THE HONEST AND FAITHFUL MINISTRY

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

THE HONEST AND FAITHFUL MINISTRY             

The Bible is a book of principles.  It has specifics.  Specifics in laws; specifics in separation, and specific in examples.  But it is particularly about unchanging principles. 

Specifics can change.  Principles are constant.  Salvation by grace through faith is an unchanging principle.  Circumcision, a sacrament directed to faith, is a specific requirement which did change.  The sacrament of commitment and identification is now baptism. 

There are many specifics which have ceased or changed, but what does that mean for Christians in the 21^st century?  Meetings and meeting times have changed.  But the principle of Believers gathering on the Lord’s Day and at other necessary times has not changed. 

Clothing both in style and formality has changed, but the principle of modesty remains.  It is evident that there are many differences for present day worshippers.  It is true, “this is not your father’s Buick.” 

The question that demands an answer is how much change can the preached message experience and still be the Gospel.

The Gospel as a principle of “the power of God” contains some constant specifics.  They are:

1.  The true gospel contains a demand for repentance.  Acts 2:38
2. The true gospel identifies sin and the sinner.  Romans 3:23, 6:23
3. The true gospel demands faith in the crucified and risen Savior Jesus and demands an open public confession of him as absolute sovereign over the life of the confessor.  Romans 10:9-10
4. The true gospel identifies the life to which the one who believes is called.  II Corinthians 5:17
5. The true gospel identifies the single way of favor with God to be faith in Jesus Christ without any righteousness on the part of the believer.  Galatians 2:16

Anyone who claims to be a gospel preacher and intentionally leaves out any of these specifics has failed his commission.  This is not to say every specific is mentioned in every message, but the messenger understands their necessity and is committed to that principle.

The great gospel preacher of the early 19^th century, Daniel Clark, preached two sermons which identify the problem of the 21^st century church, “A Better Church Would Make A Better World” and  “If We Had A Better Church We Would Have A Better World.”, The Works of the Rev. Daniel A. Clark.

REQUISITE MEMORIES

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

REQUISITE MEMORIES       

JOSHUA 4:7    ESV

⁷ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever 

Every person is a creature of his history.  Out of this history is a wealth of memories and some are not so pleasant.  But whatever they are they remain with us.

This account of Israel crossing the Jordan and the memorial stones they brought out of the river was important to the life and the worship of those people.  They also have an important lesson for us. 

I.                    Acts and facts of the past are important.  They are important in shaping us into the people we are.  Whether the past needs to be put behind us or whether it is a help in daily life does not matter.  It is important.  In many instances believers remember what they were before conversion and the change that occurred when they were converted.  This can be a help in identifying the changes which have occurred and those changes that are needed.

II.                God’s people are given memorials to strengthen and encourage them.  A part of the purposes of memorials is to teach.  In Joshua 4:6-7, the Scriptures state, “when your children ask in time to come, “what do these stones mean?"  ”then you shall tell them”.

Memorials are also a witness.  They stand in this instance, as stark testimonies to God’s great power and His deliverance of Israel.  The stones were there as Joshua said to be “a sign among you”.

III.             Memorials represent fact and guarantee reality.  These stones were taken from the bed of the river “where the priests feet stood firmly”.  The reality of the dry shod crossing of the nation was in these stones.  When Israel looked at the stones they were in a fashion looking at the river stopped, the bed dry, and the people crossing unhindered.

They were not the reality but they were a true reminder of it.  As long as the stones remained with Israel, the memorial was there to encourage their faith and confidence in God.   

Christians have experiences that encourage their faith.  They are never to be a substitute for the Gospel.  But experiences which are personal and observable are to be remembered and used as helps to faith.  The Christian must always know that experiences must be left behind.  They may remain with us but we cannot remain with them. 

There is a single unchanging memorial for believers, the Lord’s Supper.  This Sunday, as many of us have the Lord’s Supper in our churches, the single most important purpose is to remember Christ, His death, and His resurrection.  We remember Him as the one who loves us, our Savior, and the ever present God who provides for and protects us. 

Any believer who comes to the Lord’s table with faith in the benefits Christ has for him and with humility for his sins will find he receives far more than he could ask or think. 

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you preach the Lord’s sacrifice for sinners until He comes.”  Even so, come Lord Jesus.

LET GOD BE TRUE

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

LET GOD BE TRUE        

Deuteronomy 34:1-4    NKJV

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan,

² all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,

³ the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.

⁴ Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” 

The faith of the Christian is that all of God’s promises can be believed.  Believing this, whenever promises are plainly stated, we expect it to be fulfilled.  If the promise was in the ancient past and it is plainly stated, easily understood, and fulfillment is announced, we believe it as it is written. 

In Deuteronomy 34:1-4 there is a promise identified.  Those to whom it is made are named.  All the elements of this particular promise are identified.  It is a promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  That which is promised is a particular geographical section of land.  The question that remains is whether this promise is fulfilled. 

There is a part of the Christian Church which is identified by a particular prophetic understanding.  These teach a literal 1000 year reign of Christ at His return.  At this time God’s covenant promises to Israel, which have not yet been fulfilled, will be literally fulfilled.

That this promise has not been completed is basic to their claim that Israel is still the Covenant people of God.  For God to be true to His promise Israel must have the land promised them which they have not yet received.  The premillennial return of Christ has far greater content than this one part.  But this part is basic to it. 

Can this position, that Israel has not received the land promised, be supported by Scripture?  It appears not.  In Joshua 21:45 we find “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”  ESV. 

If this were not sufficient we can find it repeated in I King 8:56 “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant” ESV.  Note that Solomon can claim “Not one word has failed (that is “has not come to pass”), of all His good promises by which He spoke by Moses His prophet.” 

When we read that the Jews rejection of Christ “delayed” the kingdom promises which will have to be later fulfilled, we know assuredly it was not promises regarding the land they were to have.  That is settled by the Scriptures.  Other promises will be found to have been as assuredly fulfilled as these we have read.

Application:

A.  The Scriptures are for us the single authority.

B.  We believe in Christ’s return and say “Even so, come Lord Jesus”.

LET US SING

 Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

LET US SING            

 

Deuteronomy 31:30    NKJV

Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:

Revelation 15:3

 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 

There are 237 references to song and singing in the Scriptures.  These references are so frequent and plain that the Reformers, Zwingli, Luther, and Calvin saw a return to congregational singing to be a necessity for the Church.  They differed as to content and accompaniment, but not the need for this benefit of worship in the church. 

The Song in Deuteronomy 32 is the second Song of Moses.  The difference in the songs does not lie in the theology of the content but the subjects with which they are concerned. 

The first song in Exodus 15 is one of victory.  Egypt is defeated.  God has triumphed gloriously and He gives the same victory to His people.  This song in chapter 32 is about God’s faithfulness, His longsuffering, Israel’s apostasy, and the judgment which results from that apostasy. 

The song of Moses is mentioned again.  In Revelation 15:3 the heavenly martyrs are viewed in victory singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the  ”song of the Lamb”.  We are not told which of Moses’ songs are intended.  That in itself is of no consequence.  It is important that the New Testament writer understood that Moses wrote songs. 

George Eldon Ladd wrote, “In this time of great tribulation when the beast seemed to have unlimited power to enforce his demonic purpose upon man and persecute the saints – in the darkest hour of human history when it truly seemed that Satan was the God of this age…The martyrs sing a hymn of praise to God, recognizing that He is the true and living God.  They exalt the name of God because, contrary to outward appearances, He is indeed the King of all the ages, including the time of martyrdom.  This song is one of the most moving expressions of faith in the entire biblical literature.”  Revelation, Ladd, pg 205

A Song To The Lamb 

O could I speak the matchless worth,

O could I sound the glories forth which in my Savior shine,

I’d soar, and touch the heav’nly strings and vie with Gabriel,

While he sings in notes almost divine.

I’d sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt of sin, and wrath divine;
I’d sing His glorious righteousness, in which all perfect, heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine, my soul shall ever shine.

I’d sing the characters He bears,
And all the forms of love He wears, exalted on His throne;
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, I would to everlasting days
Make all His glories known, make all His glories known.

Soon, the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home, and I shall see His face;
Then with my Savior, Brother, Friend, a blessèd eternity I’ll spend,
Triumphant in His grace, triumphant in His grace.

Application:

1.  Singing allows emotions in worship.
2. The content of our singing is dictated by Scripture.

COVENANT JUDGMENT

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

COVENANT JUDGMENT                

Deuteronomy 28:64-64 WITH CHAPTER 27-28 NKJV

⁶⁴ “Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone.

⁶⁵ And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. 

The Bible teaches God’s judgment on the nations.  The first occurrence of this was “the flood”.  Another illustration is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The destruction of Egypt and the overthrow of the nation in Canaan are also lessons of the consistency of this judgment. 

There appears to be a gradation in depravity before God exercises judgment.  There is first the condition of little or no civilization.  This is the condition that prevailed before and at the time of “the flood”.  Judgment was slow in coming and there was ample warning but destruction was complete. 

Again there is the condition of civilization.  Sodom and Gomorrah were organized and civilized entities.  They had the leadership and trappings of an organized society.  When judgment came it was swift and thorough.  There was no preaching in Sodom and no time for repentance. 

There is a third grade of judgment.  That is when it applies to those in Covenant with God.  Israel qualified for this.  It is necessary to realize no catastrophe has happened to Israel that they have not had ample forewarning. 

Moses states plainly to Israel that they have the rich blessing of God by being in covenant with him.  Along with the promised blessings come the uncompromised curses that will result from disobedience to the Covenant which they entered at Horeb. 

There are no other statements so overwhelming in their graphic description of the judgment Israel will face for departure from Covenant obedience as that in Deuteronomy 27-28.  They are so overwhelming they are difficult to read.  They are so true to the experience of Israel that liberal Bible scholars claim they were written around 200 BC.  But that doesn’t help answer for their accuracy.  These curses continue on Israel to the present day. 

A careful study of Jewish history Post-AD should convince the Bible student of the judgment pronounced by Moses on this people.  This judgment they cannot escape. 

Political correctness cannot exonerate them or provide relief for their misery.  The only hope for relief for a Jew is repentance and faith in Christ, not as the Savior of Israel, but as the only Savior of poor lost sinners. 

Application:

1. We are no better than they.
2. What a great judgment is due a Gospel-enlightened western civilization.

SHARING WITH THE POOR

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

SHARING WITH THE POOR                       

Deuteronomy 23:24-25; 24:19-22 Mark 2:23 NKJV

²⁴ “When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.

²⁵ When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

Deuteronomy 24

¹⁹ “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

²⁰ When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

²¹ When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

²² And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Mark 2:23

²³ Now it happened that He went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain 

Moses gave Israel many simple laws for daily living.  They had directives for the whole of their lives, for their possessions, and for incidentals which overall made them different from the nations around them.  Above all other concerns was their responsibility to show care for and provide for their fellow countrymen.

Calvin wrote about Deuteronomy 23:24-25.  “This, then, is the sum, that is not accounted a theft, if a traveler, in order to relieve his hunger, should gather ears of corn or grapes for his necessary wants, until he should arrive at this resting place where he may buy bread and wine.”  Commentary Vol. III, page 151, Harmony of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Baker book House. 

Calvin has missed the intention of Moses.  For Moses is not talking about a traveler, but it is the same concern as Deuteronomy 24:19-22.  The poor, the weak, and the helpless were to be remembered and provided for in every instance of available supply.  The only limit placed on the person who takes is that it be for their immediate need. 

The one who picked from his neighbors vineyard or field was not allowed to bring with him any means of harvest.  He was to have neither “bag” nor “sickle”.  When his interest went further than his immediate appetite it became theft. 

When the disciples of Christ in Mark 2:23 pulled the grain there was no accusation of theft.  The accusation against them was Sabbath breaking.  The responsibility of provision for the hungry person remained a part of the Jews recognized religious responsibility. 

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are replete with admonitions of responsibility of God’s people for the poor.  It is a travesty to the Scriptures to spiritualize these statements to mean anything other than those who have great economical need of food, clothing, and shelter through no fault of their own. 

Do not mistake what I am saying.  It is not the organized church’s responsibility to heal social ills or to affect the culture in other ways than to bring the Law and Gospel to bear upon it.  But it is the responsibility of every believer to consider the indigent to provide for them to the full extent their worldly goods will allow. 

Application:

1.  Worldly goals are never to be considered separate from others.
2. Giving is to be done knowing that all is received as a gift from God.

JUDGING THE PROPHETS

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

JUDGING THE PROPHETS

Deuteronomy 13:1-3; 18:15, 20-22;  Galatians 1:6-9; II Peter 2:1 NKJV 

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,

² and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’

³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy18

¹⁵ “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

²⁰ But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ ²¹ And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’—

²² when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. 

God has given preachers and prophets to the church throughout its history.  And there is a sense in which none in the church have more authority nor are to be more respected.  Therefore to judge a prophet sounds presumptuous.  Yet God, very early in the life of the organized church, gives His people the responsibility of “judging prophets”. 

In Deuteronomy 13 and 18 the rules governing this responsibility are given to Israel.  They are there for Israel as the church and not for some special instruction to rulers.  It is the peoples’ responsibility to hear or forebear a prophet’s message. 

In Deuteronomy 13:1-3 there are three important principles for people and prophets.

A.     No miracle can authenticate idolatry or false teaching.  Vss. 2-3

B.     False prophets are sent to test believers, Vs. 3 “For the Lord your God is testing you.”

C.     Believers are identified as those who love God. 

 Additional information is given in Deuteronomy 18 to complete the requirements for prophets.

a.       A prophet is to speak only that which the Lord gives him in his prophecies.  He has the responsibility to add nothing of his own commentary.

b.      Any prophecy which has information concerning the future must furnish a control.  That control is an event that is a fulfillment of the forecast of the prophet.  If he cannot do this he spoke “presumptuously” and no one was required to recognize him.

It is with this information we come to the New Testament.  II Peter 2:1 states the inevitability of the false teacher in the church.  After he finishes describing their activity and identifying them he states a controlling fact of false teachers.  They always act according to their nature.

II Peter 2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 

Paul, in Galatians 1:6-9, gives two additional truths about false teachers in the church.

A.     Vs. 7  They distort the Gospel of Christ.  That is to change into something of an opposite nature.  Paul, in Vs. 6 is astonished that has happened to Galatians and that so easily.

B.     Vss. 8-9  The message authenticates the messenger -  never the messenger the message.  The works, reputation, and accomplishments should never cause the believer to receive a false gospel.  Gulls eating -even miraculously eating locust- cannot make Mormonism true.

Application:

1.       The gospel message is to be received with charity always remembering the messenger is an earthen vessel.

2.      Credentials cannot make a false messenger acceptable.