4/25/19 

Genesis 45:26A

26    And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

1.      Joseph was supposed to be dead.  His torn blood-soaked cloak was a witness that the wild beasts of the wilderness had killed him.

His brothers had intended to kill him until it was determined to throw him into a pit (without water) and leave him to die.  But he was brought up out of the pit.

After he was sold into slavery he rejected his master’s wife sexual advances. She falsely accused him of assault and intended his death.  He was sent to prison and was placed in the pit.  But he was brought up out of the pit again.  And Joseph is alive.

1.      If the story ended here how great it would be.  Jacob would have been satisfied.  But it does not end with Joseph being alive.  “He is ruler over all Egypt.”

In all the Old Testament there is none so virtuous, so faithful, so dependable as Joseph.  The beauty of his character is a wonder to behold.

There is no single true accusation against him.  He is not sinless, there is only one truly Holy.  But his last act of which we are told is one of faith. cf Genesis 50:24-25.

⁴ And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” ²⁵ Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 

4/25/19 

Mark 4:40

⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 

I remember the first time I preached on this verse, how it came to me (I claim nothing original), “it matters not the storm about you, it is who is in the boat with you.” There are some truths for us:

1.      Storms will come.  This is certain.  Just as weather is outside the control of the mariner, there are storms which come in the life of the believer that are outside their control.  These can be very destructive.

2.      We are fearful under these conditions.  We should never excuse our fearfulness.  It is to be confessed and overcome but it is inevitable.

3.      Jesus may appear to be both unaware and uncaring about our danger.  But no matter how great the danger He is engaged to be with us.  The danger can never be greater than His ability to deliver us.  His presence is our security.

4.      Our greatest problem is not what we fear but our unbelief.  In the time of our fear the question is always “Have you no faith?”

Our response must be “yes Lord but you alone can say, Peace be still and quiet the wind and the waves.”

“Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.”

4/24/19 

Hebrews 11:38a

³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

The 11^th chapter of Hebrews finishes the exposition of the Hebrew’s history.  The conclusion in this chapter is a statement on the practical value of faith.  As the 6^th verse states, there is a reward for faith.  Faith in God has a practical objective, and that objective as it is sought through a right relationship with Christ gains its objective.  Joseph’s bones were brought out of Egypt.

Beginning with Abel and continuing through the long list of worthies, they suffered and by faith gained their objectives.  Both their suffering and rewards differed but there was a common truth.  “The world was not worthy” of their presence.  When the world and all its inhabitants was weighed, it could not give to God an adequate return for His servants who had dwelled in it.  This is saying that the few of God’s people were more valuable than the whole world other citizens.  What a contrast!

To apply this we understand that those true Christians who were killed this past weekend are valuable to God and “the world is not worthy of them.”

4/23/19 

Matthew 21:4-5

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

⁵ “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

This small quote from Zechariah is a sufficient testimony of Jesus’ kingship.  This is a part of the faith of the Reformed Church.  Jesus is prophet, priest, and king.  He holds this honor and fulfills these offices in and to His church.

To most Christians and also to secular historians, John Calvin is known for his formulation of theology emphasizing God’s sovereignty.  The simple understanding is Calvin equates to Calvinism, which is principally about predestination.  Make no mistake I do not deny Calvin’s  effective teaching of predestination.  In his systematic approach to theology this teaching was central.

But by Reformed scholars who are familiar with the great contribution of this mighty leader of the Reformation his greatest contribution was his teaching of the threefold office of Christ, which had not been recognized in its fullness and overwhelming importance until Calvin.  His clarity about Christ’s offices and the importance of this to the church cannot be overemphasized.  This basis of our salvation, sanctification and security is in Christ’s saving, keeping, and reigning over us.

4/22/19 

Psalm 10:16

The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.

I was converted in the early 60s and immediately became an avid student of dispensationalism.  One of its primary teachings was there is no kingship with God until the millennium.  At that time the Kingdom will be established and Jesus will be King.

I have come to believe the unifying fact of Scripture is the Kingship of the Mediator.  Let me give you my thoughts.

1.      There can be no law without a lawgiver and enforcer.  It is the King’s privilege to give the law and to enforce it.  It is no stretch to say the Law of God is the Law of Christ.

2.      Covenants are made by kings.  There is a very fine book giving the background of the Biblical covenant entitled, The Covenant of the Great King.  Lesser covenants can be made but they have little authority and limited duration.  This cannot be said about the New Covenant.  It claims universal authority and unlimited duration.

3.      Only a king can guarantee protection and provision.  Christ as King guarantees both for His Church, cf I Timothy 6:14-15

¹⁴ to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

4/19/19 

Mark 15:24

²⁴ And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.

“And they crucified him”.

In these stark words Mark describes the greatest crime ever in the universe.  And yet Isaiah could say “The Lord has placed upon him the sin of us all.”

So the greatest crime and the greatest act of charity is completed at the same time.  George Smeaton could say when writing on the atonement, “whenever the Scriptures say as in John 3:16, “He gave”, the intention is always that he gave unto death on the cross.”

Anyone who considers Jesus separate from the cross commits a travesty.  It is the basis of our present being, (Galatians 2:20), and our hope in heaven, (Revelation 5:8-10).

How do we know that He was perfectly holy, spoke nothing but the truth, accomplished perfectly the will of God, and accomplished a complete deliverance for us?  God raised Him from the dead.  By this the Father put His stamp of approval.

The grave is empty and heaven is filled with His presence and praise, “and they crucified him”.  Lamentations 1:12 seems to me one of the clearest statements of Christ’s sufferings.  The writer says, “which the Lord inflicted on me in the day of his fierce anger,” In Galatians 2:20 Paul writes, “nevertheless I live.”

4/20/19  Easter

Romans 1:21-23

²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

John Murray, in his commentary on Romans, has well said that God did not intend for man’s mind to be empty.  So if it is not filled with truth it will be filled with error.

In the verses above the end-product of unthankful disregard of God begins with ignorance and progresses to idolatry, the ugliness of which is human willingness to give respect and devotion to animals.

On Sunday, 4/21/19, that will be demonstrated in Christian Churches all across the U.S.  Eggs of some nature—chicken, chocolate, or plastic will be hidden.  They supposedly are left there by an Easter bunny for children to find.

1.       It’s a lie, and it teaches by the Church, a lie.  There are no bunnies, no Easter eggs, just a lie.

2.      As it is under the direction and authority of the Church on the Lord’s Day in connection with Church services, it is heresy of the first order.

3.      Bunnies and eggs are a heathen representation of the renewal of the earth each Spring, a nature festival.  This brings bald heathen practice into the House of God.

Romans 1:22 ESV

Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

4/13/19

Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts understanding to the simple.

The Bible is not for “Pie in the sky” mystics.  It is for hard-headed realists.  There are two certain facts for the believer in this verse.

1.       The Scriptures are the true basis for “light”.  Psalm 119:105. John in his first letter 1:5 tells why this is so, “God is light.”  This being so we can rest assured His sacred communication will be “light” in the same way He is.

This same “light” is also our “life”, John 1:4  In this great exposition of the nature of the God-man we can further determine the character of “Light”.  It is divine favor, grace, truth, and the full final revelation of God.

2.      Secondly is the state of our nature which is common to us.  We are the “simple”.  This guarantees the limit on our knowledge of God.  There are good reasons we should own our simplicity in our knowledge of God.  We are fine creation and further we are fallen finite creatures.

Not only do we not know God as we should, we fail in knowledge of human nature.  Man’s depravity and ignorance is under-valued and his exaltation of humanity is over-valued.  We are far closer to the brute than is admitted.

4/12/19

Psalm 119:18

Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.

The Bible leaves no doubt as to the value of its content.  As for myself I cannot imagine an existence without it.  The following are wondrous things that have come through God’s Word.

1.       I have become more informed about Jesus the Christ.  And by knowing Him I know the Triune God better.  He is the complete revealer of the whole of the Godhead.  Therefore by knowing Him I can know the God I serve and the Father who loves me.

2.      Through the Bible I have come to know, to admire, and to have heroes.  I deeply enjoy reading about Joseph, Moses, Hannah, David, Jeremiah and Daniel.  Who could want greater heroes or more interesting people?  All of these Old Testament characters are real to me.  Their trials and exploits as trials of faith and victories of the faithful have always been my lessons and encouragement.

3.      The Scriptures have made me more deeply aware of history.  Scripture teaches us that in history lies truth that cannot be ignored.  We should become more logical in our demands of truth.  Fact is always sensible.

Let us take a simple question:  Why miracles?  The Lord Jesus answers this very sensibly.  If you do not believe My words, believe Me for My works sake.”  Miracles are not for wonder, show, or even compassion.  Jesus did not create golden butterflies.  He taught truth.

4/10/19

Lamentations 3:34-36

To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,
³⁵ to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High,
³⁶ to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve.

The author of Lamentations is anonymous.  But it is historically attributed to Jeremiah.  There is no reason to think this is not so, and every reason to think it is.

Lamentations is an acrostic poem.  Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5 are each 22 verses.  This is the number of the Hebrew alphabet.  Chapter 3 is 66 verses.  There is no known reason for this difference.  This writing is a treasure of historic and theological truths.  The verses listed above contributes to that wealth.

In the context, these verses state a very simple truth. “Let no man claim God is the author of his injustice.”  It was common then as now for man to commit some foul injustice and claim God’s will as his authority.  This text denies that is so.

“The poor you have with you always” is a fact.  It even seems at times that poverty is a state of mind that cannot be changed.  If that is so, and there are many who will deny me,  that gives no one the right to either oppress or deny the poor. 

What does this have to say about the Southern border conflict?  Nothing.  It is any nation’s right to control its borders. Laws that do this are necessary and just.

4/09/19

Psalm 119:126

It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken.

This Psalm is the greatest acrostic poems ever written.  It does not have a wasted word in it.  It is just written with extreme simplicity and yet any point in it deserves the deepest consideration of the reader.

The writer considers his place of observation in his age and determines that God must act for His own honor.  The Law of God is more than transgressed, it is “broken”.  That is, “no longer containing or binding up”.

That is the same feeling that our system of justice gives in our time.  Our system of justice is broken.  Or somehow it has come to be manipulated against the intent.  The evil-doer is protected and the ordinary citizen is exploited.

The Christian is prone to say with the writer in Psalm 44:22B “We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered all day long.”

I read on Sunday a prayer request for three black Baptist churches in La. that had been burned.  It is truly “time for the Lord to act”.  His law is broken.

There are so many similarities between this angry Socialist minority that has gained leadership

 in the most important political positions and Germany of the early 1930s that it is at least cautionary.  The Christians cry and prayer is “it is time for the Lord to act”.

4/08/19

Isaiah 24:15 KJV

¹⁵ Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

Most well informed Christians know that they can suffer for their faith.  The time and the circumstances are of course mysteries.  The question most often is I don’t know if I can do what I should.  What we can know is His grace is sufficient.  The one who gives grace to live must be our assurance of grace sufficient to suffer.  If the power of temptation is understood the prevailing sufficiency of grace becomes all the more dependable.

The providence of God does not always demand that a particular believer must suffer physically.  There are many different ways of suffering other than danger or pain.  The loss of a loved one can be extremely debilitating.  Families break up and individuals lose their way in life.

Sudden loss of fortune or a dwelling place can overwhelm and defeat a person.  Christians experience these losses but their reactions to them do usually differ.  The support of friends and the grace that is always present is sufficient to sustain the believer.

As an older believer there is the question of what will I do when the time comes?  I have always received living grace.  I am confident of dying grace.

4/06/19

Isaiah 8:20

To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

This verse has an especial importance to me because it was one of the first I memorized after I was converted.  It has three simple parts to it.

1.      The direction we are to go for our education.  Let me quote Calvin here, “God reveals Himself to us in the Law and declares what is that relation to us He chooses to hold, and lays down what He demands from us, and in short everything necessary to be known.”

2.       Contradictions to God’s direction must be expected.  There are two reasons God’s Word is rejected.  It is both moral and restrictive.  Human self-love is consuming.  Love for your neighbor in the way the Scripture commands is so morally demanding that human nature refuses it.

When the rich man was asked, “How much money do you want?”  His reply was, “some more.”  God places a restriction of human “get” and says “give.”  Man wants that as an option.  God makes it a necessity.

3.       God’s solution to our ignorance is non-negotiable.  “There has never been a dawn their heart.”

Let me quote from Calvin, “The mode of expression here is emphatic.  He brings an accusation of blindness against every man who does not instantly and without dispute adopt this sentiment that we ought not to be wise beyond the Law of God.”

4/04/19

Matthew 16:15

¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

The question posed here to the Apostles and maybe others cannot be overstated in importance.  It is one which all humanity must answer.

In vs 16 Peter answers and that is followed by what Christ says to Peter.  Note first what Christ says to Peter.

1.      “Blessed are you”.  This knowledge you have indicates that you are Psalm 1 man. Blessed here and blessed hereafter, blessed in your root and blessed in your fruit.  This is not to be passed over.

2.      “Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but God did”.  For my part this is the most important part of the context.  The statement is “I am only known by revelation and that not of this world.”  Look at Matthew 11:27.   All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. This revelation is here said to be a blessing.

3.       “Upon this rock I will build My church”.

A.                What is built?  Christ’s Church.

B.                 Who builds this church?  Christ

C.                 What is its foundation?  This rock.

Let us not concern ourselves with the different theories.  Think like the Apostles.  What is the rock?  They are Old Testament students.  The rock is God.  Isaiah 44:8.

Fear not, nor be afraid;    have I not told you from of old and declared it?    And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me?    There is no Rock; I know not any.”

Two things we know.

1.       God must reveal.

2.      God does reveal.

Then we can say the revelation is the rock.  The purpose of God to reveal Christ is our rock.

4/03/19

I Corinthians 2:2

² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 

ASK YE WHAT GREAT THING I KNOW

1.      Ask ye what great thing I know,
that delights and stirs me so?
What the high reward I win?
Whose the name I glory in?
Jesus Christ, the crucified.

2.      Who defeats my fiercest foes?
Who consoles my saddest woes?
Who revives my fainting heart,
healing all its hidden smart?
Jesus Christ, the crucified.

3.      Who is life in life to me?
Who the death of death will be?
Who will place me on his right,
with the countless hosts of light?
Jesus Christ, the crucified.

4.      This is that great thing I know;
this delights and stirs me so:
faith in him who died to save,
him who triumphed o’er the grave:
Jesus Christ, the crucified.

Author:  Johann C. Schwedler (1741); Translator: Benjamin Hall Kennedy (1863)

4/02/19

Philippians 1:21

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 

What does it mean “to live is Christ”?  In this context Paul gives three reasons why living in the body was an advantage. Look with me at:

1.      Vs 22 - " fruitful labor" would be a result of Paul continuing as he was. Look at the fact and the certainty of this. 

 First he did not doubt that his life was one of labor in Christ's cause. Paul was committed to act or live according to God’s will. But until he was directed to something different, he saw no need to change from the labor that marked his life. No indecision for him. Secondly he did not doubt that it was certain to be fruitful. When one lives with Christ being the object and end of their life it is always fruitful. The only way a Christian life becomes unfruitful is to lose sight of Christ and instead see the world.

2.      Vs 24 - "more necessary for you." Paul never saw his life separate from his union with Christ. And equally so his union with the church. Our union with Christ and with each other is an equal certainty. cf John 1:9;17:21-23.

3.      Vs 25 "for your joy in the faith."  This letter is called Paul’s Epistle of Joy and it is. Dear Believer be thankful for the privilege of Christian Joy. cf Nehemiah 2.2.  

² And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

4/01/19

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The first fact of the Bible is the beginning of theological understanding and is an absolute to any critical knowledge of God.  The requirement to a right relationship with God is stated in Hebrews 11:6.  Without believing that God is creator there is no believing in the “is” of God.  He must be before time, space, and all that is.  To believe this is to believe in the very essence of God.

Genesis 2:17 – but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

God has given the law.  As creator God reigns over His creation.  As the reigning monarch He can and has said to His creation “You shall not.”  He has the authority to say it and the power to enforce it.  When we receive God as creator we admit His power and His authority.  When our faith rests in Christ we resent neither His power nor authority.  “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”.

John 1:18 –  No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

God is known only and fully through Jesus Christ.  When I say this I am saying there is no other way to know God but through the Savior.  And I am also saying that through the Savior there is nothing more to be done than what is revealed in Him.

II Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 13.

3/29/19

Ecclesiastes 3:14

¹⁴ I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

From the first time I remember reading Ecclesiastes I have been fascinated with it.  The poetry, philosophy, and theology combine to make it both mysterious and wonderful.

You can find no higher theology in the Bible than that in our text for today.  And yet I have never been able to make any sense out of the verse that follows.  Let us look at verse 14.

1.       All God’s acts are eternal.  This has two consequences.  First there is no reaction with God.  Nothing can be added.  His acts are always both perfect and complete.  Second God is never dependent on future acts or consequences.  A simple consideration of this renders it foolish to make God’s election dependent on man’s will.  “Nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it”.

2.      There is a purpose to what God does.  In both Exodus and Romans it is stated that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh.  In Romans it is also stated that God raised him up, or put him there, for that particular purpose.  That may be very difficult to fit into your theology.  But you must admit that the Preacher who wrote our text for today has no problem with it.  “God has done so that men may fear before Him”.  A lost person who is not terrified by God knows nothing about Him.