember this dynamic. Your minister or pastor is not a perfect priest who stands between you and God. He does not have all the answers and he feels the same frustrations that you do. He thinks his work is in vain, he is stung by criticism and rumour. His heart breaks when you ignore him or treat him with contempt. Brothers and sisters, pray for your pastor. Additionally Paul wanted the Thessalonian church to be marked with love and tenderness between Christians. How would this affection show itself? With a holy kiss (v26). Immediately our reserved Ulster selves pull back from such a suggestion. You might be prepared to pray for you pastor but you're certainly not going to kiss the old lady who plays the organ. You'll be glad to know that kissing isn't mandated here by the Lord - our culture is not like ancient Greece. Nevertheless we are mandated to show one another such affection that the local church is marked by zealous Christian love. None of this is optional. Paul put the recipients of this letter under oath to have it read before everyone associated with the church (v27). What is an oath? Our confession talks of both oaths and vows. A vow is a promise that you make to God. An oath is when you make a promise to someone and call God as a witness. So Paul wants these men and women to promise that they will read this letter to the whole church. It's so important that he calls God as a witness. This gives us a little glimpse once more of Scripture's authority. We are not the original recipients of this letter but we are still bound by God to read and study and do His Word. So brothers and sisters, be confident that your God is sanctifying you even as you read these daily devotions each day. In response pray for your leaders, love one another zealously and take heed to what God's Word says. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (v28). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q107 What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen,” teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. Year 2 Day 354
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 8:14-20 Message - Alan Burke There are all times that we just don’t get it, that we were slow on the uptake or maybe that was just me. In my school days are remember time and time again having the teacher come up to me asking me a question more than likely because I hadn’t been listing and was raking (that means messing around). There were other times though I had been listening and the teacher would come over after everything had been explained and I had that look of ignorance on my face, the teacher would come over and ask, “what do you not understand” and by asking questions would walk you through what was taught to help you understand. This is what Jesus does here, he asks questions of the disciples to help them to understand. It’s like as if Jesus is saying, “what are you talking about having no bread, what do you not get, you have seen it, you have experienced it, you have been blessed by it”. The short sightedness of these disciples is in a sense infuriating, they had been worried about bread, Jesus warned them about the leaven of the pharisees and of Herod, and their unbelief continues. Look at those word in verse 18 before Jesus reminds them of all that he had done before their eyes; 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? Look back in your bibles to thee healing of the deaf and mute man in Mk 7:31-37, we thought about it a few weeks ago. There Jesus healed the man who could hear who Jesus was or the message that he proclaimed, nor could he ask Jesus in his need. The deaf and mute man, where Jesus put his fingers in his ears, and spat on his hand and touched his tongue (7:31-37). Then if you look forward to what comes after this in 8:22-26, we’ll get to this next week, there we have some people bring a blind man to Jesus and there Jesus touched him, spat on the mans eyes and put his hands on them before he could see. This account of the disciples inability to hear or see is framed, or bookended by those who are unable to hear or see, because the point is being made that they required the work of God to be able to hear and the ability to hear. The disciples and us need very work of God though Jesus Christ to enable us to hear or see the spiritual truth. Because we are by nature blind and deaf, we are unable to see the things of God or hear his word for our hearts are hard, no actually they are stone, and we are spiritually dead. Until God works in us by the Spirit and we are able to have our eyes and our ears opened so that we can see and hear. Jesus is challenging these disciples, as He goes on he takes them back to the issue that had caused their unbelief, bread, the one loaf that they had with them. So Jesus questions them about the leftovers from the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand, they are confronted with their unbelief, the point of the questioning is not demean them, but rather to bring them from their unbelief to the knowledge of the sufficiency of the one whom they were with in the boat. The closing question of Jesus to them, v21, “Do you still not understand?” This gentile retort reminds us that just because they are in close proximity to Jesus doesn’t mean that seeing and hearing, understanding the truth of Jesus doesn’t come naturally. After all these disciples were with him, they had seen and heard but they were by their nature deaf and blind to the truth. So how’s your hearing? How’s your sight? How’s your heart? Are you coming week after week under the word and does it fill you with hope, joy, thanks, concern, pain at your sin, love, or is it indifference, even unbelief? Well Jesus asked these disciples about what he had done, and asked them did they still not understand, when we get preoccupied with the cares for the things of this world, when we become consumed with not having enough, Jesus asks, why feel that way when our hope is not in this world but in what lies ahead though Him. If the disciples had only lifted their eyes from their worries, from their searching for bread, they would see that God provides them with all they need in Jesus and it is the same for us. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q106 What do we pray for in the sixth petition? In the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, (Matt. 6:13)) we pray, That god would either keep us from being tempted to sin, (Matt. 26:41) or support and deliver us when we are tempted. (2 Cor. 12:7–8) Year 2 Day 353
Pray (ACts) Read - 1 Thessalonians 5v12-22 Message - Scott Woodburn As we finish Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians we remind ourselves of the rich eschatology contained within the book. We are living in the last days, Christ is coming and those who trust Him will be raised to everlasting life. Yet with that stated Paul closes his letter with entirely practical wisdom concerning today and not tomorrow. Discussion about the end of the world can lead us to debate, speculation and even sometimes fear but Paul urges the Thessalonians to get on with their everyday Christian witness. Christ is surely coming but this is no reason for retreat to a bunker in the mountains. Paul's first word of advice is for the Thessalonians to respect, esteem and love those who are over them in the Lord (v12-13). Paul here speaks of the leadership in a local church. The end of things is at hand but Christians are to strive to make the work of their leaders incredibly easy. They are to strive for peace in the body (v13b) and they are to encourage and support their leaders. In any local congregation there will be men and women of great faith and there will be others who struggle. Paul says that in light of the return of Christ we are to admonish the idle, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak and show patience to all (v14). Christ's return should not diminish how we care for one another. The lazy are to be challenged. The one who doubts is to have their gentle heart encouraged. The Christian who is weak is to be strengthened and to everyone we are to show patience. Future events are not to distract us from present realities. The world might end tomorrow but it is no excuse for wickedness. We should never repay evil for evil but instead we should always seek to do good to our neighbour (v15). In good days or bad we are to continually rejoice in the light of what Christ has done (v16) and instead of worrying endlessly we should constantly come before the Lord in prayer (v17). For what should we pray? It is God's will that we give Him thanks in any and all circumstances (v18). As Paul reaches the end of his letter he urges the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit. How is it possible to quench God the Holy Spirit? We can refuse to listen to Him as He guides us into the truth of God's Word. The Spirit taps us on the shoulder and tells us to repent and we sinfully thumb our nose. We are convicted by the Spirit and yet we let days pass and the conviction fades. We know what the Word says and the Spirit underlines this truth and yet we ignore it and go our own way. Do not quench the Spirit says the Apostle. The Thessalonians lived during the days of the Apostles. They were recipients of Apostolic prophetic teaching and Paul's challenge was for them not to despise the prophetic word. How could any Christian despise the message of the Lord? It doesn't encourage us but instead it rebukes. It makes us uncomfortable because it challenges our attitudes and opinions. Prophecies have now ceased and the office of the Apostle is closed, nevertheless we are still to guard our hearts. It is easy to despise the preached Word. We can believe sermons to be tiresome and the preacher boring. But if this is the attitude of our soul we must repent. Do not despise the Word says Paul, love it, listen to it and test the message you have been given (v21). Be discerning not discontent. Finally we are to keep ourselves from evil and hold fast to the good. We should never underestimate the activity of the enemy. Abstain therefore from evil and be alert to the devil's schemes. There is a quote associated with Martin Luther which most likely didn't come from his mouth. Allegedly the Reformer once said that "If I knew the world would end tomorrow I'd plant an apple tree today." What did he mean? Exactly what Paul advises in today's passage. Christians know the world is coming to an end and Christ is coming back. Nevertheless we are to be active in doing good as we wait patiently for the Lord. Brothers and sisters, read today's passage again and perhaps a third time. These are not days for sleep or stockpiling food in your underground bunker as we wait for the second coming. May we be both hearers and doers of God's precious Word. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition? In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. Year 2 Day 352
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 8:14-16 (focus v16) Message - Alan Burke We have all seen those signs ‘Beware of the Dog’! A few years ago now I was doing a visit at a home and told just to ignore the signs and just go round to the back door of the house, the key I was told was in the key safe and let myself in and if I had any problems I was to phone my supervising minister. Fair enough I thought. When I arrived to the house, got the key, let myself in and the next thing the dog went daft, shut the door phoned my supervising minister, he laughed and told me to open the door a crack and wait. The family had put signs up and rigged the door to a big speak that when it was opened played dog barking and only those who needed to know knew and my supervising minister just wanted a wee chuckle. If roles were reversed I’d have likely done the same. Jesus had told his disciples to “Beware, watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and that of Herod”. When Jesus told them to ‘Beware’, and tells us ‘beware’ you’d think we’d sit up and listen. If someone you trust gives you a stern warning, tells you to ‘beware’ for whatever reason the likelihood is if you’d any sense you’d listen. Well Jesus was warning them because the leaven/yeast of the Pharisees and Herod only takes a little bit to make a big impact and theirs was unbelief, unwillingness to hear or see, their opposition to the plans and purposes of God in Jesus. Look though what we are told in v16; They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”. Really, like come on! These guys had just been told to “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod" and they are still stuck on the bellies, if only they’d have used their loaf! After all they had been with Jesus every step of the way, unlike the Pharisees, unlike Herod they had seen, they had heard, and yet they still don’t see and hear. They had been so blatantly oblivious to what they had been witnesses off. These disciples who were worried about their lack of bread failed to hear the warning, the temporal had distracted them from the truth of who they were with. Even though they had seen Jesus feed the five thousand and the four thousand, even though they had been part of it and were told by Jesus to feed those gathered 6:36-37 & 8:3 right then and there with one loaf on the boat (8:14), they can’t see or understand. Everything had shown to them that the Jesus they were with was and is God, for He is able to do what only God can do but they had missed it. They still hadn’t understood, their thoughts are still caught up in the material concerns, they just couldn’t see that they were in the presence of the Son of God, or rather the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod was making them blind and deaf to the truth. Sadly we are not immune to this leaven, just as these disciples weren’t. Jesus warned them and they were in the very presence of God, but proximity doesn’t mean that we are immune, it doesn’t mean that we will never fall to see or understand, it doesn’t mean we wont fall into sin, because here even though these disciples had been with Jesus, they know Jesus they are caught up in their own concerns once more. The temporal things of this life were their focus, but Jesus was anxious about their faith, the only hope in life and in death for all is Christ and His work. He calls us to put our trust in Him and in Him alone. The disciples should know that Jesus is worthy of their total faith in all that He will reveal to them in the days to come, and likewise, it is in Jesus that we must put our faith, every day, listing to the words of Jesus “beware” and that is beware of unbelief, unwillingness to hear or see what God has done for us though Jesus His Son. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q104 What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread, (Matt. 6:11)) we pray, That of God’ s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them. (Prov. 30:8–9, Gen. 28:20, 1 Tim. 4:4–5) |
Alan
|
RSS Feed