The Bible Standard - Re-Discover the Truth.

Description: Beginning with the collapse of the USSR and its development as a powerful and economically successful country, Rosh, Meshech and Tubal is identified from the old historians. Recent news confirms Russia’s development of powerful, modern weapons, all as the Bible prophecies predict.

SEEK THE LORD” Dec. 16th

When I was young, I, together with others. used to play “Hide and Seek’ It was fun. When you become an adult, Paul says, of himself, “I gave up childish ways.” [I Cor 13:11] But when you are grown up you should still SEEK! But what do you seek? This line of thought was prompted by the occurrence of the word SEEK 3 times in one verse in today’s 2nd chapter in Zephaniah. In v. 3 we read “seek the Lord, all you humble … who do his just commands, seek righteousness; seek humility, perhaps you may be hidden in the day of the anger of the LORD” The various Scriptures that describe the ultimate day when the Creator makes plain to the world that he does exists – they will see, that his anger is utterly awesome. We saw in yesterday’s reading in Peter, his warning of God’s ultimate punishment on our totally godless world. Zephaniah has a similar message; warnings which had their first fulfilment when Israel’s Kingdom came to an end. Then Zephaniah looked further into the future, God told him there would ultimately come “a day of wrath … a day of distress and anguish …. I will bring distress on mankind so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD … In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed” [Ch.1 v.15,17,18] God made us and all the world and when his creation continuously ceases to acknowledge that he exists there is every reason for his anger. But those who “seek the Lord” and his righteousness can hope for protection in the day of the Lord’s anger. We remember how Jesus said, the “angels will gather his elect … heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” [Matt. 24 v.31,35] The heavens and earth referred to here are the present set up of godless human rulers and the godless people who are ruled over. So very few “seek the Lord” today – so many do not even think there is a Creator. “They will say”, as we read yesterday in 1 Peter 3 v.4, "Where is the promise of his coming? …. all things are continuing as they were from the beginning…” So many think the “beginning” was a ‘mindless’ evolving of all the incredible mass of life – life that is so wonderfully complex, and so “the fire of his jealousy” will suddenly burst forth. Yet, thankfully, Jesus said, the Lord will “cut short the days, (or) no human being would be saved” [Mark 13 v.20] We must live in full appreciation that the greatest blessing in our lives now - is to have God’s word and to know how to “seek the Lord.” Let us not neglect to do so – every day.

"THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD" 15th

"TO THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED ... "   Dec. 14

The marvel is – that although one has read the Bible over a great number of years one still comes across things one has not really taken notice of before. The opening words of Peter’s second epistle caught our attention “to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours.” The point does not stand out so much in the AV as the ESV.

How great was Peter’s faith now – as he reflects back on his life’s experiences. In v.16-18 he reflects on the incredible experience on the mountain when his Master was transfigured before him and 2 fellow disciples; he declares, “we were eye witnesses of his majesty.” Yet we know that not long after, in the panic that followed his Master’s arrest, Peter’s faith collapsed.

Faith is a quality that is proved by actions as we saw emphasized by James in his epistle. Those who are not conscious of the need to develop a real active faith, would not be impressed by the urgency of the words of Peter in his second epistle. He writes, “You …having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire … make every effort to supplement your faith with …” [1 v.4,5] and there follows a list of the qualities of character which enable faith to grow. Have a look at them! Then he says, ”if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful….” [v.8] Unfruitful in what?

Do we appreciate the point here? Peter writes of the danger of being “unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” But he is not talking about intellectual knowledge. The Gk word here is epignosis and Paul uses it in Romans 1 v.28 “and since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind …”

Peter uses it again in his 2ndchapter, expressing his dismay that there is no growth in their awareness of God’s presence and oversight of their lives. He writes (v.20), “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.” (See also the next verse!)  Peter is referring to what we might term ‘heart knowledge’ as distinct from ‘head knowledge.’ Both are essential, but, dare we say, ‘head knowledge’ is easier!

But do not miss the point Peter makes in v.9 – what the failure of ‘heart knowledge’ causes! Such a person “is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore brothers (and sisters) be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” Then our faith will have some comparison to Peter’s and v.11 will be true for you as it will be for him..

"WEARY THEMSELVES FOR NOTHING"    Dec. 13

It has always been so – but it is more obvious today – how meaningless life is in the ultimate sense.  More than ever before people are living for the here and now.  With this thought in mind we can relate to the words of the prophet Habakkuk.

In today’s ch. 2 where he says of his decadent nation, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own … and loads himself with pledges.”[v.6] It is so in today’s ‘have it now’ society in the western world – pledging payment sometime later and almost always forever in debt.

A question is asked in v.13, “Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that people labour merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing.”

Once again God’s prophet reminds his people (and us the readers) that God is behind the scenes and knows all – and has the ultimate control. People labour “merely for fire” – to provide heat in time of cold, to cook their food – and light in the darkness.  Few had any long term view of life, they had then and have now, no idea of God’s vision as stated in the very next verse.  “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”   Any vision people have could be described as ‘tunnel vision’ –that of having fixed objects of thought – unable to see the larger perspective, Job’s ‘friends’ suffered from this.  As we read Peter’s 1st epistle we particularly noticed his reference to “when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared.” [3 v.20] Noah and his sons laboured for 100 long years while around them was total godlessness (Gen. 6 v.5).

Peter sees their salvation in the ark as it was was riding on the flood waters as a type of baptism; he writes, “Baptism which corresponds to this (the flood), now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience …” [v.21]  Baptism cleanses the conscience and provides a new start, with a new vision ‘nothingness’ is swept away – and replaced by the anticipation of participation in the glory that is coming.

In Peter’s time God’s judgements were looming over Israel, Jerusalem was doomed for rejecting the Messiah, and Peter warns, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded …”  [4 v.7] – the very opposite attitude to those who ”weary themselves for nothing.”   Let us all heed Peter’s words, living with a real sense of purpose in our hearts “by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified  through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” [v.11]

"IF A MAN DIES, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN"  Dec. 12

As we continue our reading in Job, we came to his question given in our heading.  Job struggles to find the answer – but as we read on in coming days, we will find that his mind becomes clearer and his hope in the future more sure.  Today we read of his pleading with God, “Oh that you would hide me in sheol (av ‘the grave’), that you would conceal me until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me.: [14 v.13]

After saying this he asks the question we have put in our heading, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” His answer?  “All the days of my service I would wait until my renewal should come.  You would call, and I would answer you …” [v.14,15] and it would be the time, Job says to God, “you would cover over my iniquity.” [v.17]

These questions and words are a prelude to his declaration in Ch. 19, “For I know that my redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold …” [v.25-27]

We notice how Job is now giving up reasoning out his thoughts with the 3 ‘friends’ and spends at least part of his responses addressing his thoughts to God.  At the end of the book we will see how God dramatically answers him in a most meaningful way.  We perceive a sort of parallel we might be having ourselves with our ‘friends’ today, our neighbours, our school or workmates, that their way of thinking, their perceptions of the cause and meaning of life is totally astray!  They rarely listen to us so as to take in the points we make.

The time comes when we give up trying to reason with them – and concentrate more and more on our own perceptions of – and relationship with - God and His Son.  We have found that our meditation can become so deep that we will empathise with Job who, after seeing and saying, “I shall see God … my eyes shall behold ..” – his next words are – “My heart faints within me.” [19 v.27]

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Description: Many people will give you many different explanations to this question. This talk outlines the Bible explanation of the Gospel.

"SET YOUR HOPE FULLY ON ...."  Dec. 11

Is our world in a hopeless condition?  The indications that it is are multiplying. The nations are too self-centred to take any effective action over global warming and the weather is getting more extreme.  The United Nations are more disunited than ever over many issues, especially over Israel. The money woes of the nations increase and move from crisis to crisis; efforts to achieve disarmament are useless, the economies of some nations depend on making and selling weapons! And above all, efforts at moral reform no longer exist, instead laws are relaxed to allow many unnatural kinds of behaviour, ways of living God deplores.

We saw a lesson related to that last point as we completed reading the prophecy of Nahum against Nineveh today. It had repented at the preaching of Jonah, but the following generations had gone back to their old ways; doom is now pronounced by God, Nahum’s concluding words to them are - “upon whom has not come your unceasing evil.” Through his prophet Zephaniah God said, “I will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.” [2 v.13]  And it happened.

As we start reading Peter’s letters we see how appropriate they are for us.  His urgent message is for believers to have a strong faith, to remain steadfast as trials increase.  He writes of “the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [1 v.7]

The whole chapter is a powerful message, but we took special note of v.13, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”   No half measures will be adequate; as the world becomes even more hopeless,

Peter tells them, “you have been born again” [v.23] and then tells them how!  “Born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”  The seed of God’s message must “abide” in our hearts if we really want to prepare “our minds for action.”   Jonah’s message to Nineveh had proved to be perishable, the children did not learn the lesson as their parents had.  If we are to succeed where the Ninevites failed how vital it is for us to feed on and digest God’s word every day.

Brother Brian Luke (Brighton AU) leads us in this wonderful study of the Man of God, This series was recorded at the Brantford fraternal in 2019.