Treasures

in Jars of Clay

by Ali Cottis

2 Corinthians 4:7 

New Century Version (NCV)

7 We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great power is from God, not from us.

Where do you hide a treasure?

Do you have a special place where you keep those special things? 

I know as a child I had a box my grandmother made me that had little special things in it.  But that box was specially built to carry something special and it is easily identifiable as something that can hold a treasure. 

What about hiding something we don't want to be found easily?

My husband was telling me last night about an Indiana Jones movie, the one about the Holy Grail, and when he gets to the place there are all these grand chalices, fancy ones, decorative ones, and ones with lots of jewels.  Then there is one that was supposedly indicative of the one Christ used to drink from was one that was wonky, ugly and not like any of the other grand ones.  It was created out of normal everyday clay.  It was basically a clay pot.  But, according to the movie, it had been part of this grand event called the last supper. 

In biblical times: it was a common practice to hide treasures in clay jars.  This was done because people didn't expect anything valuable would be kept in such a container.  You see, a clay pot is not overly that attractive as it has a more practical rather than decorative purpose but it is very easily broken.  The slightest bump can send it shattering into pieces, exposing what was inside.

I guess in today’s age: it would be like hiding money in a sock.  The sock is not overly attractive, especially if it is not a washed sock and is unclean and smell, no one is going to want to look in it…but inside it could be $1,000.00!

When we explore what the Word of God has to say about clay pots this is what we find.

My bible (NCV) says,  “We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure.  This shows that the great power is from God, not from us.”

But it is interesting to see how other versions of our English translation say the same verse.  Some have a very interesting way of interpreting the same piece of scripture.

NIV: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

MSG: If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.

AMP:  However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

From this scripture there are a few things for us to learn about and discover.

To start with Paul, the writer talks about a treasure, a priceless treasure more precious than any other treasure.

What is this treasure?  This treasure is the knowledge of the glory of God as our redeemer, our saviour, our Christ. 

1. This comes firstly as a revelation, symbolically of when we get saved.  In our own ways, we each have a personal and individual revelation of who God is, and what he is all about in the world we know.   
2. Secondly it (the treasure) is a gospel, a message of good news that is the truth that we hold, the promise of a full pardon from sin and the consequence of sin, which is death.  This message of truth is what we have.  The knowledge that we have received that promise in our lives and now have the power of eternal life at work in us and through us. 

So what makes this treasure so valuable?  In the gospel's Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man may come to the father but through me.”

Without this treasure we are as good as dead, sitting ducks if so to speak.  Just lapping up the unbelievable luxury that this world has to offer not even considering what is going to happen throughout the rest of it. Eternity is a bit of a long time to not consider it…yes? 

The second thing to look at with this scripture is the vessel it talks about.
When we look back to the different versions it is described as:
NCV  : Clay Jars
NIV   : Jars of Clay
AMP: [frail, human] vessels of earth
MSG : the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives  (I like this one).

We are made from the earth.  God formed us in his image out of the dust from the ground.  By using the word earthen, or clay is metaphorically speaking about us, human beings. What is interesting about this image of clay pots, earth vessels, or mere earthenware is its frailty.  It is frail in the sense that it is easily broken, so hiding a treasure in something so frail so breakable speaks of putting a lot of trust in that vessel that is holding that specific treasure.

So just as the eastern kings would store their gold, silver and jewels in earthen jars, Or plain box may hold a costly jewel,  some miry soil may yield an abundant crop.  A battered ship may carry a precious freight, or a scruffy as book may contain noble thoughts, why not too would God not place the gospel (this precious treasure) within the lives of those who would receive it?  Could it be so they could to become humble enough to share it with others.

In fact Christ himself was a peasant, a carpenter's son, yet he was the gift of God to man, the son of God most high. The apostles were fishermen, toll-takers, tent makers, yet they took that message of salvation out to mankind and shared it. The upper rooms where the early disciples met were not grand temples or big classy churches, but they were the settings of divine communion and Holy Spirit encounters. 

Jesus’ frail body, his infallible judgment, his imperfect character, his lowly and harassed condition, all contrasted with the preciousness of the gospel which was deposited in his heart and ministered by his labours. Within this humble image of frailty, also comes an amazing sense of security.  If the item you are holding dear to you is in something that could easily be destroyed because it is so frail what are you going to do?

We have this saying in our house “handle as eggs”.  Like when you are driving home from the supermarket and you have eggs in the shopping bags…you drive carefully or you walk carefully as to not bump them. One can get a bit “protective” so they are not cracked, broken thus becoming unusable.

God too, in his wisdom and grace has blessed and placed this precious treasure in us.  And because of this He will guard that treasure, ensure its safety and will also guard the vessel that holds it.  That means…that he is there for us, guarding us, allowing his Holy Spirit to prompt our minds to situations that may not be healthy for us, that may prevent the successful and safe passage of this treasure to the next recipient. That is why we see in the bible the different names and functions given to God as Protector, Healer, Guider, Guardian, Light to our path (so we can see and not be tripped up?),

Another part to consider: when looking at the function of the clay pot, it is used to carry stuff, liquid, oil, flour, water.  From this it is obvious that the treasure placer (God) saw that the clay pots (us) were to be a good way of transporting that treasure and taking it to all the places it needs to go.  Being able to share that treasure with our families, friends, neighbours, classmates, and other people (clay pots) that we come in contact with. The delight that one feels and the satisfaction of achievement (I suppose is one way to describe it) when you are able to sit down with someone, share your testimony and see them relate to it and get excited about what God could do for and in them is for me sometimes indescribable.  It is just so exciting. 

There are so many broken pots out there that God just want to scoop up all the pieces and put them back together again.  Almost like humpty dumpty, but in humpty dumpty the kings horses and the kings men couldn't put him back together. But God sees us as all broken vessels and by his amazing and loving grace he offers to place that treasure in us and as we get to know the treasure better he mends the parts of our pots and moulds us to be effective carriers of that treasure to where it needs to go. 

This brings us to the Why question?  

Why would God place that treasure in such a frail container.  Imagine the insurance premium of trying to transport your most valuable possessions thru a violent, war infested terrain. No but seriously why entrust such an important treasure to such a frail being. 

Because by doing so he shows how powerful he really is. And it reminds us of how humble and frail we are. Every day we are facing the same temptations that the rest of the world faces.  We have to choose to get up in the morning and treat the world nicely.  We have to choose whether or not we are going to steal music and movies of the internet.  We have to choose what we are going to find acceptable for our children to watch, see and do within modern technology.  We have to choose whether or not it is acceptable to go down to the tab to place a bet on a game or horse.   And that is just a scratch on the surface.  Daily we have to live with the consequence of death just around the corner.  

So the challenge here is this...

Do you want that treasure in you?  If you do not you can say this short prayer and open your world to adventures beyond anything you could imagine.  The treasure giver wants to do life with you. Take you if you are broken and glue you back together moulding you into what He has for you. So say this prayer out aloud and then go and talk to someone you know who also has a relationship with our Lord and Saviour.

"Dear father in heaven.  I understand that you are the master creator and you have created me for a grand purpose seeing your will fulfilled in my life.  

Lord I also understand that I am a sinner and without your treasure I am destined to death.  I am sorry for all the things I have done, all the things that are not of you or of what you have for me.  

Lord I invite you into my life to be with me, to get to know me and me you.  I believe you died on the cross so that I may have eternal life and Lord I accept your grace and forgiveness.  

I start my life anew with you as my guider, guardian, protector and healer and much more. 

Thank you for loving me for who I am and I look forward to growing in your love and in my knowledge of who you are and who I am in  you. .

Please help me find the courage to talk to someone I know who knows you too so that they can help me with any questions I may have" 

Do you have that treasure in you and need the courage to shine bright but humbly in the world around you?  Take this piece of scripture this week.  Commit it to God and your life this week.  It is after all His word and see how you can be that clay pot and be humble sharers of that treasure he has placed in you.

by Ali Cottis {momentsofclay.blogspot.com.au}
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Reprinted by permission 20/11/2013 Original Source

Self-Seeking Spirit #05

A Self-Seeking Spirit

'A dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.' Luke 9:46 NKJV

The Bible says: 'Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great"' (Luke 9:46-48 NKJV).

What's at work in this story? 

A self-seeking spirit.
As long as your motive for serving is to make yourself look good, you'll never enjoy God's approval.

And His 'well done' is the only thing that counts.

The ability to serve behind the scenes, and do it with joy, comes from the knowledge that ultimately your service will be recognised and rewarded by the only One whose opinion counts.

Why did Jesus feature a child that day? 

For three reasons: 

(1) A child is teachable. When you're finished learning, you're finished! When you can't be told, God will have nothing more to tell you. 'The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out' (Proverbs 18:15 NIV).

(2) A child is trusting. When you promise a child something; they believe you, act on it, and expect it to be so. 'It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man' (Psalm 118:8 NKJV).

(3) A child is tender-hearted. 'Finally, all of you...be tender-hearted...' (1 Peter 3:8 NKJV). The Holy Spirit is symbolised in Scripture as a gentle dove, so keep your heart tender and receptive to His dealings.

SoulFood: Isa 53-57, John 8:42-59, Ps 123, Pr 29:1-3

Written by Bob & Debby Gass
Thursday, 7 November 2013

APPS available here

Signs of Christ’s Return (1)

What are the signs of Christ’s return?

Now that we have addressed several foundational questions on the pre-Rapture signs, I want to show you how the Bible provides overwhelmingly clear evidence of other pretribulational signs demonstrating Christ's impending return to earth. I will now begin to deal with every major sign in the New Testament to show that Jesus' statement, "When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors" (Matthew 24:33), is being fulfilled in our day and age.

Matthew 24:3-14 declares:

And as he [Jesus] sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying. Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another, And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This passage may be among the most misunderstood of all prophetic pronouncements. 

The problem has arisen because many Christians still fail to see that God has two elect groups upon earth-the nation of Israel (Romans 11:28) and the Church (1 Peter 1:2). Romans 9-11 tells the entire story of God's chosen people, Israel.

Chapter 9 concerns Israel's past, chapter 10 its present, and chapter 11 its future.

Regarding its glorious past, Romans 9:4 declares that Israel was given the promises, including prophetic pledges. In chapter 10, verse 16, we find: "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who [among them] hath believed our report?" Presently, they are blinded to their calling and promises, but in the future, "All Israel shall be saved: as it is written. There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Romans 11:26).

Why will God perform this? 

Verse 29 provides the answer: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." God chose Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7-8) and He has never canceled His selection. Therefore, Israel remains God's chosen people and heir to His promises as stated in Romans 11:28.

The signs of Matthew 24 are presented to the elect- yes, elect Israel. We know this to be true in this chapter because of the regard for the Sabbath day (v. 20), because of the connection with synagogues (Luke 21:12), and because the setting of Matthew 24 is Jerusalem (v. 1). Only Bible manipulators, antidispensationalists, and antiliteralists could make Gentiles out of these Jews.

Included in this group are the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. Twelve thousand shall be chosen from each of the twelve tribes. Twelve thousand times twelve equals 144,000.

The tribes are Juda, Reuben, Gad, Aser, Nephthalim, Manasses, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zabulon, Joseph, and Benjamin (Revelation 7:4-8). These signs are for Israel, who is looking for the return of her King in Revelation 19. They are not signposts for the Rapture.

The group looking for the fulfillment of signs in Matthew 24 is preaching a different gospel in verse 14. Gospel means "good news," and their good news is the gospel of the kingdom or the good news that their King is about to return (Revelation 19:16). They will be traveling around the globe, 144,000 strong, singing "The King is coming! The King is coming!" Although the signs will be fulfilled in their entirety after the Christians are gone, we already see the tantalizing beginning of each of these signs. Again, this means that if these signs pointing to our return with the King are already in their initial stages, we must be snatched away very soon in order to prepare for our return to earth with Christ the King.

False Christs

In Matthew 24:3, Jesus was asked, "When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming [to earth], and of the end of the world [or age of grace]?" He replied, "Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (v. 5). Since the year 1900, more than eleven hundred people claiming to be Christ have appeared on the world scene. These include Father Divine, Prophet Jones, Sweet Daddy Grace, Father Riker; Daniel Swalt, Moses Guibbory, Maharaj Ji, and Sun Myung Moon, not to mention scores of lesser-known, self-proclaimed messiahs who enjoyed a few fleeting moments of media fame.

Presently, while they might not refer to themselves as "false Christs," certain members of our liberal clergy are playing such a role. Take, for example, a survey of the beliefs and attitudes of the Church of Scotland ministers. They have rightfully caused a stir within the denomination as the foundational truth of the Bible-the virgin birth of Christ-was recently called into question by religious leaders. The shocking results of the survey of 150 ministers were that 16 percent did not believe in the Immaculate Conception of Christ and 15 percent said that they "didn't know." An amazing 17 percent said that the Virgin Mary was not a virgin in twentieth-century terms, and 6 percent thought that Jesus was the product of Mary and Joseph having sex outside of marriage. (See Matthew 7:21-23 and 2 Peter 2:1-3.)

Such abuse of Scripture is yet another sign of the times. 

However, eventually, the ultimate false Christ-one who is probably alive even at this moment-will proclaim himself as the true Christ and become accepted on an international scale.

The Bible predicts such an hour, when the Antichrist, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped... sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and is accepted as such.

This internationally deified dictator will inaugurate a world-peace program which will hold the world spellbound for forty-two months, or three and one-half years. Then, in the middle of the seven-year period of tribulation, he will break all of his pledges and destroy his contractual obligations with Israel (Daniel 9:27). At this time, Russia will begin a world war as she invades Israel (Ezekiel 38:11). This war will eventually involve all nations (Zechariah 14:2).

This is God's outline from the Bible. 

First, the international dictator will establish global peace, and when the world believes that Utopia has arrived, the bottom will fall out of their hopes and aspirations: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them" (1 Thessalonians 5:3). We now move to even more dramatic signs that signify our Lord is coming soon.

What is the significance of today’s wars, famines, and increasing pestilences?

From the proclamation of Matthew 24:6-7, we see that the world can expect nothing but rivalry and battles until the Antichrist produces the false peace of the Tribulation era. More than 176 limited wars have been fought since the end of the Second World War. Today one out of every four nations on earth is engaged in some kind of military conflict.

Soon, however, we will experience the greatest global confrontation in history, for we are marching swiftly toward Armageddon at this moment. Over a decade ago, CIA and British Intelligence reports about the Soviet Union were grim. They reported the development of new weapons systems located throughout the Soviet Union, along with expenditures of enormous sums for underground civil defense shelters that meant that Russia was preparing for war. Many did not believe these pronouncements at the time.

Even today, while there is a semblance of peace (although the signs of a reemergence of the Cold War are increasing), we must not be lulled into thinking that Russia has changed her ways-especially since enormous numbers of nuclear warheads remain hidden in underground silos throughout the southern provinces of that vast land. I've noted that people no longer laugh at the prophecies uttered by Ezekiel in chapters 38 and 39 that picture the Russian hordes from the north swarming to the Middle East. Today, as the end-time clock continues to wind down, the red horse of the Apocalypse is about to appear. Revelation 6:4 states, "There went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."

Famines and Pestilences

Christ continued in Matthew 24:7, "And there shall be famines, and pestilences." More than two billion of the world's inhabitants go to bed hungry each night. There are nationwide famine in the Sudan and Rwanda and reports of widespread cannibalism in North Korea-with news coming from Indonesia, the earth's fourth largest nation that millions of people on those scattered islands remain on the brink of starvation. Thousands are dying painful deaths throughout our world, while scores of others are too numb with hunger to realize what is happening. One writer said it poignantly, "First the belly swells, then the hair turns gray and the skin cracks, after a while the victim dies in mute misery." Such an experience will soon be the fate of millions of people. Paul Erlich, a biochemist at Stanford University, said it's already too late to prevent famines that will kill millions, because already one-half billion are starving and another billion are malnourished. He may be right. There seems to be no possible solution in the near future, because it is too late to produce enough food.

America will undoubtedly be included in this suffering in the days ahead. In fact, the number of the beast, 666 (something we'll address in a later question and answer), may come into existence through an international rationing plan. Soon the voice of Revelation 6:6 will sound, "A measure of wheat for a penny." 

A measure in Bible times was a quart, and a penny was a day's wages. 

Imagine a loaf of bread for a day's labor. Pestilence, the twin sister of hunger, is also on the rampage. The swine flu scare, legionnaires' disease, AIDS, and other diseases-many already fully resistant to antibiotics and other medications-are only the beginning. Years ago I read an article in Reader's Digest, reprinted from an article in Time entitled, "The Bugs Are Coming." And they have come indeed . . . and will continue to come in plague like fashion during these final days. 

Even as I write these words, other pestilential plagues are in their preparatory stages. The South American fire ant has advanced from its initial beachhead in Mobile, Alabama, and now infests more than one hundred billion acres in nine southern states, sometimes driving farm workers from the fields because of its fiery sting. In forest areas the gypsy moth, the spruce budworm, and the southern pine beetle have wreaked devastation on huge areas of woodland, defoliating and killing millions of valuable trees-enough, in fact, to build 910,000 houses per year! Corn borers and rootworms have attacked crops in the Corn Belt at an incredible rate. The boll weevil costs United States farmers millions of dollars in crop losses annually. The mosquito is infecting one million humans per year in Africa and killing thousands annually with malaria, while the black fly in the Volta River basin blinds hundreds of thousands each year.

Entomologists estimate that the number has now climbed to one quintillion, representing five million different species. If a person could weigh all insects together, their combined weight would be twelve times that of the entire human race. Can there be any doubt that the pestilence Jesus predicted will soon rear its head in monstrous proportions and that world hunger will be felt by every country on earth? This, along with what comes out of the bottomless pit in Revelation 9:2 (causing the plague of verse 3), is just around the corner. Listen to the prediction: "There came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power." Their purpose is to destroy and kill. 

The Rapture is near, my friend ... the signs are all around us.

A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

Little foxes

Don't Meditate on the Little Disappointments

Deep hurt doesn't just come from huge disappointments, like when we fail to get the job or promotion we really wanted. 

Deep emotional hurt can come from a series of minor annoyances and frustrations. That's why we must know how to handle the small, daily disappointments and keep them in perspective.

When you focus on something continually, it's called meditation. The little frustrations that come up every day are annoying on their own, but when they pile up, it almost seems impossible to meditate on anything else.

But instead of concentrating on your problems and getting discouraged, focus on God and meditate on His promises for you. 

Life might get you down, but you don't have to stay down. God is ready, willing and able to pick you up.

When disappointment weighs on you, you can either let it press you down, or you can use it as a stepping-stone to better things. Choose to face disappointment at its onset by meditating on God's ways. He has better things for you, and He will help you defeat disappointment.

Prayer Starter: God, like Psalm 119:15 says, I will meditate on Your Word, not the little disappointments that try to press me down. Life can be discouraging, but Your Word is so encouraging, I know I can overcome the discouragement by looking to You!

By Joyce Meyer

Judgmental Spirit #06

'...You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.' Luke 9:55 NKJV

One day Jesus went into a Samaritan village and was not well received. So the disciples said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them"...' (Luke 9:54-56 NKJV).

What's at work in this story? A judgmental spirit. 

A poll taken by the Barna Research Group reveals that today most non-believers view Christians as too judgmental. So you can be sincere, but too severe. When you mix and mingle only with those who share your views and values, you can communicate with others in ways that attack, rather than attract.

Let's be clear: never has it been more important to know the truth of God's Word and stand for it.

But if you have the right doctrine and the wrong spirit, you'll drive more people away from Christ than you'll draw to Him. If Satan has his way, he will drive holiness out of our hearts and into our fists.

Imagine - Christ's disciples wanting to incinerate those who didn't agree with them! They weren't even aware of the spirit that was at work within their own hearts.

'Jesus said... "You shall love your neighbour as yourself"' (Matthew 19:18-19 NKJV). That includes your non-Christian neighbour.

You don't have to defend Jesus, or 'sell' Him.

All you have to do is introduce Him. The Psalmist says, 'Taste and see that the Lord is good...' (Psalm 34:8 NKJV).

Soul Food: Isa 58-62, John 9:1-12, Ps 15, Pr 29:4-6

Written by Bob & Debby Gass
Friday, 8 November 2013

APPS available here

An Undiscerning Spirit #04

'...and You say, "Who touched Me?"' Luke 8:45 NKJV

One day a chronically ill woman who had haemorrhaged for 12 years pushed her way through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus' garment.

And immediately she was healed. '...Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all...how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace"' (Luke 8:45-48 NKJV).

What's at work in this story? An undiscerning spirit. 
Observe Peter's words, 'Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, "Who touched Me?"'

Understand this: Jesus can tell the difference between the indiscriminate touch of the crowd, and a touch of faith. Faith draws on His power and brings results!

Notice, this woman touched the 'hem' of Jesus' garment. The last thing a dressmaker does when she makes a garment is to sew up the hem. So the hem represents 'the finished work'.

The same back that bore the cross which takes away your sins, also bore the stripes which take away your sickness. '...And by His stripes we are healed' (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV).

What do you need today? 

Forgiveness of sins? Healing?

Reach out in faith and touch Jesus, and you too will be made whole.

Soul Food: Isa 49-52, John 8:31-41, Ps 30, Pr 28:25-28

Written by Bob & Debby Gass
Wednesday, 6 November 2013

APPS available here

A Fearful Spirit #03

'They came to Him...saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!"...' Luke 8:24 NKJV

The Bible says: '...He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out. But as they sailed, He fell asleep. And a storm came down...and they...were in jeopardy. And they...awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water...But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marvelled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him"' (Luke 8:22-25 NKJV)!

Notice what is at work in this story: a fearful spirit. No matter how often God blesses us and answers our prayers, we still give in to fear the next time we face a crisis, especially when it's one we haven't faced before.

Who told the disciples to get into the boat in the first place? Jesus. 

Understand this: faith doesn't exempt you from life's storms; it equips you to go through them. And when you are in the will of God, no storm, however severe, can take you under.

Jesus knew the storm was coming before the disciples ever stepped into the boat. So why did He expose them to it? 

Because He was equipping them for the future, for the day when He'd no longer be around and they would face persecution, imprisonment and even death. So the word for you today is: 'Don't be afraid. The Lord is with you; you are going to make it to the other side.'

Soul Food: Isa 45-48, John 8:21-30, Ps 86, Pr 28:21-24

Written by Bob & Debby Gass
Tuesday, 5 November 2013

APPS available here

Advent

“The doctrine of Advent”
by  Pastor Walter Posthuma Th.C. (Hon.HM)
Reading: 2 Peter 1: 12-21 (NKJV)

12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. {The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.)

May the Lord bless the reading of His Holy Word, and to His Name be all the glory and the praise, now and forever.  Amen! "... We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty." -- 2 Pet 1:16 NIV

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the people mentioned in the Bible with whom I can identify my self is the apostle Peter. You know, I love to read the stories of this rough fisherman, who, very often, did the wrong thing, and said the wrong thing, but only with the best of intentions. And when I was reading one of his letters the other day, I decided to preach on some of them which I am doing today. I have taken my text for this  from the second letter for reasons which will become clear in a moment. And I am doing this because in the first chapter of his second letter, and in the words of our text, the apostle Peter made a statement which was of great importance to the people he was writing to, and which is also very important for us, the Church of the 21st century. And it is especially important to us, as we are approaching another period of advent.

Let me just remind you, my friends, that the apostle Peter did not write those two letters just to keep up the contact with Christians who were living in exile for the sake of the Gospel, but he wrote those letters in order to encourage those people and to strengthen their faith. You see, these people had difficulties and problems, just as we have from time to time. And as a result their faith in God began to waver and they began to doubt the promises of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as we do from time to time. And not only was there persecution and ridicule from a hostile world, which was opposed to Christianity, but there also was trouble and division within the Church, just as happens to the Church today from time to time. False teachers had crept into the Church and they were undermining the faith of the believers. And the main drift of this false teaching was that Jesus was not coming back any-more. "Where is this 'coming' he promised?" they said "Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 2 Pet 3:4

Jesus was dead and gone forever, and it was no use to be waiting for His second coming, because years had gone by and nothing had happened. And it was for this reason in the first place that Peter had written his letters. To remind the people of the Gospel, and of the things they already knew and in which they were established. Peter's aim was that every Christian who would ever read his letters that they would know and be certain of the truth of all the things they had been taught. He wanted all his readers to be in such a position that, whatever happened to them, they would remain strong in their faith, and bold in their confession.

And therefore he puts before them, and also before us, the doctrines of the Bible. He assures all Christians of the truth of the faith in which they stand. And he does so by explaining the doctrine of the Church, of eternal election, and of the  second coming of Christ, the doctrine of advent. He gives us the assurance that persecution and trial are not the end of the road, but that, as Christ has suffered, so too Christians share in His suffering, In order that they may rejoice and be glad when finally His glory will be revealed.

And that is really the main theme of this second epistle, the revelation of the glory of Christ. The second coming of our Lord, on the clouds of heaven, to judge the world, and to put an end to all wickedness, and unbelief, and persecution. Peter preached the Advent of Christ, in order to encourage and help the people he was writing to. He proclaimed the second coming of Christ in order that all Christians would be enabled to make their calling and election sure. To confirm it, and to stand fast in the belief that, whatever happens to a Christian, God is in control of their lives and their destination.

And today I would like to do the same, and I would also like to encourage you and to strengthen your faith. Faith in Almighty God, who is in control of this whole world and whatever may happen in it and to it. And what better method could I choose than that which the apostle is using? What better way would there be to strengthen your faith than the explanation of the doctrine of Advent, the doctrine of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Now, we all know this doctrine, or at least, we all ought to know this doctrine because it is the main theme of the Bible. You will find it in the Old as well as in the New Testament. Prophets like Daniel, and Ezekiel, and several of the minor prophets foretold it and had visions about it. The apostles preached it, Jesus Himself spoke about it on several occasions. And the Book of Revelation leaves us without any doubt at all that this world will come to an end, and that the whole human race will be judged by the great Judge, our Lord Jesus Christ.

We know it, my friends, because the Bible tells us all about it. And even those who do not believe the Bible and who do not believe in God, know it. They may not believe it, and they may try to push it out of their minds, but they know it. Deep inside of every creature there is a certain knowledge of God. As the apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, when he says: "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,  since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. -- Rom 2:14-16

We all know it, my friends, and we all know that we will not escape from the fact of the second coming of Jesus. We all know that everyone will one day have to stand before the judgement seat of Christ, according to the Scriptures. We know the statement of Jesus Himself, which He told the people around Him, towards the end of His ministry here on earth, when He said: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.All the nations will be gathered before him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.    -- Mat 25:31-33

We know because the Bible tells us that: “the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken; at that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and with great glory”. Matthew 24:29-30. We know that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We know that, my friends, but, you know, it is so hard to believe it at times. Two thousand years have passed since the day that our Lord ascended into heaven and for all that time the Gospel has been preached, including the doctrine of the second coming, yet nothing has happened so far and the world is still the same. And we could well ask with the scoffers of Peter’s day: “Where is the promise of His coming?” How do we explain the state of the world today?

If we claim that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and if the Christian message is that this Gospel is miraculous and supernatural, and if we claim that the Son of God came into the world to save the world and put things right again, and if this has been preached for the past two thousand years, then how do we explain the state of the world, and all the wars we have had, and the state of society? How do we explain all the Godlessness in the world today, and the decline of moral standards in our society.

Does it not seem, my friends, that the Gospel has failed, and that the Church and the Christian message has failed? Is there anything in the Gospel at all? These questions are asked, my friends, they were asked in the days of Peter, and they are still being asked today. "Where is the promise of His coming?" How do we know that the Gospel is true, and how do we know that Jesus will come again to judge the world? How can we believe all this and how can we be sure?

And the apostle Peter has the answer for us, my friends, indeed the whole Bible is full of answers for all the questions we may care to bring up. And the answer to our present question is in the doctrine of advent and in the words of our text where Peter says:

["We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty."]

I did not tell you any fancy stories, he says, and we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But we were eye-witnesses of His majesty, when we saw Him with our own eyes in all His heavenly splendour on the mount of transfiguration and when we heard the voice of God. And when I told you that the Lord would come again I declared the Word of God and the facts of the Gospel. 

Jesus is no myth, He is the Truth and is exactly as I confessed Him to be, the Christ, and the Son of the living God. I know, for I have seen Him, I have walked with Him, I have listened to Him, I have touched Him, and I was an eye-witness of His majesty and glory.]

["For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we have simply stated the facts as we have heard it from His own lips.] 

Jesus is true, He is the one who was promised in days of old by the prophets. He is the One of whom it was said that He would be born as a babe in Bethlehem. He is the One of whom it was predicted that He would die for the sins of the world. He is the Messiah according to the Scriptures. And just as sure as all the things that were told and predicted of Him have come true, and have been fulfilled, so too will the prediction and the promise that He will come again to judge the world, come true, and will be fulfilled.

Let us never forget, my friends, that God has a plan for this world. God has a plan of salvation which He has mapped out right from the very beginning of creation. God knew that man would fall and rebel against Him, He knew that Satan would take charge of this world and make a mess of it. And He had His plan ready, and has been working out this plan from the beginning. And He is still working out this plan and will bring it to completion in His own good time and according to His own time table.

And right throughout the history of mankind and the history of God's people, God has worked on His plan. And there were times that it seemed that God's plan came unstuck and that it did not work out. When God looked at the world He has made and when He saw all the wickedness and rebellion, and when He decided to destroy the wicked world with a flood, it seemed all so meaningless, and it did not seem to work out the way that God had planned it. But He kept on working at His plan by keeping Himself a remnant and by starting all over again.

He called Himself a people, beginning with Abraham and his descendants, the people of Israel. And when again it did not seem to work out, and when the people He loved and cared for rejected Him, and when He had to send His own people into exile, even then the plan of God did not come to an end. And exactly as He had told it would happen through the mouth and ministry of His prophets, it happened. In the fulness of time, when everything else seemed to have failed, God Himself stepped into the history of the human race in the Person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to save the world.

And although this part of God's plan also did not seem to work out, when His Son was rejected by the world, and even by His chosen people, and when they crucified the very Son of God. It turned out to be exactly as God had wanted it and planned it. His Son rose from the grave on the third day, He ascended into heaven, and is sitting at the right hand of God, from whence He will come to judge the quick and the dead. And it is therefore that we can see that the doctrine of the second coming, the doctrine of Advent, is also part of God's great plan of salvation. Because we can now look back and see what has happened so-far in this plan, and we can know that this wonderful plan of salvation is not finished yet. There is more to come, my friends, and this wicked world will not have the last say, and God will continue to work out His plan and purpose in His own good time.

And it may seem at times that God is holding back, He will keep His time-table, and the end is as certain as the beginning. And everything that has been predicted and foretold will come to pass. Jesus will come again and sit on His glorious throne, He will judge the world in righteousness, and He will judge the Prince of this world, the devil Satan. And we can be absolutely certain of the victory of Christ and His cause. Whatever may happen in the world around us, my friends, whatever may take place that can make us doubt and wonder, the plan of salvation assures us that the kingdom of God is coming, and that He, who is called the Lord of lords and the King of kings, will triumph and prevail.

And I would like to emphasise this fact, my friends, because there will be times that all this is almost impossible to believe. There will be times that we could almost be deceived, and may loose heart and hope.

Times that it may seem that God is no longer in control and will be defeated. But the Bible tells us and the Word of God assures us that the end is sure and that God will triumph. Jesus will reign, beyond a shadow of a doubt. And the Word of God does not fail, my friends, it has never failed, and everything that has been predicted has come and will come to pass.

People may deride this doctrine, they may ridicule and scoff at it, and they may not believe it. But the same God who promised to send His Son into this sinful world, and who did sent His Son, will also make sure that this doctrine of Advent and the second coming of our Lord will come to pass without fail. The same Jesus who was promised to come the first time, and who did come the first time, has also promised to come the second time, and will come the second time. God's Word will not and can not fail, and the Gospel will not fail either. It may seem so at times, but it will have its effect without fail and in due time.

You see, my friends, the Gospel never promised a better world. That's where a lot of people go astray, but the Gospel never proclaims that this world will get better and better. It simply states that this world is sinful and will remain sinful, until the time it will be destroyed. The business of the Gospel is not to make a better world to live in, but it is to show us the way out of this sinful world and into the kingdom of God. And during the two thousand years that the Gospel has been preached, it has been, and still is, the power unto salvation for all who believe it.

For centuries it has been taking people out of the realm of corruption and sin and Satan, and has put them into the everlasting kingdom of God. It has, and still is, saving people from this wayward and perverse generation, and has gathered people from every tribe and nation and saved them from the wrath to come, saved them from eternal damnation and condemnation of a righteous God. Oh no, my friends, the Gospel has not failed and will never fail. It will go on proclaiming salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It will continue to declare that all who believe in the Lord Jesus and who obey His commandments, will not come into judgement, and will be fully acquitted on the Day of Jesus Christ. "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty." said the apostle Peter in the words of our text. And he could have added: "but we have preached to you the true Gospel and told you the Gospel truth. And that statement he made was of vital importance to the people he was writing to, the Church of the dispersion. Because these people needed to hear this message in order to have their faith strengthened and to be encouraged.

And we, as Christians of the 21st Century, also need to hear the same message. This statement is also of vital importance to you and me, my friends, because we also are living in a world that is anti-God and anti-Christian, and in which everything seems to go wrong. And we also need to hear that, what we have believed, and what we have put our trust in, is not some kind of fable or myth, but it is the Gospel truth. We also need to be encouraged by the fact that God is still in control, that He has not left us to our own devices, but that He is with us, and will be with us, even till the end of time.

And if we  believe the Gospel, my friends, and if we believe that it is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, And if we trust in Jesus and only in Jesus for our eternal salvation, If we are truly Christians and believe the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Then, my friends, we can only come to one conclusion, we need to tell others about it. We need to be aware that there is not a moment to spare and that we need to tell others and warn them to flee from the wrath to come.

We need to be urgent in season and out of season and continue to proclaim the Gospel of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Continue to proclaim the Gospel which tells us that there is a way out of the sordid mess that this world has got itself into. And we need to point them to that way, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to tell them of the love of God, which was so great that, rather than letting people go to their eternal destruction, He sent His Son, that by believing in Him, people don't have to perish, but can have eternal life and eternal happiness. ["We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty."]

Peter had seen the Lord, he knew all about Him. And he has passed the message on to us so that we may be encouraged and strengthened in our faith. And so that we may know that, no matter what happens in the world around us, and no matter what may happen to us, God is in control, and is working out His Plan and purpose. And we can be sure that He will fulfil all His promises and that not one of them will fail.

We can be sure, my friends, that the little Babe of Bethlehem, whose birthday we will again be celebrating soon, the Lord willing. That this Babe, born in a stable, and laid in a manger, really was the Son of God. Who came to this earth to save mankind from their sins, and to take upon Himself the judgement and the punishment which was due to us, which He bore on the cross of Calvary.

And we can also be sure that this same Jesus will come again, not to condemn us, but to take us home, that where He is we may be also. Then we can also be sure that, on that last day of advent, we will hear His voice; "Come, you who are blessed by My Father, take your inheritance that was prepared for you from the creation of the world”. May God grant that we all can look forward to the coming of our Lord, and to the introduction of the kingdom of righteousness, and peace, and glory, which will never cease. And to His Name be all the glory and the praise, now and forever.   Amen!

The Lord bless you and keep you,

The Lord makes His face to shine upon you

And be gracious unto you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you

And give you peace.   Amen.

by  Pastor Walter Posthuma Th.C. (Hon.HM)