Category Archives: Fragments from the Master’s Table

Short Messages of Hope and Encouragement for those who feel life has become a daily grind and who long for fellowship and Christian guidance on so many issues of life facing us in todays world. What we all need to realise is that we cannot honestly define life until we understand the One who Created it in the first place.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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One of the best answers I’ve heard –

Question: You justify God for sending people to hell because He has provided salvation for them in Christ. But they won’t receive Him. That won’t do! Millions and probably billions will still spend eternity in hell…. God knew that. How could a good God create anyone who He knew would suffer eternally?

Response: God wants no one to go to hell. He has provided salvation for all in Christ:
whom He sent into the world that the world through Him might be saved… – John 3:17.
He is not willing that any should perish… – 2 Peter 3:9
But desires all men to be saved… – 1 Timothy 2:4.

Those in hell have only themselves to blame for rejecting the full forgiveness of sins and eternal life offered to all as a free gift of God’s grace through Christ’s payment of the penalty for their sins.

Why would God create those He knew would reject the gospel?

Why didn’t God, who knows all in advance, create only those who would believe the gospel and leave uncreated those who would reject Christ?

  • The human race can’t be so divided.
  • Those who reject Christ are the parents or children, cousins, aunts and uncles of those who believe.
  • Not to create unbelievers would also eliminate believers.

God did not back down from His desire to bless billions in His presence for eternity.
Nor did He go back on His Word and compromise His justice by unjustly forgiving those who rejected the salvation He freely provided.
There is no way to fault God for creating mankind.

He loves all and wants to bless all eternally.

It is worth remembering that every single person since creation, has a choice to make!
Scripture tells us that the gate is narrow for those who choose to follow and wide for those who choose not to follow.
Also worth remembering is the fact that man chose to extend the structural dimensions of their gate, despite Jesus opening His gate infinitely wide for all of mankind to enter.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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The I AM’s in the Gospel of John

  • I AM the Bread of life: John 6:35.
  • I AM the Light of the world: John 8:12.
  • I AM the Door: John 10:9.
  • I AM the Good Shepherd: John 10:11.
  • I AM the Resurrection and The Life. John 11:25.
  • I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. John 14:6.
  • I AM the True Vine: John 15:1.

Here we have Jesus telling us that He is the Bread of Life and that there is much more to living than eating.
If we hunger and thirst for the truth in this very untruthful world in which we live, we will find it in Jesus.
He is the only source of Truth there is. All other truths take second place to His wonderful message of Salvation.

He that comes to me shall never hunger: and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. John 6:35

God’s Word tells us that we are blessed if we hunger and thirst after Righteousness.

For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:9

Are we longing to know the truth? Are we longing to know the Saviour?
Because if we are, then He will satisfy us.
Are we hungry for goodness?
Because if we are, then He will fill our soul with goodness.

The Bread: That we might be seen to be full.
The Light: To show us the way.
The Door: That we might enter.
The Good Shepherd: That we might know.
The Resurrection: That we might exit.
The Way, The Truth and The Life: That we might follow Him.
The Vine: That we might be fruitful.

  1. The Bread: To be full by our intake.
  2. The Vine: To be seen to be fruitful by our output.
  3. The Light: To show the right direction.
  4. The Way, Truth, Life: To secure the right destination.
  5. The Door: That we might enter into life.
  6. The Resurrection: That we might exit from death.
  7. The Good Shepherd: Who gave up His Life on which all our blessings rest.

As we see the days of the return of our Saviour closing in all around us, may we use the time remaining to speak to others who are not expecting Him. Perhaps He will return for us today!

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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Have you ever considered the depth of wisdom and knowledge of God?
Have you ever thought how unsearchable His judgments and His ways are?
Have you ever asked yourself if it is possible to know God?
The Word of God demands that an acceptance of the truth be linked to a knowledge of the truth, and a knowledge of the truth linked to the practice of it.

Sadly, the modern way of thinking is to put a Tag on a concept or idea, and then let man work it out for himself.

Philosophy says: Think your way out. Politics says: Legislate your way out. Science says: Invent your way out. Industry says: Work your way out. Communism says: Revolutionise your way out. Fascism says: Bluff your way out. Militarism says: Fight your way out.

But Jesus says: I AM THE WAY OUT.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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THE CROWN OF THORNS

There are two key issues concerning the CROWN OF THORNS which we would do well to focus our attention on:

No. 1 – The arrival of Jesus Christ.

His arrival is well documented in Scripture, where we are told that He was born of a virgin in an obscure stable that housed farm animals. Many have asked what He did in the early years leading up to His 30th birthday because in actual fact, not much is known.
We are, however, given some life-markers in Scripture which are very significant indeed.

Aside from the account of Jesus’ birth and infancy, there is only one account in the Bible about his boyhood.  That’s the time when at the age of 12, Jesus was in the temple courts of Jerusalem amazing His teachers with His knowledge of the Scriptures.  Luke 2:41-52

This account ends in an interesting way. God tells us that the boy Jesus did not remain in Jerusalem in the temple.  Instead He was obedient to His earthly parents and went back with them to His hometown of Nazareth. From age 12 to 30, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.”

That’s it. That’s all we’ve got in the Bible about what Jesus was doing for all those years. We might wish we had more, but it would seem that the Bible was not given to us so that we could know every detail of His life here on earth, but rather it was given to us that we might be “wise unto Salvation”, as Paul wrote – a short-hand way of saying the Bible tells us exactly what we ‘need’ to know about Jesus in order for us to believe in Him and be saved.

No.2 – The departure of Jesus Christ.

Events leading up to this is a subject of the deepest solemnity upon which we should meditate as we enter the common hall of Pilate the Roman Governor where the Lord Jesus Christ is taken down into the depths of shame and crowned with a crown of thorns.
Let us pause at the threshold of the doorway for a moment of meditation on the One brought down to the deepest shame.

  • Who is this Person who is set at naught in Pilate’s judgement hall?
  • Who is this Presented by Pilate saying, “behold the Man?”
  • Who is this Prisoner who has been subjected to the humiliation of mockery?

To help us in our meditation, we must remember the Excellency of His Person. We must remember the Glory of His Eternal Majesty. We must remember that He is God’s Incarnate Son. We must remember that He is the One who received a crown of thorns from man. We must consider His Power, the One who set the stars on their courses. He is the One who created all things who holds everything together with the Power of His Might.

As we cross the threshold of the door, our gaze is fixed on the Crown of Thorns.

There are seven things about this crown which demands our attention.

  1. The material of the crown – it was made of thorns.
  2. The making of the crown – they plaited the thorns and put it on His head.
  3. The misery of the crown – they took a reed and beat the thorns into His temples.
  4. The mockery of the crown – over and over they mocked Him.
  5. The meaning of the crown – the thorns speak of the curse and represent the world.
  6. The mystery of the crown – a fulfillment of prophecy, the most wonderful and most precious type of the Sacrifice of Jesus is when Abraham was commanded to offer up his only son Isaac on Mount Moriah, the same Mount as Mount Calvary.
  7. The message of the crown – is two-fold:  it speaks of dark punishment and glorious pardon.

To understand the connection between the first issue and the second issue, we need to turn to Genesis 3:17-19 –
v17 And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; v18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; v19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it you were taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

We must meditate further on what Abraham did:
He laid his only son on the altar and raised his knife.
Then came Divine intervention!
Abraham looked up and saw a Ram caught in a thorn bush.
He took his son off the altar and replaced him with the ram.
Here we see a perfect type of our Lord Jesus Christ.
No wonder the Saviour Himself could say –
v56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.” v57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” v58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
v59 So they picked up stones to throw at Him. John 8:56-59

Man gave Jesus a cross and a crown made of thorns which came from the ground cursed by God. He rose from the dead, departed this earth and is now seated at the right hand of God.

The next time our Saviour’s feet touch the earth, it will be on the Mount of Olives.
When this happens, they will recognise Him as the One whom they put to death. They will mourn as one who mourns for an only child and they will grieve for Him as one grieves over a firstborn.
The significance of the thorns is unmistakable. They were part of the curse in the beginning and mockingly used by man at the end.
As we wait excitedly for our Saviour to take us out of this world, may we consider with gravity and seriousness the plight of those who will be left behind.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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THINK ON THESE THINGS

Isaiah 55:6-8 – Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways”, saith the Lord. KJV

The destruction Israel knew in A.D.70 will be repeated before the Lord returns in Glory.In one of the great ironies of history: The Man of Sin will seek to destroy the people who sought to destroy The Man of Sorrows.

They will cry out for their Messiah to come and save them; and He will appear with the marks they gave Him. The marks in His hands and His feet, and they will realise that all their miseries were brought on them by their own evil hearts, and the whole nation will mourn and wail together.

What has happened, is happening, and will happen to Israel is a picture of what is happening to all of mankind. Our miseries are self-inflicted, because we would rather ignore the King of Kings and go our own way.

We have turned our backs on the Saviour. Our sins nailed Him to a cross of shame, and we have walked away and left Him.

And yet He still calls us! Seek Me while you can.
There is coming a day when this call will be no more.

Luke 19:41-44 – As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” NIV

The Lord visited that city offering Salvation and they chose to reject Him, because they did not want Him. There was another who would visit the city in the form of a Roman General, who would give them no choice at all!

There is a secret of His tears and we would do well to sit at His feet until we learn it! Calamity awaits those who have no room for Him in their scheme of things.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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HE SAT DOWN

God hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High. Hebrews 1:2-3

But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:12

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Reading a quick overview of the Book of Hebrews one can only come to one opinion:
It was either the glories of the ancient religion of Judaism, with all its rituals, ancient prophets and sacred sanctuary –

OR IT WAS JESUS! 

What a struggle it must have been for those who wanted to follow Jesus because in doing so they would have had to leave behind their religion. They would have had to turn their backs on old customs, rituals, rules, regulations and laws not to mention what the neighbours would think!

The pressures and opposition put on them by the Scribes and Pharisees to return to their old ‘faith’ would have been enormous and relentless and would have been accompanied by threats and persecution both physical and mental. It is with this background in mind that we consider our verses of Scripture.

If the Pharisees and Scribes had read and understood their own Scriptures, they would have known that the Messiah was coming. They would have known why He was coming, even where He was going to be born, and yet they were blind to the contents and meaning of the ancient writings they purported to study and know so well.
They didn’t have life and they didn’t want truth.

They were more interested in their own traditions and prejudices than in the truth of God. They were dead in their sins and were destined to remain so, and they would not have their eyes opened to the truth. What they did do was cling to that which they had for so long cherished, sadly it proved their undoing in the end.

The prophets were only channels through which God’s Word was communicated, and it was a tragedy that they and their leaders failed to realise that their revered Prophets were continually pointing to the Messiah.
Jesus had arrived and was the final revelation of God to men.
It was Jesus who said:

Whoever had seen ME had seen the Father.
John 14:9

JESUS SPEAKS NOT ONLY FOR GOD BUT AS GOD.

Note what the Scriptures tell us about Jesus:

  • God has spoken to us through Jesus.
  • He has appointed Jesus heir to all things.
  • It was through Jesus that God made the worlds.
  • It was through Jesus that every creature on earth was made.
  • Jesus is the brightness of the Glory of God.
  • Everything that is in God is in Jesus.
  • Jesus is the image of God.
  • Jesus being God reveals to mankind exactly what God is like.
  • It is Jesus that holds all things in the universe together. Colossians 1:17
  • And it is done by the power of His Word.
  • It is Jesus, who bore our sins on the Cross of Calvary.
  • It was Jesus who died there for us.
  • It was Jesus who removed and cleared our sins.
  • It is Jesus who now sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High.
  • And He sits there because His work is done.
  • It is finished.
  • The price has been paid.
  1. In the beginning God HAD ONLY TO SPEAK and the entire universe was created.
  2. In order to maintain the universe, HE ONLY HAD TO SPEAK.
  3. BUT in order to put away our sins, HE HAD TO DIE!

It is utterly staggering to think that the God of all creation had to stoop so low for us.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride….
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

(Isaac Watts)

 May this be our daily prayer as we wait, eagerly for His return.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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IT IS A CONFUSING WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN

The following was written by a confused American:

I never dreamed that I would have to face the prospect of not living in the United States of America, at least not the one I have known all my life. I have never wished to live anywhere else. This is my home and I was privileged to be born here.
But today I woke up and as I had my morning tea, I realized that everything is about to change. No matter how I vote, no matter what I say, something evil has invaded our nation, and our lives are never going to be the same.
I have been confused by the hostility of family and friends. I look at people I have known all my life. They are so hate-filled that they agree with opinions they would never express as their own.

I think that I may well have entered the Twilight Zone. You can’t justify this insanity. We have become a nation that has lost its collective mind!

  • Somehow it’s un-American for the census to count how many Americans are in America.
  • Russians influencing our elections are bad, but illegals voting in our elections are good.
  • It was cool for Joe Biden to “blackmail” the President of Ukraine, but it’s an impeachable offense if Donald Trump enquires about it.
  • Twenty is too young to drink a beer, but eighteen is old enough to vote.
  • People who have never owned slaves should pay slavery reparations to people who have never been slaves.
  • People who have never been to college should pay the debts of college students who took out huge loans for their degrees.
  • Immigrants with tuberculosis and polio are welcome, but you’d better be able to prove your dog is vaccinated.
  • Irish doctors and German engineers who want to immigrate to the US must go through a rigorous vetting process, but any illiterate gang-bangers who jump the southern fences are welcome.
  • $5 billion for border security is too expensive, but $1.5 trillion for “free” health care is not.
  • If you cheat to get into college you go to prison, but if you cheat to get into the country you go to college for free.
  • People who say there is no such thing as gender are demanding a female President.
  • We see other countries going Socialist and collapsing, but it seems like a great plan to us.
  • Some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born,    and other people are not held responsible for what they are doing right now.
  • Criminals are caught-and-released to hurt more people, but stopping them is bad because it’s a violation of THEIR rights.
  • And pointing out all this hypocrisy somehow makes us “racists”?!

Nothing makes sense anymore, no values, no morals, no civility and people are dying of a Chinese virus, but it is racist to refer to it as Chinese even though it began in China.

We are clearly living in an upside down world where right is wrong and wrong is right, where moral is immoral and immoral is moral, where good is evil and evil is good, where killing murderers is wrong, but killing innocent babies is right.

Wake up America , the great unsinkable ship Titanic America has hit an iceberg, it is taking on water, and is sinking fast.

  • The choice is yours to make.
  • What will it be?
  • Time is short!
  • Make your choice wisely!

(Written by a confused American)

After reading these heartfelt words, what are our choices? As it is obvious that man has run out of choices, I wholly recommend turning to someone who holds the answer.

  • I choose to turn to Jesus Christ.
  • I elect to turn to the Scriptures – yes the Bible.
  • The very Book that most people on earth have shunned and ridiculed.

In this Book, we are given the following words in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 to digest:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The fact that these words were written about two thousand years ago should encourage anyone to sit up and pay attention.
The fact that they, with pin-point accuracy, describe our world today should inspire any serious minded person seeking answers, to turn to the Bible to discover more!
If they do, they will discover that the Bible predicts many specific signs that would culminate in the last days.

Notice that none of these prophecies are vague. They accurately describe what is happening in our world today – nobody can deny this! What also cannot be denied is that our generation is the first to see EVERY TREND in place.

With that in mind, we are witnessing the final seconds of this age tick away.Knowing full well that we cannot and must not put our faith in mankind, our only hope is Jesus Christ! And yet, how often have so many heard those words and scoffed at them?

  • How many times have we thought about Jesus and then ignored Him?
  • How many times have we heard that there is a Heaven and Hell.
  • How many times have we sneered and ridiculed that concept?

It is true that people on earth HATE to hear the word REPENT, and yet have you ever considered how many people have died and wished they could hear it just once more.

Time is short! Make your choice wisely!

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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GUIDANCE

There is no doubt whatsoever that we live in a topsy turvy world!
The virus has hit us all very hard, with many folk out of work having lost their jobs. Businesses have closed their doors for the last time with staff lay-offs being the order of the day. Millions of people have lost their jobs and the worldwide economy nose-dived at a rate rarely ever seen. 
The public are bewildered and confusion reigns.
Those in authority are plagued with problems with hardly anyone knowing what to do.
People panicked and felt so confused, as no one seemed to have any real answers to the problems we were facing.

No one is at peace, and we are told that a lot worse is coming.
Sadly, the enforced rules of social distancing and the wearing of face masks has driven a social divide among people. Many no longer want to be around others, and to a great extent, the human race has certainly parted ways. We are experiencing uncertain times, and many people are very anxious as to what is really happening. If that wasn’t bad enough, we hear of Doctors and Scientists saying opposite things to one another.

  • Who do we trust?
  • Who do we turn to for the truth?
  • Who will help?
  • Who will guide us?

Let us turn to the Scriptures for the answer–(sadly, this is something no Government in the whole world has asked their citizens to do!). I wonder why?
Here is what the Scriptures tell us:
John 16:13 tells us: The Spirit is come, He will guide you in all truth.
Psalm 25:9 tells us: The meek will He guide in judgment and the meek will He teach His way.
Psalm 32:8 tells us: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.

Guidance has to do with Man’s NEED and God’s NATURE.

The PURPOSE God guides us is so that:

  • We might have the right Desires. So He guides us into all truth.
  • We might make the right Decisions. So He guides us in judgment and teaches us His way.
  • We might reach the right So He guides us in the way we should go.

The REASON for God’s guidance is:

  • To teach us of our need and God’s sufficiency.
  • To keep faith fresh and expectancy alive.
  • To have fellowship with God.
  • To give living witness to the reality of God’s presence, provision and protection.

The PRINCIPLE of guidance is:

  • That we do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit.

The PRACTICE of guidance is that:

  • God has shown us what is good.
  • God has shown us what He requires.
  • We are to do what is honourable and right.
  • We are to love mercy.
  • We are to walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)

As believers, we are living in today’s mixed up world and we are witnessing a world without proper guidance.
Proper guidance comes from God, our creator and it is vital that you know Him.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and He urged everyone to come to Him.
By doing so, you will discover that God will:

  • Guide you into all truth.
  • Guide you in the decisions you have to make.
  • Teach you His ways.

What more could we ask for?

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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FORGET NOT!

It is interesting that the Scriptures remind us not to forget and yet that is exactly what we do – we forget!

There is a particular verse in the Bible which fascinated me when I first read it many years ago, and it holds no less intrigue for me today. This is what it says:

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:23-24

At first I didn’t believe what it said, because it was telling me that when I looked at myself in a mirror, perhaps to comb my hair, and then when I left the bathroom, I immediately forgot what I looked like. No matter how many times I have put this to the test, I instantly forget what I looked like!!

No wonder God reminds us, not to forget!

Beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Deuteronomy 6:12

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish: whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.  Job 8:13-14

I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word. I will never forget Thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. Psalm 119:16+93

There are moments everywhere in life to help us remember great events, but if I had my way there would be one exception:

Going to the Dentist! But even then they have that covered, because they will give you a reminder call or text message when your next appointment is due.

Remembering requires an act of the will. There has to be a desire. There are also many things that help our memories, one of which is appreciation. We are not apt to remember what we do not appreciate.

I am sure you will agree that during our school days the subjects we did our best at were the ones we liked. Likewise, the teachers we did our best work for, were the ones we appreciated.
If we really appreciate what Jesus did for us on the Cross, we will remember. We will not forget what He did for us in paying the penalty for our sin. We will remember what we Love, simply because Love is a compelling and captivating force.

  • Can a Mother forget her child?
  • Can a Father forget his family?
  • They are all part of each other.
  • Possession means love.
  • And Love means remembrance.

There are other reasons for remembrance:

  1. Obligation.
  2. Indebtedness

We will remember if we have any sense of responsibility and any measure of maturity.
A Father will have both and therefore will remember his family.
A believer will have both and will therefore remember what the Saviour has done for Him. We will remember because the Saviour has given us life, even plucking us from the jaws of Hell itself!

As believers, we all have an obligation to serve Christ and to spread the Gospel. We have an indebtedness to Him for what He did for us at Calvary. Our Salvation is the reason we remember Jesus with Appreciation and Love.

We love Him, because He first loved us.
May the Lord help us each and every day to Forget Not!

 

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

One positive thing during this ‘lock-down’ time that we are all going through, is that many of us are certainly trying to sort out our lives.
Like most Christians, it sometimes takes affliction and hardship to draw us closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:71-72 tells us:

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

We all agree that we are living in extraordinary times.
Never before has the world literally come to such a grinding halt!
Personal liberty and freedoms have been taken away from everyone.
Governments, worldwide are telling us who we can and cannot see, what we can and cannot buy, where we can and cannot travel to and how many times a day we can walk.

To believers it seems as though the god of this world is having a field day! Who would have imagined that we would be stopped from travelling to see our own family and friends.
Who would have ever thought that we would be denied the opportunity of gathering together to Worship.
This morning I awoke to a glorious sunny day! THANK YOU LORD!

I would like to quote from a poem written by Noreen Holmes, a retired Missionary to Lebanon:

Where are You, Lord?
I feel deeply troubled and tense.
Life simply does not make much sense.
The cloud I’m in is deeply dense.

Where are You, Lord?
I need to feel Your comfort now;
To know there’s a purpose – somehow,
As in this storm I bend and bow.

Where are You, Lord?
I want Your presence, calm and peace;
Feel the fears, anxieties cease;
Find in you a sense of release.

Where are You, Lord?
Those I care about are in pain.
In times like these I see no gain.
On my whole being, it’s a drain.

Where are You, Lord?
You know that it’s change, which I hate.
My life has been shaken of late.
I’m upset. My mind’s in a state.

STOP, MY CHILD! I am close – right here.
Your eyes have been dimmed by your fear.
You think Me distant, but I’m near.
Remember, to Me you are dear.

I’ve come across the sea to you.
Over huge waves, I’ve come right through.
With a challenge that is not new;
Trust Me, whatever else you do.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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TAKE THE SON

I’ve been going through a collection of old messages trying to think of one that would be suitable to share with everyone, and as the festive season is upon us, my thoughts fluctuated between, do I choose an amusing, thoughtful or sombre message? What finally made my mind up was our Headline News that reported more snow and treacherous icy conditions were about to engulf our country, bringing with it hardship and misery for people struggling to afford to keep warm as a result of increased energy bills. Do they choose to wrap themselves up in more blankets, or do they rather choose to fire up the boiler to heat their homes?
The now popular phrase, TO HEAT OR TO EAT making it a real quandary for millions of households. I realise that this dilemma may not apply to those who live in more temperate climates, but nevertheless, choices in life must be made no matter the circumstances or even where you reside.
Finally, I settled on this one and would like to share part of it with you all.

Years ago there was a very wealthy man who along with his devoted young son shared a passion for art collecting. Together they travelled around the world adding only the finest treasures to their collection, which included priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others. Many of these pictures adorned the walls of the family home, while others were put in storage. The widowed father looked on with satisfaction as his only child grew to be an experienced art collector.

As time went by, sadly, the nation they lived in became involved in a war, and many young men went off to serve the country. After only a few short weeks, the father received news that his beloved son was missing in action. The father feared the worst that he would never see his son again. Within days his fear was confirmed. News reached him that his son had died. He was killed while carrying a fellow soldier to safety. Overwhelmed with grief and very lonely the father faced the Christmas holidays in anguish and despair.

One day, after returning from a Christmas service there was a knock at the door. As he walked from his bedroom to the front door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him once again that his son was not coming home. He opened the door and was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. The soldier introduced himself by saying “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died.
May I come in for a few moments; I have something to show you.”
As the two began to talk, the soldier told the father that his son often spoke of his father’s love and of the fine collection of art they had. This young soldier said “I am an artist too. I want to give this to you.” The father unwrapped the package and to his amazement it was a portrait of his son. By the standards of great art it wasn’t a masterpiece but it was very well done and it brought tears to his eyes. Overcome with emotion, the father thanked the soldier promising to hang the portrait in a prominent place.

He kept his word even though it meant taking down thousands of pounds’ worth of other paintings, and he hung it above the mantlepiece, after which the father sat in his chair and spent Christmas day gazing at the gift he had been given.
During the days and weeks that followed, the father learned that his son had saved dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet ended his own life. As the story of his own son’s bravery and devotion continued to reach him, his grief was replaced with pride over the loving and selfless actions of his son. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, of far more value than any other piece of art in his collection.

Sadly, the following spring the father became sick and died and the art world was filled with anticipation, for with his only son dead there was no-one left in the family to receive the father’s priceless art collection which now would be sold in auction. According to the will of the father, all of the works of art would be auctioned on the anniversary of the day that he had received his greatest gift: The portrait of his son.

Finally, the day arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most rare and expensive paintings. Dreams could be fulfilled on this day, greatness would be achieved! However, the auction began with a painting that was not on the list. It was the painting of the father’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid but the room was silent. “Who will open the bidding at £100?” he asked. Uncomfortable silence filled the room and moments passed as no-one spoke. Finally from the back of the room a voice expressed what everyone was thinking, “We don’t care about that painting. It’s just a picture of his kid. We came here to bid on the father’s art collection, not on that painting.”
Immediately the room was filled with other voices agreeing with the speaker, but the auctioneer replied, “No, we are adhering to the will of the father and I will take bids on this one only, so let us continue.”

“Who will take the son?” There was more uncomfortable silence. Finally a friend of the father’s spoke and he said, “will you take £10 for the painting?” The auctioneer replied “Who will bid higher?” More silence. “Are there any other offers?” Finally the auctioneer spoke in a loud voice, “Going once, going twice, gone for £10!” with his gavel hitting the podium with finality.

Cheers erupted in the room and someone shouted “Finally, we can get to the action of the auction and bid on the real treasures!” But before anyone could settle down, the auctioneer pounded his gavel on the podium several times and with a loud voice announced that the auction was over! Stunned disbelief brought complete silence to the room, then someone spoke up and asked:
“What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a portrait of this man’s son. What about all the other paintings? There are millions of pounds’ worth of artwork here. We demand an explanation!” The auctioneer replied “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son gets it all.”

The impact of this short story is encapsulated in Colossians 3:1-4 –

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Never forget, the choices we make are lasting and whoever takes the Son gets all.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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BE FILLED

Our readings for today are taken from Colossians 1:9-10 and 2 Timothy 2:15

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

The more I read, and re-read these verses the more convinced I am that had Bible believing-parents grasped the vital importance of praying the Apostle Paul’s prayer for their children from the day they were born, and continue to do so, we would have seen countless numbers of parents and young Christian boys and girls throughout our land standing up for what is right in today’s society and saying NO!

  • No to humanistic teaching and atheistic beliefs.
  • No to the ridiculous belief that boys can be girls and girls can be boys.
  • No to doctors and medical staff administering life altering drugs to achieve this.
  • No to educational authorities using young people as pawns.
  • No to using children as front runners on Global Warming concerns, and other issues, allowing them to join demonstration marches protesting fears that even the experts don’t understand.
  • No to exposing the young to bad influences and distractions in their school life, the workplace and in their social life.

The whole world is in a battle for her children. We weep for the breakdown of the family. We weep for fatherless homes. We weep for the lack of respect for fellow men.
We weep over the countless knife crimes, murders and wars.
We weep at the onslaught against the liberty of thought and expression. We weep that children are having children who then pass on dubious morals and life styles to their offspring.

Indeed we have left goodness, gentleness, and kindness behind, only to be left with loathing, hatred, crudeness, greed, and laziness. Every man for himself. We are so easily offended. Cruelty abounds. Forgiveness is a dirty word.

Society is disintegrating before our eyes, but many are blind to it. Indeed many are cheering it on.

In seeking to right past wrongs, we wrong those who played no part.

We took prayer out of schools. We took scripture reading out of the classrooms, and we wonder why it is that so many have no anchor for their thoughts and desires. Swayed by every ‘whim and fancy’ that comes their way.
Educational authorities and the media socially promote and preserve self-esteem in the short term, only to destroy it in the long term, judging loving ourselves far more important than Loving God.

We watch in horror whilst men are being emasculated, when they should be at the forefront of raising young men.
We watch as criminals destroy our businesses and smash and grab and call it social justice. Our society is hurting, yes.
Our mental health is deteriorating because our families are disintegrating before our eyes.
Suicides and overdoses are now epidemics in our country.
Covid protocols and lockdowns were not the answer, they didn’t help one bit.

With this in mind, notice what Paul wants for us:

  • He wants us to be filled with knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding and discernment.
  • He wants us to know what God wants us to do.
  • He wants us to walk worthy of the Lord.
  • He wants us to be fruitful in every good work.
  • He wants us to increase our knowledge of God.

This cannot be done without a knowledge of God’s Word.
Knowledge of God’s Word cannot be obtained without reading it and studying it.
It is astounding how little of the Bible is read these days. Many would rather read other books and magazines than settle down to meditate on God’s Word. There is a famine in households with parents not knowing what to say or do for their children and indeed for themselves.

Without knowledge of what God wants for our lives we are at sea, tossed about like a small boat on the waves of life and unless we follow the advice given by Paul, we will continue to be disturbed and unsettled by the temptations life throws at us every day.

We cannot BE FILLED unless:

  • We decide to get serious.
  • We read, study and meditate on God’s Word every day of our lives.
  • We know God’s will for our lives.

It is my sincere prayer we get serious about discovering how we can become useful to God. So often we want our own way and neglect to ask Him for His way, His plan and His direction.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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THE BIBLE

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalm 119:105,160

How true it is that those who have experienced the power of the Scriptures in their lives are not likely to forget them.
Simply because they were born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever!
The very best of man, and of what’s on offer in this world, falls way short of perfection and always comes to an end.

But the Word of God is perfect and infinite. The more we get to know the Bible, the more we realise just how far short we come.
Where else would you uncover great nuggets of treasure, beauty and wonders that have true meaning?

Long ago it was precious to the Godly because it was rare.
In the days of Samuel, it was a despised book.
In the days of Josiah, it was a forgotten book.
In the days of Jeremiah, it was a neglected book.
In the days of Malachi, it was a rejected book.
In the days of Nero, it was a condemned book.
In the days of the Inquisition, it was a forbidden book.
In modern times, it is a mutilated book, and yet it’s truth still stands.

It isn’t enough to own a Bible; we must read it.
It isn’t enough to read it; we must let it speak to us.
It isn’t enough to let it speak to us; we must believe it.
It isn’t enough to believe it; we must live it.

What book is that whose pages are divine➔ The Bible
That bears God’s impress on every line, ➔ The Bible
And in man’s soul makes light to shine? ➔ The Bible
What is the greatest gift the Lord In His mercy did award, To man to be his shield and sword? ➔ The Bible
When sin and sorrow, want and woe, assault poor mortals here below, What book can real comfort show? ➔ The Bible
Oh what can make this world of woe with peace and truth and virtue glow, Till men no more sin nor sorrow know? ➔ The Bible
When death comes knocking at the door, As it will for everyone, that’s for sure, What tells of bliss for evermore? ➔ The Bible
Author Unknown

It has been said that no-one ever graduates from Bible study until he meets its Author face to face.
A humble believer can see more on his knees than his enemies on tiptoes!

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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WHAT JESUS DID

  • He took the hate and gave me love.
  • He took the wrath and gave me rest.
  • He took the pain and gave me peace.
  • He took the darkness and gave me the dawn.
  • He took the humiliation and gave me honour.
  • He took all I deserved and gave me all I needed.
  • He went to the Cross so I could have a new beginning.

Yes, I have a Friend, He was a carpenter, and He took my cross, my cruel cross and with its wood He made a door.
I pierced His hands upon that cross,
He used those hands to open that door so that I could enter and find Forgiveness, Faith and Fellowship.
I find Love, Life and Light.
I find Him whom I sought not, and the things I sought, I turn from with scorn and disdain, for those are what caused my shame.
In the despised I find delight, and the once delightful I now despise.
He has taken from me riches that were impoverishing me and replaced them with a poverty that has enriched me.

Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE

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SEEK YE CHRIST

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3

These wonderful verses encourage us to put away our old life and put on the new life. For years we have walked the ways of the world and now with our hearts, minds and eyes opened by God’s Holy Word, we are spurred on to set our affections on things above.

Once we accept Christ into our lives and begin to put aside our old ways, we are dead and buried to our old lives and have risen with Him into a completely new life. I am constantly reminded of the following verse of Scripture whenever daily life throws, or attempts to throw, me off course.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9

Like all things new we need to learn what to do and how to do it. Many years ago we bought my late Father a new video recorder for his birthday. When we told him how it worked, he was amazed that he could watch the nature programmes he so loved and at the same time record another programme. He could not believe it was possible until we proved it to him! He always thought that you could only watch one programme at a time. As a consequence of having this new thing in his life, he had to learn what to do and how to do it. There were instructions to read, buttons to press, programmes to find and channels to set.
He had to learn the new way because the old way was done away with. He had to wave goodbye to it. In fact, he soon learned that he could never go back to the old ways if he wanted to watch his programmes.
So it is with us as new believers. We have to say goodbye to our former way of life, and set our mind on new things.
To focus on things from above, and not on things of the earth.  No matter how hard it is to do or how strong the pull of our old lives, we must face Heaven and put our backs to the world. Although we are still on earth, we should cultivate heavenly ways, by reading, meditating and paying attention to what God has to say.

A.T. Robertson has put it like this: 

The baptized life means that the Christian is seeking heaven and is thinking heaven.
His feet are on earth, but his head is with the stars.
He is living like a citizen of heaven here on earth.
Faith honours God and God honours faith.

My prayer is that you will seek the things that come from God because they last. The things of this world are set to perish along with those who do not obey His commands.