The Bible Standard - Re-Discover the Truth.

Who needs news channels when the word of God predicts what will happen with accuracy. Persia or Iran has been mentioned in the pages of scripture for over a thousand years, and are a key player in the unfolding of end times. Ezekiel 38:4-6 (KJV) And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.

"BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED ..."  Feb. 15

There is a puzzling statement by Jesus in today’s 11th chapter of Mark. Jesus makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem creating much speculation. He curses a fig tree and it withers ; Peter expresses astonishment when they see it the next morning (v.21). God’s fig tree (Joel 1 v.7) was to dramatically wither in that generation.

In response to Peter, Jesus simply says, “Have faith in God.” [v.22] And what a great measure of faith by the faithful was needed as the terrible events Jesus predicted unfolded in and around Jerusalem in that generation..

Now, looking at our situation, what a great measure of faith will be needed amongst us as our world starts falling apart. Jesus foretold that God, while bringing on the world a time of “such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect… he shortened the days.”

These are words, expressed in the ‘tense’ of God’s time and we will read them this Sunday in Mark ch. 13 from v.19. One day – maybe soon – we will read them with a sense of awed anticipation - mixed with fear – we must then make sure we remember Jesus’ simple but so meaningful answer to Peter, “Have faith in God.”

Next we notice another strange statement by Jesus, “I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” [v.24] Is the tense wrong here – “you have received” in the past tense? No, the Gk tense, by all accounts is in the past tense, so what does Jesus mean? We conclude he is saying - look at the things you have asked and received in the past! For us, this is both personal and the prophecies we have now seen to be fulfilled and, as a result, we pray with confidence convinced God is in control and he will continue to act.

Finally we noted how the next verse tells us to make sure “whenever you stand praying, forgive … if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” There will be an even greater need for believers to be in harmony and to “stand praying” – and in every other posture - as our world starts to fall apart.

The Gk word does not mean “stand” in the physical sense, it is the only time this word occurs in the Gospels, but Paul uses it 7 times. Two examples: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” [1 Cor. 16 v.13] and “ I may hear of you … that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith …” [Philpns 1 v.27] Let us all be sure and certain that our prayers will be answered because we have past experiences to build upon and we will therefore “stand firm in the faith.” .

A Debate Between DR. HERKIMER & MR. FRANK ABEL on the deity of Christ, (THE “TRINITY”).

Exhortations from the Christadelphian comunity.

This is a talk which explains the Scriptural differences between Jesus as a Representative sacrifice rather than a substitute offering. This difference in understanding has far-reaching implications for the way the Christian life is lived and consequently, it is important to believe the Truth of this matter and act upon it faithfully. Bro s McGeorge

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Description: Much of Jacob’s life was occupied in pursuing, avoiding, manipulating. Throughout his many adverse experiences and distresses, he learned to wait upon God’s salvation and trust in His provision. We too can learn that God will not leave us, and despite the anxieties of life, we can trust Him.  6 videos examining the life and attitude of Jacob as he learnt to trust in his God. Various aspects of his life are put under the spotlight as we try to understand this complex character and how we can ultimately benefit from his example. This series was presented at the Lakeland NZ Bible school in Jan 2020 by Ben Brinkerhoff.

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“DO YOU NOT REMEMBER?”  Feb. 12

The disciples of Jesus were in training – but they did not realize this!  Do we?  Jesus spoke in parables and they, most of all, were expected to grow in their ability to sense their meaning and lesson.  In today’s chapter in Mark (Ch.. 8) they go in a boat to the other side of Galilee but “they had forgotten to take bread … and he cautioned them saying, ‘Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees’ …” [v.14,15]

They do not understand his meaning and “began discussing with one another the fact they had no bread.” [v.16]  Jesus reproves them for their lack of perception in spite of previous experiences.

“Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?  And do you not remember? “ [v.17,18]

He then reminds them of the feeding of the 5 thousand followed by the 4 thousand to make the point that the lack of literal bread was not the problem – it was “the leaven” of the teaching and attitudes of the Pharisees they had to beware of and watch out for.  What damage that would cause if attitudes developed in them. The spirit such attitudes produce destroy any chance of faith being able to grow.  The Pharisees extolled in their position before men, their glory was in their self-importance!

The seed for this “leaven” to grow was in the hearts of the disciples, it was latent there as we will see in the next chapter when Jesus challenges them “for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.”  [9 v.34]  Today’s chapter tells us that Jesus “called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” [v.34]  There is no intention to do any cross bearing in the hearts of those full of self-importance!

Making our faith evident to others in this ever more sinful world is one way we are likely to create for ourselves a ‘cross’ or two to bear – let us really mark Jesus’ words, “whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him (or her) will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in glory …” [v.38]

Let us remember the down to earth lessons Jesus taught and become, if we are not already, genuine disciples who listen to his words and perceive what he really means and make them part of our daily thinking and doing

“A FOOLISH PEOPLE REVILES YOUR NAME”  Feb. 11

Our Psalms reading today (No. 74) was obviously written when God’s nation was in distress and their temple destroyed.  Asaph is a later Psalmist and some of his words are very appropriate to our situation now; the few faithful in Israel were surrounded by scoffers, not dissimilar to what we will soon read in Exodus.  Real faith in God is a challenge, the Eternal does not make his presence so evident that there is no need for real faith, but the evidence is there for those who really apply their minds to ‘know’ God.

It is evident Asaph had to cope with a lot of scoffers. He writes, “There is no longer any prophet and there is none among us who knows how long” [v.9]  Today we also ask, “How long?” He then asks God, “Is the enemy to revile your name for ever?” [v.10]  The Psalm becomes a petition, “Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs and a foolish people reviles your name” [v.18]   So also today, the very existence of God is scoffed at and believers are sometimes reviled, especially in print, also - by implication - on TV.. More and more the mass of people accept the idea that they are only the highest form of animal and they evolved through endless accidents of pure chance.

In the generations from when the Bible was available for all to read many nations built up a ‘moral bank balance’ of spirituality – but this ‘balance’ has now all been used – and there are no ‘securities’ available for Governments to borrow against to build up the moral fibre of their people – even if they wanted to!

We note Asaph’s plea to God, “Arise O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoffat you all the day long!” [v.23]  This is now our plea in prayer to God, and it will become more and more urgent. What kind of answer are we expecting God to give?

The next Psalm gives God’s answer, “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars” [75 v.2,3]    We must not let our faith be undermined by the scoffing of the foolish, indeed we must be increasingly positive drawing on our ‘bank balance’ of scripture strength!

Asaph in yesterday’s Psalm expressed his personal relationship with God, “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory … there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” [v.23-26] May we say ‘Amen’ to that with all our heart.

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