Month: December 2017

Gates of Nehemiah — The Prison Gate

“And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate” (Nehemiah 12:39).

The first mention of a prison in the Bible is in connection with Joseph, who as a result of his faithfulness to His God suffered in this way. “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison” (Genesis 39:20).This would remind us that if we are faithful to the Lord we too will not be popular and will suffer some reproach. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16).Notice that the Prison Gate is in connection with the Sheep Gate, which speaks of the person and work of Christ. The Apostle Paul, who was such a faithful witness for Lord referred to himself as, “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Philemon 1).

Are we willing to take our place at the Prison Gate? In other words, to suffer a little reproach for Christ?

Keeping & Kept — Part 2

Yesterday we mentioned the need for watchfulness and spiritual energy if we are going to live for the Lord in a wicked world of sin and temptation. However, in the end it is only the grace of God that keeps us, and we must learn, that we are “kept.” Here are some Scriptures to consider in this regard.

 “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3).

“Kept by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5).

“Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee” (Numbers 6:24).

The Apostle Paul’s prayer for the believers in Thessalonica was, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).There is no limit to His keeping power. Learn to draw on that resource daily.

Keeping & Kept — Part 1

To live for the Lord in a world of sin and defilement is not easy. It takes constant watchfulness and spiritual energy. There is an old expression that says, “Keep on keeping on.” Here are some verses from the Bible that exhort us as to some of the things we need to “keep” in this regard.

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (Psalm 34:13).

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:1).

“Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).

“Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28).

Keeping & Kept — Part 1

To live for the Lord in a world of sin and defilement is not easy. It takes constant watchfulness and spiritual energy. There is an old expression that says, “Keep on keeping on.” Here are some verses from the Bible that exhort us as to some of the things we need to “keep” in this regard.

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (Psalm 34:13).

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:1).

“Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).

“Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28).

Dear Young Christian:

Last week I was soundly defeated in a ping-pong game by a young person some thirty five years my junior. I realized that I am not twenty years old anymore and that I am very out of practice. I concluded that time does make a difference. It seems like just a few years ago my younger brother and I used to play every evening, and the competition was very intense. We talk about the aging process, which is just a comfortable way of saying we are getting older, and it is certainly a reality.

For the Christian it is a great comfort to know that though things change in this world, and the body slowly wears out, yet there is a better world ahead. At the coming of the Lord our bodies will be changed. The Bible tells us: “We shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). It can’t be soon enough for me! How about you? Is this your hope too?

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

The Father’s Will

“For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 6:38).

“I delight to do Thy will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8).

“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7).

“Father … not My will, but Thine, be done”
(Luke 22:42).

How clearly these verses, concerning the work of the Lord Jesus here on earth, show that He came for one purpose, and that was to do the will of God His Father. Of His life and work He could say, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). Nothing was left undone of that which was set before Him, and God is completely and eternally satisfied with that work.

He endured the cross … He was made sin for us … He laid down His life … He shed His blood … He rose from the dead … He ascended back to heaven … all is finished … God is glorified … and we are brought into eternal blessing and relationship as a result.

A Strange Hobby

Claude Khazizian was the nightmare of every security guard. His hobby was to gate-crash upper class gatherings and mingle with the guests. A photo taken in 1995 shows him among some leading politicians from various countries. He knew how to adapt to situations, wear the right clothes, and hold his own in all kinds of conversations. In 1995 he also succeeded in smuggling himself in to the wedding reception in the Dutch royal household and shaking hands with the bride and groom.

However, nobody will be able to gate-crash heaven or the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). In the parable of the wedding of the king’s son the Lord told of how a man managed to slip in unawares. He had been invited like the other guests but wasn’t wearing the correct wedding garment, the garment provided by the king himself. He was asked, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment” (Matthew 22:12)?

This shows that no one can stand before God on the ground of his own righteousness. It must be the “robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10),that He provides through Christ and the work of Calvary.

Friendship

“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25).

People are known and formed by the company they keep. The Bible clearly states, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). This shows the importance of considering carefully and prayerfully the question of intimate association, companionship, and not the least fellowship. To keep company with a person given to wrath and fury is to be contaminated by their hasty ways, and to bring a snare upon our own soul. Anger and malice are the works of the flesh. With such the Christian should have no association, for we are too easily defiled by such things; and to go on in company with one displaying such evidences of unjudged sin is to endanger our own walk and testimony for the Lord.

Here are a couple of other verses from the book of Proverbs, concerning the results of anger:

“He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly” (14:17).

“An angry man stirreth up strife” (29:22).

John Knox — Part 2

As John Knox stood in the court of Queen Mary and amidst her lords, who hated him, he was roused by the insinuation that human punishment could make him desert the cause of Christ, and he firmly replied, “My lords, you are mistaken if you think you can, by threats, intimidate me to do what conscience and God tell me not to do; for be it known to you that it is a matter of no importance to me, when I have finished my work, whether my bones shall bleach in the winds of heaven, or rot in the bosom of the earth.”

Knox having retired, one of the lords said to the Queen, “We may let him alone, for we cannot punish that man.”

Well, therefore, might it be said at the grave of John Knox, “Here lies one who never feared the face of man.”

“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:14).

What would you be willing to pay or give up to be a testimony to Christ and His truth? What if such a test as John Knox faced came in your life? What would you say and what would you do?

John Knox — Part 1

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6).

Here is an anecdote from the life and testimony of the Scottish Reformer John Knox (1514-1572).

The pure, heart-searching doctrines that were preached by this man of God, were very offensive to the carnal mind, and particularly obnoxious to the corrupt court of Queen Mary; hence he was commanded to stop preaching; but, owning no master, and obeying no mandate, which was in opposition to God and the Bible, he paid no attention to the command of the palace, and continued to preach with much zeal.

The haughty Mary, hearing, from the enemies of the cross, that her orders were disobeyed, summoned Knox into her presence. When he arrived, he was ushered into a room in which were the Queen and her attendant lords. On being questioned as to his persistency, he answered plainly that he preached the truth, and dared not preach less.

“But,” exclaimed one of the lords, “our commands must be obeyed on penalty of death; silence, or the gallows is the alternative.”