Lord's Supper - John Stott

Thoughts from John Stott:

During the meal in the upper room Jesus took bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).

These are immensely significant words and actions, for they tell us Jesus's own view of his death.

Three truths stand out:

1. The first is the centrality of his death. Jesus was giving his own instructions for his memorial service. They were to eat bread and drink wine in memory of him. Moreover, the bread would stand not for his living body but for his body given for them and the wine for his blood shed for them. In other words, death would speak from both the elements.
 So it was by his death that he wished to be remembered.

2. The second truth we learn from the Lord's supper concerns the purpose of Jesus's death. According to Matthew, the cup stood for "my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matt 26:28).

This is the truly fantastic claim that through the shedding of his blood in death God would establish the new covenant promised through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31), one of whose greatest promises was the forgiveness of sins.

3. The third truth taught by the Lord's Supper concerns the need for us to appropriate personally the benefits of Jesus's death.

For in the drama of the upper room the disciples were not spectators only but participants. Jesus not only broke the bread but gave it to them to eat. Similarly, he not only poured the wine, but gave it to them to drink.

Just so, it was not enough for Christ to die; we have to make the blessings of his death our own. The eating and the drinking were, and still are, a vividly acted parable of receiving Christ as our crucified Savior and of feeding on him in our hearts by faith.

The Lord's Supper, as instituted by Jesus, was evidently not meant to be a slightly sentimental "forget me not" service; it was rather a drama rich in spiritual significance.

My Heart - Christ's Home - C S Lewis

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.

But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to?

The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of--throwing out a new wing here, putting in an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

         From Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  Ephesians 3:14-16

....that Christ would settle down and be at home in your hearts...(Weymouth)

Crevice with a View - Charles Spurgeon

God's great design in all His work is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this would be unworthy of Himself.

But how shall the glory of God be manifested in such fallen creatures as we are?
Man's eye is not single in its focus; he always has a side glance toward his own glory, has too high an estimate of his own powers and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord.


It is clear then that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted.

And this is the reason why He often brings His people into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes to work their deliverance.

He whose life is one even and smooth path will see but little of the glory of God, for he has few occasions for self-emptying and hence but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God.

They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks shall know but little of the God of tempests; but they who are doing "business on the great waters" see "His wondrous works in the deep."*

Among the huge waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach we learn the power of Jehovah, because we find the littleness of man.

Thank God, then, if you have been led  by a rough road. It is this that has given you your experience of God's greatness and loving-kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained through no other means.

Your trials have been the crevice of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by.

Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance that continued prosperity might have involved, but in the great fight of affliction you have been qualified for the outshining of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you.

                   --- Charles  Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Then the LORD said, "There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and you will see my back; but My face must not be seen."  Exodus 33:21-23
                                 

*Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, His wonderful deeds in the deeps. For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves, they mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths.

In their peril their courage melted away, they reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wit's end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper, the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it became calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.   Psalm 107:23-30

The Tongue - A Weapon

 

                                                 When is the Tongue a Weapon?

From James, Chapter 3:

"The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider how a great forest is set in fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire...it corrupts the whole body...no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who have been made in Christ's likeness. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

Lord, You caution us in Your Word to be careful with our tongue. It is a small but powerful tool. It can be a dangerous weapon! Our words can harm, wound, discourage people around us who are made in Your image.

We are surrounded by people who want to damage others -- social media, TV, speakers and ranters, all pouncing on others and  causing chaos.

It is all around us. They distort truth and spread malicious lies.

Help us to discern truth in the midst of all the hateful rhetoric.

But also help us model a different way of communication -- Your way. Make our words speak the truth in love, thoughtful and kind, and full of Your grace and mercy -- like You speak to us.

As You have been to us, help us to be to others.

We want to bless the world with Your beauty. Help us be different from the world around us! Where there is hate, help us bring love.

And praise and gratitude  to You for hearing our prayers.

Amen

What is Special Revelation? - J I Packer

The Bible teaches about two different kinds of revelation.

There is the revelation in nature, which is usually called general
revelation, and there is a more specific revelation, revealed, not in nature, but in Scripture, which is usually called special revelation.

What is Special Revelation?

J. I Packer talks about special revelation, occurring the three phases:

First, there is revelation in history.

God is a God who acts.

This truth, perhaps more than any other, clearly distinguishes Christianity from other religions of the world.

Christianity is not, as Eastern religions would say of themselves, essentially a discipline by which we direct our thoughts and so order our lives that we progress in the direction of truth and eventually merge with the Eternal.

Christianity is not so much a way of life as it is the intervention of God in history.

We read in Genesis that God "created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

"God created man" (Genesis 1:27).

God called Abraham to create a special nation through whom a Deliverer would come.

God acted in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, to die and rise again for our salvation.


Second, there is revelation in writing.

We can see at once how essential this is. Because when we speak or write, as I just have, about the revelation of God in history  --  about God's creating the heavens and the earth, creating man, calling Abraham, and eventually sending Jesus Christ to die for our sin --  we want to ask, But how do we know that God has done these things?

We know through the Bible God has given us.

First, God acts. Secondly, He reveals Himself in inspired writing that we might understand what He has done.


Third, there is revelation to the individual mind and heart.

This is the work of God's Holy Spirit by which our minds are opened to understand and receive what has been written.

As a result, we are changed so that the Bible's teaching becomes no longer merely an academic thing but the actual point at which we hear God speaking.

But again, notice the centrality of the Bible.

We talk about the revelation of God in history, in writing, and in the personal illumination of the mind by the Holy Spirit.

But the Bible is at the center of the process.

The only way we know about God's acts in history is through the Bible, and the only point at which we hear the voice of God speaking to us personally is , again, through the Bible.

The whole process of God's work is centered in the record of it in God's Word, the Bible.

What I Missed at Christmas

                                                         What I Missed at Christmas

It feels so strange. Christmas only a few weeks away, but it feels like it was months ago!

Now I remember what I missed this year!

I never heard the Hallelujah Chorus! I never heard any of The Messiah!

Feels like I missed the best part of the season!

Our ancestors were right to celebrate both comings of Christ at Christmas -- not only His appearance in disguise as a baby born at Bethlehem,  but also His victorious return in the future to reign in power and glory as King of Kings!

I am focusing on the Hallelujah Chorus right now - I have the words playing on my phone and also Alexa to give a sort of stereo affect -- Sing with me --

"Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!

And He shall reign forever and ever!

King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

And He shall reign forever and ever!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

Now I feel like we've truly celebrated Christmas....but nothing like we will in the future when we see it all happen with our own blessed eyes! 

Hallelujah!

More about baby birds....

I ran across these verses in Deuteronomy:

                When you come across a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground,
                and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with
                the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may
                go well with you and you may have a long life.
                                          Deuteronomy 22:6-7

Why are these verses in the Bible? If there is, as I believe, no "filler" in God's Word -- if, as I believe, every Word from Him is important...then what is the importance of this?

I turned back to the Chumash (the Jewish commentary).

Here are some thoughts from the venerable Rabbis....

1. It is referring to an ownerless bird - not someone's poultry from their farm
2. The oldest commentaries say that the Torah forbad  taking an ownerless bird while sitting on the nest of eggs or young because it is cruel to do so.  

 Here's the exact wording in the Chumash:

 "The Torah forbids one to take an ownerless mother bird when it is sitting on its eggs or young. One must send away the mother bird --  even many times if it keeps returning to the nest -- and only then is one permitted to take the eggs or young....the reason for this commandment, as the prohibition against slaughtering a mother animal and its young on the same day (Leviticus 22:28) is because it is cruel to do so, especially since animals instinctively love their young and suffer when they see them slaughtered or taken away...Another reason is to symbolize that people should avoid doing things that will destroy a species, for to slaughter mother and children on the same day is akin to mass extermination.....these commandments are meant to inculcate compassion in people...that people should accustom themselves to act mercifully."

I am so touched by these thoughts from the ancient Jews.

The reference to Leviticus 22:28 is when God told the Jews "do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day."


Another thought from the Chumash....the Rabbis said that God would honor obedience to this simple commandment, that involved no financial loss, and so it demonstrated how much He would honor obedience in areas that caused hardship.

If we would obey God in small areas it showed that our hearts are yearning to be obedient in all areas.

The next verses in the passage from Deuteronomy talk about being responsible human beings, not only within nature, but within our communities, with each other. Verse 8 says that the Jews were to build a fence or other form of barrier around his roof, to keep people, who often entertained visitors on the flat roofs of their houses in the Holy Land, from falling off the roofs. Modern Jews use this verse to require them to build protection around their pools, or tall stairways that need railings.

The earlier verses in the Deuteronomy passage  talk about an ox, or sheep or goat that has strayed. They are to be returned to their brother. If the owner lived too far away, or perhaps was unknown, the finder was to keep the animal safe and fed until the owner came to claim it. He was to do that for any lost items -- even a garment.

 [And Jesus talked about a lost coin, a lost sheep, a lost boy .Just because the item is lost doesn't mean it changes owners!  Finders keepers, losers weepers is not God's description of holiness.]

And you were to help your neighbor, whose ox or donkey had fallen, get the struggling animal to his feet.

The Torah says, "Do not hide yourself" from these everyday situations. Our NIV says, "Do not ignore it."

So God is deeply concerned with all details of our lives. He is watchful that we care for His creation. That we care for the endangered species around us. That we not treat carelessly the animal world nor our great natural resources that have come to us from the bounty of God.

And that we are watchful of the welfare of our neighbors -- helping them whenever we can. We must not 'hide oursevles' or ignore problems we can help fix!

What a wonderfully caring God we worship!

Bro Mike says he is himself a "tree hugger" in the sense that he recognizes that God has put us "in charge of" His vast creation. We are to be careful, thoughtful stewards of the bountiful world we live in.

From the words of our Redeemer Savior:

         Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
                Luke 12


And from my childhood, the Westminster Catechism:


Question 11. What are God's works of providence?
Answer: God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all of his creatures, and all their actions.
(Psalm 145:17, Psalm 104:24, Hebrews 1:3, Nehemiah 9:6, Ephesians 1:19-22, and Psalm 36:6.)

Keeping the main thing the main thing....

 Last week I read one of Chuck Colson 's articles. It was disturbing. He talked about a Canadian high school teacher who was getting ready to start a class in Ethics. He decided jump start his study with a true story and gauge the class reaction.


The story was about a young Muslim girl married to a Taliban member. He was abusive and she tried to leave. Her family, along with his, cut off her nose and her ears and left her to die on the desert. Question: was this right or wrong?


Imagine his dismay when they couldn't decide. Finally the consensus seemed to be that it would be wrong here, but was acceptable there.


Is this what happens when we take the Ten Commandments and other indicators of absolute right and wrong out of our schools? Now it is all just a matter of opinion - too bad, young girl - you, and all others like you,  are doomed by relativists. (She somehow survived - she crawled a ways and someone found her and took her to an American hospital. She still lives).


Christians are so blessed. We know what God considers right and wrong. We do not have to waste time and effort debating it.


I notice, though, how hard it seems to be for most Christians to articulate exactly what they believe about their faith.


A favorite study material is the Heidelberg Catechism. It was written in the 1560's (next year is the 450th anniversary of its publication!)

There are 129 questions, divided into 52 sections, one for each "Lord's Day," so the Christians could study one section at their regular services each week.

The first section is called The Misery of Man.


Question 1: What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; (c) who with His precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and (d) delivered me from the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him (j).

(a) Romans 14:7-8, (b) 1 Corinthians 6:19, (c) 1 Corinthians 3:23 and Titus 2:14, (d) 1 Peter 1:18, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:2, 12, (e) Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8, John 8:34,-36,  (f) John 6:39, John 10:28, 1 Peter 1:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, (g) Matthew 10:29-31, Luke 21:18, Romans 8:28, (i) 2 Corinthians 2:20-22, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:16, (j) Romans 8:14, 1 John 3:3.



When I was a child we began our study for church membership with the Westminster Catechism; it is not quite as old as the Heidelberg --it was  written in the 1640's. In the 1670's the Baptist published their own catechism which is largely based on the Westminster.


They are all sound, beautifully written, and lift up the sovereignty of God, and His holiness and His love. But since I grew up with the Westminster document, I remember it best.

Its first question is:     What is the chief end of man?
And the famous answer is:     Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.


I notice that the Heidelberg starts with what comfort God has given us. How comforting those words are!


I remember reading about John Newton in his declining years. He had lost much of his memory, and realized it. He confided to someone. "I don't remember many of the things I ought. But I remember two things: (1) I am a great sinner, and (2) Jesus is a great Savior."


He remembered the most important thing. Nothing else really matters. We are great sinners and Jesus is a great Savior.

It's keeping the main thing as the main thing!

Stay Sober

A story......

This story is about a man who imagined himself to be quite spiritual. He was talking with a more mature friend, and he asked his friend to pray for him that he might be humble. "Pray for me that I might be nothing," he said

.

His friend wisely replied,, "You are nothing, brother, take it by faith."

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose
the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
I Corinthians 1:27-29

On the Other Hand....

These words from Ray Stedman:

Ray Stedman said that every morning when he got up he tried to remind himself of three things:

First, I am made in the image of God. I am not an animal and I don't have to behave like an animal. I have an ability within me, given to me by God himself, to respond and relate to God. Therefore I can behave as a man and not as a beast.

Second, I am filled with the Spirit of God. The most amazing thing has happened! Though I do not deserve it in the least degree, I have the power of God himself at work within me. I have become, in some sense, the bearer of God, and God himself is willing to be at work in me through the problems and pressures I go through this day.

Third, I am part of the plan of God. God is working out all things to a great and final purpose in the earth, and I am part of it. What I do today has purpose and significance and meaning. This is not a meaningless day I am going through. Even the smallest incident, the most apparently insignificant word or relationship, is involved in his great plan. Therefore all of it has meaning and purpose.

And so.....

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly that you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.... Romans 12:3

In Times of Trouble

"Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish"
    .....From King Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah 38:17.

My prayer in my times of trouble....

Father, the circumstance I am in right now is difficult and painful.

I would not have chosen it.

If You had given me a pile of problems to choose from, this would probably have been the very last one I would have chosen.

But You, in Your love and wisdom, have chosen it for me.

And I know You intend it for my good, and so, by faith, I thank You for the good You are going to do in my life through it.

Help me to genuinely believe this and be able to thank You with all my heart.

Amen.

So what's new?

The more things change, the more they remain the same...



Words from the Parson:

"...Then his face got serious...You know, Harriet, sometimes I get the feelin' that people are beginning to be a little ashamed of religion. They seem to think there is something old-fashioned about it. In this house we wouldn't notice it. Religion is part of our everyday life. It should be because it's mah business. But there's something about religion that seems to make people uneasy nowadays. Some of them seem to think it makes them look a little ridiculous if they say they believe in God and what He stands for."

-- From Stars In My Crown, written in 1946, by Joe David Brown. In the book he recalls his minister grandfather (Josiah Grey, a Civil War veteran) and events and conversations with his beloved and much admired grandfather occurring between 1900 and 1910. Stars in My Crown was made a movie in 1950.



For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...for in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith... just as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
  -- Romans 1:16

(God's own righteousness is revealed in the gospel)

C S Lewis - No Ordinary People

     There are No Ordinary People....


It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor.

The load, or weight,  or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.

All day long, we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or the other of these destinations.

It is the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics.

There are no ordinary people.

You have never talked to a mere mortal.

Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.

But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit -- immoral horrors or everlasting splendors.

This does not mean we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously -- no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.

And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner -- no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment.

Next to be Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.

If he is our Christian neighbor, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat - the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.

    --- From The Weight of Glory, by C S Lewis

Everything New Under the Sun

                                              

                                                Everything New Under the Sun

While studying early 1900s history this week I ran across some interesting trivia -- about early automobiles.

The most popular autos were powered by electricity -- they were called EVs (electrical vehicles).

About 40% of all automobiles on the roads between 1900-1915 were electric! About 30-35% were gasoline powered and the rest were powered by steam.

EVs were easier to start and cleaner to operate. Even Henry Ford's wife drove an EV.

(The first Porsche built in 1898 was electric.)

 And during that time in New York City all taxis and most trucks were EVs.

This reminds me of Solomon's observations recorded in Ecclesiastes: "There is nothing new under the sun," he wrote in chapter 1, verse 9.

That does seem to be true these days, too. "Been there - done that" we say. "Hold on to that dress -- it's come back  into style again." And "The more things change the more they remain the same." Etc...

Solomon continues his observations on the futility and emptiness of life until the end of the book where he summarized his last consideration with the greatest life-lesson of all: 'Know God and His commandments. That has lasting importance.You will be accountable..' 

And that's also still true. All that matters is our relationship with God. All else is trivial and futile and provides only emptiness of spirit. Be God-centered, not man- and self-centered.

And then flip over the the last book in the BIble, to the closing chapters of Revelation. Hear God's words, "Behold I make all things new"...and then there will  be lots of things "New under the sun"!

Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus!

(I guess we will have spirit-powered transportation when we get there! I'm counting it! Just 'Beam me up"!)