The Bible Standard - Re-Discover the Truth.

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CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

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What is at first most surprising as we read the book of Exodus, is the detail Moses is given of the way to construct the tabernacle.  We note that, starting with Ch. 20 v.1 “God spoke all these words” to Moses.  Today in Ch. 26 we have God’s detailed instructions; he said to Moses, “moreover you shall make the Tabernacle with …” [v.1] and there follows detailed instructions of the texture, length and colour of the 10 curtains that are to enclose its’ contents.  There are also 50 loops and clasps to secure the curtains, and the “50 clasps are of gold” [v.6].

In addition Moses is to make “curtains of goats hair” [v.7] for a top covering, 30 of these are needed, they are to be longer, 30 cubits (about 45 ft. each, nearly 14 metres).  Next are details of the sizes of the acacia wood frames (v.15-29) and the need for bronze bases (v.37). The verse that particularly stood out was v.30, “you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain.”

Why all this meticulous attention to detail?  It led us to ponder the words in the first chapter of the final book of the Bible, written when the Tabernacle and then the Temple were things of the past! The Apostle John says he “turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden Lampstands, and in the midst of the Lampstands one like the son of man …” [v.12,13]

John is told “the seven Lampstands are the seven churches.” [v.20].   The 7 churches, the assemblies of believers, are named and described in chapters 2 and 3. We see them as being representative of all the different types of assemblies of “saints” that have existed throughout the earth since that time.  Each is told “I know thy works” because the Son of man was in the midst of them.

We recall Paul’s words to the Ephesian believers telling them they were “members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” [2 v.19-21]

Just as God oversaw the construction of a physical tabernacle in the wilderness, we see there is now a spiritual temple!   Do we sense the wonder of this?  Do we sense its’ growth – last year – this year!? Just as in Revelation John saw Jesus in the midst of the assemblies of believers – and he knew their works, so also Paul concludes his revelation of the true, but physically unseen state of things by writing, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” [v.22]

Are we conscious of “being built” – and of the builder?  Are we co-operating with him? Moses is our example. Tragically the majority of the people with Moses in the wilderness lost their vision of the spiritual reality behind the physical.  Is not the same tragedy happening in today’s wilderness? As we read God’s word each day – is it coming ‘alive in our minds’?   Do we believe “God spoke all these words” and caused them to be recorded – for us? Do our thoughts and actions show we believe this?

A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

#1 Our Main site...  https://cdvideo.org

#2 Our podcast on Podbean... https://cdvideo.org/podcast

#3 Our podcast on Apple...https://cdvideo.org/podcast-apple

#4 Our podcast on Anchor...https://cdvideo.org/truth-talk

#5 Our facebook...https://facebook.com/OpenBibles

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Scanning our eyes through today’s reading of Psalm 78, our attention was arrested by the many references to God’s people Israel that – they did this, and they did that. We counted 27 times the word “they” occurred!  The word ‘they” was used in reference to things they did – or did not do.  We meditated on this.  God’s eyes are on Israel because they are his chosen people!  So what did his angels see as they looked into their hearts??

There were times, we read, when “they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the most High God, their redeemer” [v.34,35]  That is all to their credit and the same can be said of followers of Christ in all ages, when they started to follow him.

Are the next 2 verses equally true of Jews and Christians?  We read – “But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.  Their heart was not faithful toward him; they were not faithful …” [v.36-37]   What would you expect God’s reaction to be to this behaviour?

We read on .. “Yet he, being compassionate … did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often… “ [v.38] This is evidence of the God of love that many ‘Christian’ leaders talk about, portraying him as ever merciful, that believers are once saved, are  always saved! This became a ‘slogan’, you don’t have to worry about sin when you follow Jesus!  But isn’t it human nature, the more you get away with something, the more you do it! It seems as if that is how human nature worked with the Jews, they even killed their Messiah!

We read in Hebrews 3 v.13, “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ if … “ [Hebrews 3 v.13,14] Turn this up and read Paul’s exhortation to his fellow Hebrews as his nation was nearing its’ climax.  And what a tragic climax.

It seems clear that the world of ‘today” – in which God’s word has been so easily available – is nearing its’ climax!   Let us meditate right now – from our hearts – on the question Jesus asked!  “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”[Luke 18 v.8]  The answer may depend on how real is your faith – and my faith!  Faith is ‘proved’ by actions, our priorities day after day, not just by our words.

A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

#1 Our Main site...  https://cdvideo.org

#2 Our podcast on Podbean... https://cdvideo.org/podcast

#3 Our podcast on Apple...https://cdvideo.org/podcast-apple

#4 Our podcast on Anchor...https://cdvideo.org/truth-talk

#5 Our facebook...https://facebook.com/OpenBibles

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Shaking and joining hands is a physical sign of friendship, but Moses uses the term in an opposite context in today’s Exodus Ch. 23.  We read his warnings about joining hands for bad reasons.  He makes some down-to-earth statements of things that God sees as wrong.  Many of these are part of life today as men and women act in devious ways to cheat and deceive one another or the Government.

”Now these are the rules you shall set before them,” God said to Moses [Ch.21 v.1], “You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.  You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice” [23 v.1-2].   When Jesus said that we should love our enemies (Matt. 5 v.44), he had in mind things which Moses had said – as we also read today, “If you meet your enemies ox or his donkey going astray you shall bring it back to him” [v.4]

Today’s chapter in Mark finishes in a challenging way, “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness how will you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves …” [9 v.50]  What did he mean?

On another occasion he told his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth” [Matt.5 v.13].  The point is this; those who follow Jesus are to be the “salt” that influences and gives flavour to all it comes in contact with.   But what if the salt has lost its saltiness?  What if those that should provide the influence of “salt” have ceased to have any influence or have even joined hands with those who ignore God, or at least, turn a blind eye to their ungodly ways of living? Jesus said that such useless salt “is thrown away” [Luke 14 v.35].

There is a really blunt message in Mark ch. 9 from v.42 onwards; but it is said in more complex language. The “hell” and “unquenchable fire” [v.44] are part of a mini-parable to convey the utter destruction of those found to be worthless.  Here Gehenna is the Greek word for “hell”.  It is the rubbish dump outside one part of the wall of Jerusalem where fires continually burn to consume the rubbish thrown over the wall.

The lesson of Jesus is that his hearers must get rid of all hindrances in their walk to the kingdom – with special words of condemnation to those who cause others, the “little ones”, to fail. [v.42] and who “join hands with” those who do not meaningfully have God and Jesus in their lives.   Meditate on Colossians 4 v.5-6; what is your “speech” like?

A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

#1 Our Main site...  https://cdvideo.org

#2 Our podcast on android... https://cdvideo.org/podcast

#3 Our podcast on Apple...https://cdvideo.org/podcast-apple

#4 Our facebook...https://facebook.com/OpenBibles

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Every time we listen to the world news we hear accounts of violence in various places. Our Psalm today (74) has some comparison to this as it was most likely written after the destruction of the Temple for the Psalmist (Asaph) is lamenting, “the enemy has set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.” [v.7] He then laments about the situation saying, “there is no longer any prophet and there is none among us who knows how long” [v.9]

How long?  Well, the situation is that “a foolish people reviles your name … for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence” [v.18,20] How parallel this situation is with the world today; we could write a Psalm today that would be similar – except for the fact that although there is no longer any prophet we all have access, if we are inclined, to the word of God.   This opens out for us visions of how God sees life and the ultimate end in that awaits the world.!

So we can ask “how long” must this “violence” all around the world continue!?  But we ask this question from a special perspective!   Now that significant violence is in countries immediately north of God’s land and it seems certain the chosen people he has brought back to live there will be involved in the violence!

The Psalm contains lessons for us – for the writer turns his thoughts to God!  “Yet God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” [v.12].   Let us echo this prayer!  We remember how God worked deliverance in the days of Moses and David – and soon for us! Let us have a sure faith in this!

The last two verses are a prayer to God and they can – and should be – ours today, “Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember (be mindful) how the foolish scoff at you all the day!  Do not forget the clamour of your foes, the uproar of those who rise up against you, which goes up continually!” Many foes say he does not exist!

Finally we are attracted to add the words with which David concluded Psalm 9, “Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!  Put them in fear, O LORD!  Let the nations know they are but men!”  May “the habitations of violence” reach a dramatic climax, as prophesied – and then be no more!

A Christadelphian Video Production:

CHRISTADELPHIANVIDEO.ORG, a worldwide collaboration by Christadelphians to help promote the understanding of God's Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and God's plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.

Christadelphianvideo.org is dedicated in establishing just how far removed today's mainstream Christianity is from the 'True Christian Teachings' of the 1st Century Apostles.

You can follow us online at..

Some of our other services..

#1 Our Main site...  https://cdvideo.org

#2 Our podcast on android... https://cdvideo.org/podcast

#3 Our podcast on Apple...https://cdvideo.org/podcast-apple

#4 Our facebook...https://facebook.com/OpenBibles

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A @Christadelphians Video: “This is not a true story.  But the issues it discusses are very real.  Marc and Mary Moore are two Roman Catholics who take their convictions seriously.  

So seriously that when their beliefs are challenged by two friends they accept the opportunity to examine the basis for their own beliefs.  This begins a careful search for truth…  It is our sincere desire that all readers of this book will identify with the spirit in which Marc and Mary accepted this challenge.”  – How Sure Are the Foundations written by Colin Badger  

This audiobook is read by Chris Sales.  

The book can be purchased here: Christadelphian Books (USA) or CSSS Books (Australia).