The Bible Standard - Re-Discover the Truth.

"YOU ARE THE MOST HANDSOME ..."  Jan 25

After reading Psalm 45 we meditated on what makes a person handsome. As the Psalm proceeds it becomes evident that several verses are prophetical of our Lord.  Verses 6 & 7 are quoted in Hebrews 1 v.8,9.  In the Psalm they read, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of your kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.  Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions”

This puts the relationship between the Almighty and his Son in its true perspective. But are verses 2 & 3 also prophetical of Jesus?  “You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword on your thigh O mighty one, in your splendour and majesty.”

This is in contrast to Isaiah 53 which is so evidently prophetical of the Lord, that “he has no form or majesty that we should look to him, and no beautythat we should desire him.” [v.2]

The solution to this contrast is two-fold, the words that follow in the Psalm, “you are the most handsome” are - “grace is poured upon your lips therefore God has …” This reminds us of Peter’s words, “let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a meek and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” [1 Pet. 3 v.4]  God will reward this kind of beauty.

We read yesterday how – because “Joseph was handsome in form and appearance” [Gen 39 v.6] it proved to be to his disadvantage – but today we saw a contrast when “they quickly brought him out of the pit.” [41 v14] and when he had shaved and had new clothes he was brought before Pharaoh.

Exalted to a position of honour before Pharaoh, did not these developments foreshadow in type, first the humiliation and then the exaltation of Christ. They also foreshadow the experience of true believers who, especially in certain parts of the world, struggle with opposition against the true way of life in Christ. This opposition is spreading as, even in this country, the Government is more inclined to pass permissive laws and seek to punish those who ignore them and even speak against them.

Paul’s words to the Romans should be engraved on our minds: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable …”  [12 v.2]  Our daily reading of God’s word enables us to properly perform the “testing” and become “handsome” in mind and be ready for the time when our Lord will “gird (his) sword”..

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"UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN ..."  Jan. 24

Our Matthew reading (ch. 26) recounts the agonies of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and his prayers.  “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.” [v.39]. Jesus made his “will” conform to his Father’s will.  And what of our “will”?

Peter was to later write of how Christ, in his commitment to his Father’s will “suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might followin his steps.” [1 Pet. 2 v.21]

Before Jesus and his disciples went into the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus directed them to prepare for a Passover meal on “the first day of unleavened bread” (v.17)  Then we read, “Now as they were eating Jesus took bread …”  - next “he took the cup …” [v.26-27] and spoke of a “covenant … for many for the forgiveness of sins” [v.28] The disciples must have been perplexed at his words, but there is no indication they asked him to explain.

But this takes our minds forward to meditate on the record in Acts 2 and the events on the day of Pentecost and “the breaking of bread” [v.42] that then followed.  With what intense meaning would the disciples and all who had just been baptised have taken part!  We presume the disciples would earlier have done so after his resurrection and ascension, although there is no record of this – we meditate on the intensity of meaning as they did!  How does it compare with ours?

The disciple would also remember that their Master said, after the command to “Drink, all of you” that he then said, “I will not drink again  of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”[v.29]  This event is beyond our comprehension – just as what was about to happen was beyond theirs.

Could someone like the Apostle Paul grasp the wonder to come?  Take note of his words in 1 Corinthians.  “ ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him – these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.” [2 v.9,10]

But for us “until that day when …”- and our faith is turned to sight and the Spirit which is “the powers of the age to come.” [Heb. 6 v.5] is poured out on the faithful who will reign with him – may we be like the Thessalonians whose “faith is growing abundantly”  [2 Thess. 1 v.3] to create adequate oil in our lamps as this world becomes an ever darker place.

"YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY, NOR THE HOUR"  Jan 23

Today we have 3 parables in our chapter (25) in Matthew which all convey fundamentally the same lesson. The fact that there are three shows how extremely important the message is. Those who read the Bible regularly will know them well; we must beware of knowing them too well, lest the message loses its power to stir our conscience.

The first one is of the 10 virgins; half are called “wise.”  What made them “wise” as they waited in the darkness for the cry, “Here is the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him.”  The wise had brought a reserve of oil for their lamps.  What does the oil represent?  Our conclusion is – it represents “faith”, how terrible to run short of or completely out of faith when the midnight cry is heard.  Faith cannot be second-hand, it cannot be replenished in a moment.

The second parable is about talents the Master gives to his servants to use while he is away.  They represent, we suggest, the abilities and opportunities to represent the Master in his absence.  The final parable is of sheep and goats and of “his glorious throne” when the Master returns. Then, and only then, will it be made plain for all to see which are sheep and which are goats – in the Middle East they look very similar.

The goats will be blind to their failings, “Lord” they will say “when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” [v.44] And he will say, “Truly … as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”[v.45]     Put as simply as possible – this is telling us – we are either Christ-centred – or self-centred.

We must ask ourselves – am I labouring effectively in his vineyard – or not.  It seems to many of our age group (as great grandparents) that the Lord is delaying his coming – but the reason is that the final ingathering is not yet quite complete (see Luke 14 v.22-23 “still there is room. And the Master said, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges … that my house may be filled”)

So let Christ’s challenging words at the end of his parable about the virgins ‘illuminate’ our minds “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day not the hour” This request is more important than ever – for the storm clouds illuminating human helplessness are greater than ever – and the wise virgins need to be together whenever they can.  But what are they to “watch” for?  We will read tomorrow of Jesus in the garden with his disciples and his request, “…watch with me … Watch and pray …the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.”” [ch.26 v.40,41]  Meditate on the kind of watching Jesus was referring to.

Given at the 2007 Rugby bible prophecy day (UK)

 Watch the video version here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ7vohghcDk

Bro Matt NortonJesus will return to the earth Jesus’ life began when he was born about 2,000 years ago. He willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for sin. Because he was sinless, God raised him from the dead and he is now in heaven with his Father. He will return from there as King of the world.

Bro Mark Hayles.

Bro Geoff Cave leads us in this study class

 watch videos by Bro Cave here..

 https://bibletruthandprophecy.com/tag/geoff-cave/

Bro Stan Isbell leads us in this class ( final part of the series)

Want to watch videos by Bro Stan?

 https://bibletruthandprophecy.com/tag/stan-isbell/

"I HAVE NOT HIDDEN ..."    Jan. 22

All of our 4 chapters today are really thought provoking; David’s emotional Psalm 40 captured our attention, it starts, “I waited patiently for the LORD” – and isn’t that what we are trying to do!   But we cannot wait, standing still, as if to catch a bus!  David has many things to rejoice about because of the relationship he has established with God.

“He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and (as a result) put their trust in the LORD”’ [v.3]  He says, “I have told the glad news of deliverance …” [v.9] “I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart,  I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed …” [v.10]

The faith David had in the reality of God’s involvement in his life and in the ultimate future was evident to those around him. – he sets us a meaningful example, let us be able to say, “I have not hidden your deliverance …”

We read in Matthew 24 the message and warnings of Jesus to his disciples that “the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all …” [v.14] The disciples had the responsibility to start on this work, but Jesus warns, “many will come in my name … and they will lead many astray.” [v.15] And so it happened – and is still happening.

Let us be faithful to the original message of salvation – and an essential part of making sure we possess the real spirit of faithfulness is to read the Bible every day. – and be faithful to what we read.  This means being faithful to the true, the original, message – and – equally important – the spirit in which we must live our lives, the character (of Christ) others will see in us. Then  we can, with all our heart, say with David, “I have not hidden your deliverance …”

Watch the video series here..

https://bibletruthandprophecy.com/revelation-things-which-must-shortly-come-to-pass-6-videos-2019/

This theme has been taken directly from Rev 1:1. When John wrote 2000 years ago about “things which must shortly come to pass” he meant “the things which must shortly come to pass” in the first century, because the verse concludes, “for the time is at hand.” John was writing about things which would immediately begin to come to pass in his day 1900 to 2000 years ago.