4/12/13

From Gary V. Womack... Patience in God's family (2 parts)


PATIENCE IN GOD'S FAMILY

Intro. A parent leading a small child by the hand who is struggling with his little short legs - running to keep up with the long, hurried stride of the adult, who was oblivious and unconcerned - thinking only of the fact they were in a hurry.

Walk a little slower for their sake.

In the same way - some parents expect their children to "grow up" too fast. Each child matures at their own rate. 

Children need to be children.

When they are thrust into the world too soon, it is like picking fruit while it is green.

It takes time to ripen and mature for its purpose.

PATIENCE - THE LESSON OF THE FARMER

Jas. 5:7 "Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the 
               coming of the Lord. See how the farmer 
               waits for the precious fruit of the earth, 
               waiting patiently for it until it receives the 
               early and latter rain."

CHILD REARING = INSTRUCTION, EXAMPLE, PRAYER, PATIENCE

Eph. 6:4 "And you, fathers, do not provoke your 
                children to wrath, but bring them up
                in the training and admonition of the 
                Lord."

GOD'S PATIENCE WITH MAN

as seen in His waiting in the days of Noah

1 Pet. 3:18-20 He waited 100-120 years (?
                      (Gen. 6:3) while Noah warned.

2 Pet. 3:3-9, 15 He is longsuffering NOW.

WE ARE TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE WITH ONE ANOTHER

Rom. 15:1-5 "...be likeminded toward one 
                      another." infirmities = weaknesses

NOT EVERYONE MATURES AT THE SAME RATE

Timothy was taught from youth.

2 Tim. 1:5 "when I call to remembrance the genuine 
                  faith that is in you, which dwelt first in
                  your grandmother Lois and your mother 
                  Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you 
                  also."

2 Tim. 3:14-15 "but as for you, continue in the 
                         things which you have learned and 
                         been assured of, knowing from 
                         whom you have learned them, [15
                         and that from childhood you have 
                         known the Holy Scriptures, which 
                         are able to make you wise for 
                         salvation through faith which is in 
                         Christ Jesus."

Some come from NO religious background.

1 Cor. 6:9-11 "...such were some of you..."

Heb. 5:12-14 At any given time - there are 
                     different levels of maturity.

WHEN THE LORD RETURNS - ARE ALL GOING TO BE MATURE IN THE FAITH?
WILL ONLY THE MATURE BE SAVED?

Remember grace and mercy.

Mt. 20:1-16 The parable of the servants in the 
                   vineyard. (3, 6, 9, 11th hours)

WE MUST BE PATIENT WITH THE YOUNG & THE WEAK

as in a relay race, before the baton is passed to the next runner, that runner must come up to speed before receiving the baton.

When merging onto the interstate, you must get up to speed to merge.



INVITATION





Patience in God's Family Part 2

Mt. 13:3-9 Parable of the sower. Mark & Luke 
                also give this parable.

Mt. 13:18-23 The parable explained.

Jas. 1:18-21 The implanted word is able to save 
                     our souls

Notice the patience of "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."

Rom. 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of 
                  Christ, for it is the power of God to
                  salvation for everyone who believes, for 
                  the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Mk. 4:26-29 Parable of the maturing of scattered 
                    seed.

MAN SOWS & THEN REAPS -

Between these two events: germination, growth, & maturing.

IN BETWEEN THE TIME OF SOWING & REAPING -
Man sleeps & rises in his daily routine - while God does His work.

1 Cor. 3:5-9 Man plants & waters, but God gives 
                    the increase.

THE EARTH YIELDS ITS FRUIT - NOT OF ITSELF BUT BY GOD'S POWER

The order of growth: blade, head, full grain in the head, ripened grain

NOTE - MATURING DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF A SUDDEN.

We must be patient while maturing takes place.

NOTE - During this time, the tender plant is vulnerable to extremes.

Col. 3:12-17 Patience, forbearance, love, 
                    encouraging = NURTURING


THE CHURCH IS GOD'S GREENHOUSE (Be watchful for young plants)

IMPATIENCE IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO NURTURING GROWTH.

1 Pet. 3:7-12 As husbands are to dwell with their 
                     wives with understanding, so are 
                     brethren to do likewise.


BEWARE OF AN ATTITUDE OF SELF-SEEKING & PARTIALITY

Jas. 3:14-ff but wisdom promotes the patience of 
                   peace.


NOT EVERY SITUATION DEMANDS THE SAME RESPONSE

Jude 20-23 patience with some - urgency & 
                  firmness with others.


THIS IS WHY ELDERS MUST PROVE THEMSELVES AS SHEPHERDS

1 Tim. 3:1-7 experienced as a husband and a 
                    father - proven (vs. 10)


BOTH WEAK & STRONG WORKING TOGETHER - CARING TOGETHER.

1 Cor. 12:20-26 "...having the same care one for 
                           another." GOD'S PATTERN

From Jim McGuiggan... LIFT UP YOUR HEADS


LIFT UP YOUR HEADS

Jesus is talking about the downfall of his nation in 70AD [note Luke 21:32]. In apocalyptic and non-apocalyptic speech he speaks of its ruin. Surely if that were to happen the disciples would think it their worst nightmare come true and it would mean the failure of God's promises to and through Israel. Jesus assures them otherwise and for the moment all they have to depend on is his word. His assurance to them in that day is assurance to us in ours. Read of the fearful things he speaks of and then hear his startling promise.
Luke 21:28. “When you see these things…”
When you see these things lift up your heads—redemption draws near.
When you see financial stability return and global financial chaos disappear like a morning mist before the sun;
When you see progress in political talks and national leaders gathering to sign peace treaties and agreements to destroy nuclear weaponry;
When you see the moral tide that had receded from the shores of the nations leaving the naked shingles fully exposed—when you see it return to embrace the land of the living;
When you see medical and scientific advances that truly make a difference to the daily living of the hundreds of millions of the vulnerable and marginalized;
When you see national and international leaders arise who work effectively for peace with righteousness and prosperity with honour and justice and blessing for all
When you see these things [and more]
Lift up your heads—redemption draws near.
Who can’t or won’t rejoice at such things? These are and would be the work and blessing of God. We’d have to be sour to the core not to rejoice in these. Let me say it again: such things are God’s good gifts [Acts 14:15-17 and 17:24-28] and they are reminders of God’s intention toward his human family.
God has not created us to labour in vain. He has not purposed that we suffer forever. He created us to love and be loved and not to abuse or be abused. While human sin is rampant in the world there will be hurt and loss as God works to bring us to a glorious finale under Jesus but pain and suffering is no eternal plan of God. We know in our bones that the agony the human family sees and experiences is not the end of the Story. Beyond sin peace and prosperity and fullness of life is married to righteousness—they are the outcome of and invariable companions of righteousness and God has so ordained it.
When we see peace and prosperity here and there, when we see health and blessing here and there, when we see women and men of integrity in places of power and things looking as in our hearts we know “they should be” we ought to rejoice!
But until the day when the glory and smile of God cover the earth as the waters cover the sea we’ll wait, trusting, all our lifetimes, generation after generation despite the wars and cancers and broken marriages and abusive parents and out of control children and predatory power-brokers and sly, greedy officials who exercise authority against the defenceless simply because they can.
When we see all these things we’ll lift up our heads—redemption draws near.
In Luke 21 [see for yourself] Jesus has just painted a picture of national and international terror and fear and chaos. The foundational structures of their world would totter, uncreation would blaze there before them everywhere they looked and despair would rush at them like a tsunami. It was in the light of all that that Jesus said, “When you see all these things” lift up your heads—redemption draws near.
Only fools make light of such terror and only the insensitive look at the crosses others are dying on and call it “a challenge”. Jesus didn’t make light of those terrible days. He thought them real and he wanted them to know they would be real and terrifying.
Nevertheless, Jesus has shown us that God too is real and he calls us to trust! Trust is always good and right—in the good and prosperous times as well as in calamity but its gold is purer in times of heartache and confusion and fear. Trust sees the pain and loss for what it is—
there!
real!
savage!
But enabled by God they lift their heads believing that they can either judge God by these events or judge these events by God.
“When you see all these terrifying things happen throw in the towel; trash your faith, spit on your dreams, curse your God.”
That wasn’t what he said!
In lonely bereavement in your little house, in your jobless bewilderment, in your own private agony that no one but God and you know about and about which you can’t speak to anyone—in the middle of anything like that Jesus still has the nerve to say:
Lift up your head—redemption draws near.
[You want to talk to someone? You think I might do? I might not be able to help but I’d be glad to listen if you’d like to talk.]

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Lord Of The Sabbath


                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                     Lord Of The Sabbath (2:23-28)

INTRODUCTION

1. As noted previously, the ministry of Jesus prompted close scrutiny by
   religious leaders...
   a. As when the scribes took issue with His claim to forgive sins - Mk 2:6-7
   b. As when the scribes and Pharisees took issue with His dining with
      sinners - Mk 2:16

2. One issue in particular produced a strong reaction:  the Sabbath and
   its observance...
   a. At first, it involved Jesus' disciples plucking grain on the
      Sabbath - Mk 2:23-24
   b. Later, Jesus would be criticized for healing on the Sabbath - cf.
      Mk 3:1-2

3. On the occasion involving Jesus' disciples plucking grain...
   a. The Pharisees said it was unlawful - Mk 2:24
   b. Actually, it was contrary to rabbinical tradition, but not the Law
      per se

4. In answering the Pharisees, Jesus stated two notable things...
   a. "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." - Mk 2:27
   b. "Therefore the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath." - Mk 2:28

[These statements will serve as the basis for this study, beginning with
the idea that...]

I. THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN

   A. THE INSTITUTION OF THE SABBATH...
      1. The Sabbath was first commanded to Israel in the Wilderness
         - Exo 16:23-30
      2. It had previously been unknown to them - cf. Neh 9:14
      3. It was then codified in the Ten Commandments - Exo 20:8-10
      4. As part of the Covenant not given to the patriarchs, but to
         Israel - Deut 5:2-3
      -- The Sabbath was not commanded by God until the time of Moses

   B. THE BASIS OF THE SABBATH...
      1. Based on the fact that God Himself rested on the Seventh Day
         - Exo 20:11
      2. Inserted as a prolepsis by Moses in his Genesis account - cf.
         Gen 2:3
      3. Given to Israel as a special sign between them and God - Exo 31:13-17
      4. Given to remind them of their slavery in Egypt - Deut 5:15
      -- The Sabbath was given only to Israel as part of the Law of
         Moses

[Man was made first, and even existed for millenniums before the Sabbath
was ever commanded (see The Sabbath Day for more detail).  Thus the
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  Next we notice the
claim made by Jesus that...]

II. THE SON OF MAN IS LORD OF THE SABBATH

   A. WITH AUTHORITY TO INTERPRET ITS USE...
      1. As the Son of Man, Jesus was complete and perfect manhood
         a. Since the Sabbath was made for man, the Son of Man was
            rightly the Lord of the Sabbath
         b. He could decide what was permissible, or what was forbidden
      2. As the Son of God, ever one with the Father, He had given the
         Sabbath in the first place! - cf. Jn 1:1-2; 8:58; 10:30; 17:21
      3. Jesus demonstrated  His Lordship by the superiority of His
         reply to the Pharisees
         a. Jesus first appealed to example of David and his men - Mk 2:
            25-26; cf. 1Sa 21:1-6
         b. Matthew adds the example of priests working in the temple on
            the Sabbath - cf. Mt 12:5
         c. Note that Jesus appealed to Scripture to make His point
            ("Have you never read...?")
         d. And what was Jesus' point?  Consider the following:
            1) "A higher law, where it conflicts with a lower one,
               suspends or limits the lower one at the point of
               conflict. Thus the higher laws of worship in the temple
               suspended the lower law of Sabbath observance, and thus
               also the higher law of mercy suspended the lower law as
               to the showbread when David took it and mercifully gave
               it to his hungry followers, and when God in mercy
               permitted this to be done." - J. W. McGarvey, The
               Fourfold Gospel
            2) "And thus, had they done what was otherwise unlawful, the
               disciples would have been justified in eating by the
               higher law of Christ's service. And thus also would
               Christ have been justified in permitting them to eat by
               the law of mercy, which was superior to that which
               rendered the seventh day to God as a sacrifice." - ibid.
         e. Thus by using Scripture Jesus effectively silenced their
            objection based on tradition!
      -- As Lord of the Sabbath, He had sovereign authority to interpret
         its use

   B. WITH AUTHORITY TO RESCIND ITS USE...
      1. If He so willed, Jesus could discontinue the Sabbath
         requirement - cf. He 1:3 ("upholding all things by the word of
         His power")
      2. In fact, Jesus has brought the Law (of which the Sabbath was
         part) to an end!
         a. Through His death on the cross - cf. Ep 2:14-16
         b. Having nailed it to the cross - cf. Col 2:14
         c. Jews who come to Christ die to the Law - cf. Ro 7:4-7
         d. The Old Covenant has been replaced by the New Covenant -
            2Co 3:6-11; He 8:6-13
      3. That Jesus ended the Sabbath requirement is evident
         a. "So let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding...
            sabbaths" - Col 2:16
         b. "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems
            every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own
            mind." - Ro 14:5
         c. Thus Christians assemble on the first day of the week to
            worship - Ac 20:7; 1Co 16:1-2
      -- As Lord of the Sabbath, He has chosen to rescind its use

CONCLUSION

1. Controversy over the observance of the Sabbath has been around for a
   long time...
   a. The manner of its observance was a major issue during Jesus'
      ministry
   b. The need for its observance is still questioned by some today

2. But when we pay close attention to the teaching of "The Lord Of The
   Sabbath"...
   a. We will reach conclusions based on Scripture rather than tradition
   b. We will find that the Lord who ordained the Sabbath has rescinded
      its use

While we appreciate the role of the Sabbath in Israel's history, let us
be sure that it is the Lord of the Sabbath that we worship, and not the
Sabbath itself...



Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

eXTReMe Tracker 

From Gary... Far away and Right near by

Far away


And


Right near by...

Just the other day, my youngest daughter and her daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzy) came over for a visit and a walk.  Lizzy brought her new camera with her and took some pictures as she ventured of the beaten path.  These are the same flowers (I think), one shot far away and the other right near by.  I thought about it a little and then did a small search and found this passage in the Psalms, which caused me to remember the passage from 1st Corinthians...

Psalms, Chapter 65
  1  Praise waits for you, God, in Zion.
To you shall vows be performed.
  2 You who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
  3 Sins overwhelmed me,
but you atoned for our transgressions.
  4 Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts.
We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
  5 By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us,
God of our salvation.
You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth,
of those who are far away on the sea;
  6 Who by his power forms the mountains,
having armed yourself with strength;
  7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
  8 They also who dwell in faraway places are afraid at your wonders. You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy.


And

1 Corinthians, Chapter 6
19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own,  20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

Max T. Neel, the preacher who baptized Linda and I, used to say that for a Christian, God was nearer than hands or feet and closer than breathing. He was right!!!  For those who don't believe, God is far away, like the top photo.  He is just one of many "flowers" in a vast field of "options"; one of the many paths to the goodness in life that we all seek.  But, for those who have earnestly sought HIM, HE becomes more beautiful than anything anyone could ever imagine.  I know that some people will read this and say "just flowers in a field, so what?"  Well, they are just flowers, but they do represent something beautiful and if you will let God into your life, that beauty will be in you as well.  Think about it; which view are you thinking about and have you ever thought about beauty residing in you - if not, why not?