Weeds and harvest

Sometimes you just have to wonder why is there so much suffering and pain caused by the wickedness of the world. People with no regard for empathy, justice or moral, no concern of anything other than their own selfish greed. To make things worse, there is no way of redress in sight. Where is God in all these? In all His wisdom and power, why doesn’t He do anything?

Then again, we just have to admit we are none wiser.

Jesus told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.” he servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.

Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ Matthew 13:24-29

The wickedness of the world will ripen to the point of the harvest. More importantly, the righteousness will also mature at the same time. Wickedness and righteousness will both grow side by side of each other until the time when the Lord returns.The darkest days of the wickedness will also be the finest hour of the righteousness.

Have a great day

Richard

How majestic ?

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise

because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

You put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8

Have a great day

Richard

Amber

Amber is the first colour that I'm going to look at for Colours in the bible series. Amber is a hard golden coloured translucent fossil resin. In the Old Testament this colour is found on one occasion in the book of Ezekiel.
The Hebrew word 'chashmal' used three times in Ezekiel means a shining substance or amber. However we need to be clear that the reference is to the colour, not the resin amber. It probably refers to a metal of that colour.
The colour amber is only found in the KJV and NKJV translations of Ezekiel and is used in connection with Ezekiel's vision of the glory and majesty of God. The colour speaks of the brightness of His presence:
"From the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the colour of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around." Ezekiel 1:17 (See also Ezekiel 1:4; 1:27-28; 8:2 (KJV, NKJV). Other translations are this;

NIV 'chashmal' as 'glowing metal'.
RSV 'chashmal' as 'gleaming bronze'.
NRSV 'chashmal' as gleaming amber'.
However in all cases the colour represented is much the same, a fiery golden colour.

Related Symbols: Christ the Glory of God. In scripture we see a connection with Christ reflecting the Light of the glory of God.

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" 2Cor 4:6

"The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light." Rev 21:23

Related Symbols: Fire which can symbolise the presence of God

"The Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Exod 3:2

"For our God is a consuming fire." Heb 12:29

Fire is also a symbol of God's judgment
"Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens." Gen 19:24

"For behold, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire." Isa 66:15

Every Blessing

Richard

Rainbow 2

It is amazing that God gives us a greater dimension to his word when we look into it. If you go back a couple of chapter, in Ex 24 we find that blue is connected with that which is holy in God's service. I'm not certain about this but I think that the background to Judah's flag was blue. I'll let you make the link to Christ in the NT being holy.

I think that we also need to address that Joseph had a coat of many colours, which encompasses all the colours of the rainbow, and Joseph being a foreshadow of Christ, gives us another link here.

One final point is that the rainbow has all the colours in it. Gods covenant covers the seven colours, beginning with red and ending with purple, God was displaying a natural miracle that demonstrated the complete redemption and salvation of man.If we first look at colours in the natural world of art, we have three primaries; red, yellow and blue. These cannot be formulated by mixing. They come from the earth; but with these three colours, and the addition of black and white, any shade of the spectrum can be obtained. In this fact alone lies a thought provoking, scriptural principle! White is the colour that is comprised of all the colours of the spectrum. Refraction of white light produces the rainbow colours which consist of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (purple), violet. Other colours consist of the infrared and Ultraviolet spectrum Infrared and Ultraviolet represent that which is unseen.The rainbow represents the promises of God and was a sign of the covenant that God would never again flood the earth with water: "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth... .. the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh." Gen 9:13,15The rainbow signifies the glory, majesty and honour of the Lord Jesus Christ "One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald." (Rev 4:2-3)

Keep reading

Richard

The Rainbow in the bible

For sometime now I have looked into the variety of colours in the bible and the meaning thereof. It is amazing that God gives us a greater dimension to his word when we look into it. When God appeared unto Noah after the flood, and placed a rainbow in the sky; he did much more than show him a phenomenon. In the seven colours of the rainbow, beginning with red and ending with purple, God was displaying a natural miracle that demonstrated the complete redemption and salvation of man.

First let us look at colour in the natural world. In the world of art, we have three primaries; red, yellow and blue. These cannot be formulated by mixing. They come from the earth; but with these three colours, and the addition of black and white, any shade of the spectrum can be obtained.

In this fact alone lies a thought provoking, scriptural principle!

White is the colour that is comprised of all the colours of the spectrum. Refraction of white light produces the rainbow colours which consist of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (purple), violet. Other colours consist of the infrared and Ultraviolet spectrum Infrared and Ultraviolet represent that which is unseen.

The rainbow represents the promises of God and was a sign of the covenant that God would never again flood the earth with water: "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth... .. the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh." Gen 9:13,15 The rainbow signifies the glory, majesty and honour of the Lord Jesus Christ "One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald." (Rev 4:2-3).

It is my intention to do a few posts over the coming weeks looking at the various colours in the bible, so keep reading. My final point is interesting and to note that on earth we see the rainbow as an arch, but God always sees it as a full circle (ref Rev 4)

Richard

Male or Female ?

Appologies for offending anyone but we need to come to some facts here as some of you might not have known this, but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples:

FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.

PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female as they are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong Buttons.

TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated

HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under their butt.

SPONGES: These are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.

WEB PAGES: Female, because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.

EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.

HAMMERS: Male, because in the last 5000 years, they've hardly changed at all, and are occasionally handy to have around.

Ummm have a great day

Richard

Saved for .....

In one of my previous posts We are saved for...the question was "why are we saved"? One comment that came back was;
God saved us so that we will eventually replace the 1/3 of the angels that fell.

I have thought much over this and as much as I disagree with this point understand that there is possibly another side to it.

First of all lets put some things into perspective of fallen angels [I'm yet to see the very mention of 1/3 that has fallen]

The Bible does not specifically address the issue of God's giving the fallen angels an opportunity to repent, but we do know principles and can extrapolate from them an educated guess. First, Satan (Lucifer) was one of the highest angels, perhaps the highest (Ezekiel 28:14). Lucifer—and all the angels—were continually in God’s presence and had a complete knowledge of the glory of God, unobstructed by the things that keep mankind from knowing Him fully. Therefore, they had no excuse for rebelling against God and turning away from Him. For Lucifer and the other angels to rebel despite what they knew about God is the utmost of evil, and this most likely results in God's not giving Satan and the other fallen angels the opportunity to repent.

Second, God did not provide a plan of redemption for the angels as He did for mankind. The fall of the human race necessitated an atoning sacrifice for sin, and God provided that sacrifice in Jesus Christ. In that plan of redemption, God redeemed the human race and brought glory to Himself for His grace, love and mercy. No such sacrifice was planned for the angels. In addition, God referred to those angels who remain faithful to Him as His “elect angels” (1 Timothy 5:21), and we know from the biblical doctrine of election that those whom God elects to salvation will be saved, and nothing can separate them from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Clearly, those angels who rebelled were not “elect angels” of God.

Finally, the Bible gives us no reason to believe they would repent even if God did give them the chance (1 Peter 5:8). The fallen angels seem completely devoted to opposing God and attacking God's people. The Bible tells us that one of the things God judges on is how much knowledge of Him a person possesses (Luke 12:48). The fallen angels, then, are even much more deserving of God’s wrath because of the exceedingly great knowledge they had about God.

One passage that is used in the defence to the replacement is from Matthew Matthew22:30;

At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

The above is the doctrines that Christ displeased the infidel Sadducee's with, as well as the Pharisees and Herodians. He carried the great truths of the resurrection and a future state, further than they had yet been reveled. There is no arguing from the state of things in this world, as to what will take place hereafter. Let truth be set in a clear light, and it appears in full strength. Having thus silenced them, our Lord proceeded to show the truth of the doctrine of the resurrection from the books of Moses. God declared to Moses that he was the God of the patriarchs, who had died long before; this shows that they were then in a state of being, capable of enjoying his favour, and proves that the doctrine of the resurrection is clearly taught in the Old Testament as well as in the New. But this doctrine was kept for a more full revelation, after the resurrection of Christ, who was the first-fruits of them that slept. All errors arise from not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God. In this world death takes away one after another, and so ends all earthly hopes, joys, sorrows, and connexions. How wretched are those who look for nothing better beyond the grave and that we will not replace them but will be like them !

One last point being, on the 1/3 replacement argument is that if there were 99 angels in heaven for example and 1/3 fell that means that 33 people can be saved thus replacing the fallen ones. This has two errors, first of all the created number needs to be a direct division of 3 and the other is once the 1/3 has been counted, what happens to the rest of those who are saved. The bible is very clear that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Hope the above helps

Richard

To God be the Glory

“To the praise of the glory of His grace”. God elected and predestined us to glorify himself! The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever; the chief end of God is to glorify God and to enjoy Himself forever! He is the sovereign King!

Freely bestowed on us in the beloved…No merit or demerit of our own whatsoever…nothing that we have done! Costly to Christ, freely bestowed upon those whom God shows his mercy and grace!

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.All of us must realize that predestination and election by God in our salvation is a wonderful biblical doctrine that must be handled humbly and carefully. We should be suspect of those who would in any way undermine or incorrectly teach what Scripture teaches concerning this!

However, as the Apostle Paul instructed his “son in the faith” Timothy, we must be patient as we teach those who do not understand.

2 Timothy 2:24-26: And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

For many they have been deceived, abused and misused this important and biblical doctrine. We should be reminded that when men teach this doctrine carelessly or incorrectly, they are being “snared by the devil” (as our text warns above), even when they are doing so unintentionally (there is only one truth of God!). We should be prayerfully cautious in attempting to see and to teach the whole counsel of God in Scripture (Acts 20:27-28) –even when we might not fully understand it.

This teaching of Scripture is a beautiful display and revelation of God’s glorious salvation in Christ. Let us hold firmly to the truth of what Scripture teaches, and by God’s grace never fluctuating or changing with regard to the revelation of God. It is not ours to understand fully all teachings, but it is our responsibility and privilege to declare it and make it known to everyone!
One time when I preached from this text of Ephesians as a pastor, I had some people leave the congregation who I thought were friends and I haven’t heard from them since. If you are a pastor and worry about what some might think about this teaching, then be reminded of the strong and precious words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:1-5: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

No matter how many people may react to biblical teaching, be faithful as a preacher or teacher and run the race with perseverance, striving to tell the truth- - no matter what may come! Paul reminds Timothy that the time will come.

We are all not called to preach in order to preach what you or your people like or fully understand, you are called to teach and preach the truth of Scripture by God’s grace and to the best of your ability! Be encouraged!

Every blessing

Richard

To Choose or not to Choose that is the Question

If you are just browsing then this is a number of posts to do with predestination. Today's post is about mans free will.

So What about man’s free will? Doesn’t man have free will? Modern man has truly made an idol out of his free will. Free will is so important to some, that they are willing to discount clear Biblical revelation of Holy Scripture in order to uphold their own doctrine of free will.

Jonathan Edwards said it best with regards to man’s free will after the fall:
Man does as he pleases, but he cannot please as he pleases!

What this means is man has free will to do what he wants to do, but he cannot please God with willing what he wants to do, for he will not will to please God, because he cannot (cf. Romans 7:17ff and the conflict of Christians even after they are redeemed).
We should be reminded that prior to the Fall man truly had “free will”. However, since the Fall recorded in Genesis 3, man’s will has been in bondage to sin. Adam freely chose, or used his free will to do what he wanted to truly do and sin against God.

Only in Christ can one be set free truly to choose what one should choose or will: the glory of God in Christ. Christ himself said: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free!”
“That’s Not Fair!” Some say in response to this teaching or predestination: “That’s not fair of God!” (Romans 9 – is how the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit knew the people would respond!).

If you ever say "that seems unfair" then you are beginning to understand the Biblical teaching. How can I say that? In Romans 9:18-25 we read how the Apostle Paul teaches the truth of predestination very clearly, then he says implicitly: "Then you will say to me 'That's not fair'" (these are not his exact words, but his gist)!

Romans 9:18-25: So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory- 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'"Prayerfully notice a few things: In v. 18, he establishes that God has mercy on some because he wants to simply out of his good pleasure (Matt. 11:25-29), but hardens others.
In v. 19, he says in essence "That's not fair" as many would say when first hearing this teaching. In v. 20, he reminds us that God is God and we shouldn't question him, and then in verses 21-25 he explains that all deserve God's wrath and justice, but he gives to some (who do not in any way deserve it)- -mercy and grace! That's predestination!

If we Carefully read this passage again: For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Every Blessing

Richard

Elected in Christ

Predestination is a Biblical Doctrine- whether we can fully understand it or not, the teaching of predestination and election in Christ is God’s revelation in Scripture and because of that we must submit to it if we say we are Christians.

It is important to remember this: ALL CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD BELIEVE IN PREDESTINATION.

We are not predestined or elected based on some supposed foreknown or foreseen faith- -the only thing God would have known or seen would have been our unbelief. We are not elected because of our faith, but we have faith and believe upon Jesus in real time because we have been elected.

If we read Romans 9:6-16 where the Apostle Paul is explaining how God’s electing purposes in Israel (Deut. 7:7) have not failed. In fact, the Apostle Paul is one of the elect believers who make up the Israel of faith and is writing this often misunderstood letter to the Roman church (cf. Galatians 6:16).

Romans 9:6-16: But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return and Sarah shall have a son." 10 And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad- in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call-
12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
It is clear that this passage teaches predestination and election before one’s birth (Rom. 9:10), in order that God’s purpose in election might continue, not because of works but because of God’s call (Romans 9:11), because of God’s mercy and compassion (Rom. 9:15)!

Keep reading as tomorrow we will look at free will

Richard