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"SO WILL IT BE AT ..."   Jan. 10

Today’s chapter in Matthew (13) is full of Jesus’ parables, 8 in all.  Some are long, like the familiar parable of the sower, some are short, even just one verse, like the parable of “the hidden treasure” [v.44] which a man found hidden in a field and “in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

They are all parables related to “the kingdom” – how to be in it: this parable telling was beneath ‘the dignity’ of the religious leaders – don’t let them be beneath ours?   Combined, and with many other scriptures, they show that a heavenly kingdom is coming on earth which will replace the kingdoms of men that presently dominate life on earth.  Which kind of kingdom do we desire to be in?

One parable is of weeds (tares) growing together with the good grain, they are weeds of human thinking and concepts of the meaning of life – recently termed “humanism.”  We understand that only when it is near harvest time, is it easy to distinguish which is which!  The reapers (angels) are told “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” [v.30] It is plainly stated “the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  Just as the weeds, are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age” [v.39,40]  Another parable is about fishing with a large net “when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.  So will it be at the close of the age...” [v.48,49]

The meaning of these parables is plain; we have just about reached the evil climax of the world and whereas there was only one “devil” among the 12 disciples (John 6 v.70) of Jesus, they abound today, teaching what Jesus did not teach and, sometimes making a good profit out of doing so!  Reading on in v.49 (not quoted above) is “ … at the close of the age the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace,  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Do you remember how – when his disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable of the sower – the explanation he gave of the seed sown among the thorns?   Jesus said, “this is the one who hears (reads?) the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word…” [v.22]   How true that is NOW!  May that not include us.

"WALK BEFORE ME AND BE BLAMELESS" Jan. 9

Abraham is one of the three outstanding characters in the Old Testament (the other two are Moses and David). Genesis 17 tells us that when Abraham was 99 the LORD appeared and said, “I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless” that I may make my covenant between me and you …” [v.1,2] Abraham’s acts of faith were an essential ingredient in following God’s injunction to “walk before me and be blameless.” We read how God changed his name to Abraham saying, “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations” [v.5]. Notice the present tense! In God’s eyes there is no time, he sees the future as he sees the present, to him they are all one! Paul understood this when he wrote of believers possessing the same faith as Abraham in Romans ch. 4. He “is the father of all who believe … who also walk in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham … who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations’ – in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” [v.11,12,16,17] – except in the mind of God. Paul continues, Abraham “grew strong in his faith … fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also … who believe … “ [v.20,23,24] Abraham’s interaction with God is a powerful lesson to us which is further added to as we read Genesis 18. There we read of “3 men” who come to Abraham and he immediately senses they are angels, one of whom is “the angel of his presence” [Isa. 63 v.9] bearing the name ‘Yahweh’ who says, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness …” [v.17-19] Part of the blameless walk before God is to share the way of God with our children and with others. The Heb. word for ‘blameless’ does not mean sinless, only Christ was sinless, but the same Heb word is translated as ‘upright’ and ‘in sincerity’ in some places (eg Joshua 24 v.14; 2 Sam 22 v.24,26) – the A V trans. as ‘perfect’ can give us the wrong impression, so let us all aim to follow faithful Abraham and his blameless walk before our God.

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.

Ezekiel 38 is invaluable to us for understanding the signs of the times because it goes into incredible detail in describing the invasion of Gog. This invasion immediately precedes the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The situation in the world immediately before Christ’s return is outlined. We can watch the events through God’s providential hand, bring about the state of affairs outlined in this chapter. This prophecy takes place in the latter days once Israel is restored, and it culminates in the destruction of Gog.

Description: The biblical record in the Old and New Testaments clearly teach the future of man after death. After the resurrection, the Kingdom of God will be set up on the transformed world.

“I ALSO WILL DENY …”    Jan. 8

Matthew’s gospel records how Jesus started training his disciples for their work when he would no longer be with them. Today’s ch. 10 starts, “And he called to him his 12 disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction.” What are “unclean spirits”?

The parable in Ch. 12 v.43-45 illustrates that it means an unclean mind – and that there is no value in clearing out from the brain ‘unclean’ ways of thinking and then putting nothing positive in their place. Ways of thinking show themselves in resultant actions; aimless ways of thinking and doing lead to no future in this life, and, most particularly, in the future life Jesus offers; spiritual thinking are an essential part of the ‘spirit’ of our minds.

Jesus gives his 12 disciples a foretaste of the powers of healing they will have when he is no longer with them: they are told to go “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick … “ [v.6-8] He says, “if anyone will not receive you and listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house … “[v.14] adding, “it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah” than for that town. [v.15]

This is because the people of that town had witnessed divine power as well as hearing the divine message. God’s principle, as Jesus explained, is that “everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required” [Luke 12 v.48] This is why, as we will read tomorrow (11 v.23), Capernaum which had witnessed so many of his miracles, would have no future. On the other hand, Sodom, where Lot went to live, and it seems witness, the destruction of which we will soon read in Genesis 19, was a city which Abraham initially thought could have “fifty righteous” [18 v.24] – Jesus said the “day of judgment” will be “more bearable” for them. What about, for us?

Today, with such an abundance of evidence of the intricate marvels of creation – but a widespread determined attitude to say that everything in some way, sort of created itself, what must God’s attitude be/? There is no doubt as to God’s attitude! We quoted it 2 days ago from the Psalms, but it bears quoting again. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds …” (Psa, 14]

Finally, in our chapter in Matthew, we see how Jesus bluntly states the two options; there is no middle way! “everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before by Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” [v.32] Food for really serious thought.

Description: What is the Gospel Message? The speaker takes us on a brief journey through the New Testament highlighting the Good News of the Kingdom of God. We learn about the essential elements of the Gospel, how personal salvation is the core message but is dependent on faith and baptism if we would share in the Coming Kingdom at the return of Jesus Christ.

Description: God who changes not and is ultimately in charge of the created world, has set the laws and protocol which determines the behaviour of society. For some years now, these principles have been eroded so that “every man does what is right in his own eyes”. As a result there are increasing problems in society. Believers in God need to decide whether they will obey Him, or follow their own lusts.

The Bible has been widely read. Manuscript and archaeological evidence testify to its reliability. It not only predicts interaction of nations, but provides a code of living given to us by God, a code that gives hope for the future.Follow us on our dedicated Facebook page

God who is all powerful, determines the course of nations and people. In political elections people are focused on what they want and vote accordingly. Those who put their trust in God do not support human attempts to rule, as they may oppose the purpose of God, for there is no way to know how God will work.