Month: September 2018

Practical Applications
of God’s Word

Part 9 – Doctrine

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Many people discredit doctrine (Scriptural teaching), as not being important or relevant today. However, the Bible stresses the need for sound doctrine. We cannot have sound practice without sound doctrine. That is why Paul also said to Timothy, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life” (2 Timothy 3:10). In other words, his manner of life and practice was based on the teachings of Scripture. He also told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them” (1 Timothy 4:16). These and many other verses show that to live a proper Christian life we need to be familiar with the teachings of Scripture. We cannot have a truly fruitful life for God if we don’t have the proper foundation for Christian living.

Furthermore, we will never be able to detect or refute false doctrine if we don’t know the true doctrine. Titus was told, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). With this in mind, “Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13).

Three Important Things

“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11).

There are three very important things in the above verse:

An important possession — God’s Word.

An importantplace where we are to hide the Word — our heart.

An important purpose to this activity — to keep us from sinning.

Someone has correctly stated: “The best book in the world is the Bible. The best place to put it is in the heart. The best reason for putting it there is that is saves us from sinning against God.”

The evangelist, Dwight L. Moody said, “Sin will keep you from the Book, but the Book will keep you from sin.”

The two verses prior to the verse we have considered are also instructive in this regard. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments” (Psalm 119:9-10).

Help

“My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).

We all need help! We can’t live and get through life without it? How wonderful to have the help of the Lord, the all-powerful Creator and Preserver of the universe.

We have had it in the past and can truly say:

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12).

We experience it in the present:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper” (Hebrews 13:6).

It will be there for us in the future:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

Dear Young Christian:

God delights, amid the hustle and confusion of life, to give us quiet, tranquil moments, where we can reflect on His love and goodness, and spend a little time talking to Him in prayer or reading His Word and hearing Him speak to us. For me, this morning is one of those times. I am alone at a table in the dining room of a camp. No one else is here yet, and through the large windows I look out over the lake. There is hardly a ripple on the water other than the occasional boat in the distance, and a few ducks swimming slowly along on their morning outing. The sky is clear, and the sun is beginning to warm the air. However, I know this time of solitude is not going to last very long. Soon folks will start filing in for breakfast, and another busy day of activities will begin.

How often do you spend a few quiet moments with the Lord? It can be a great source of spiritual strength and renewal. “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Isaiah 53

In this chapter the Lord is presented in different ways…

The Sorrowing Saviour: “A Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (verse 3).

The Submissive Sufferer: “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (verses 4-5).

The Sinless Substitute: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (verse 6).

The Sacrificial Lamb: “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (verse 7).

The Silent Sheep: “As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth” (verse 7).

The Stricken Victim: “For the transgression of My people was He stricken” (verse 8).

The Satisfied Sovereign: “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied” (verse 11).

While You’re Young

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment” (Ecclesiastes 11:9).

How wonderful and gracious of our God to warn us while we are still young of the foolishness of seeking all our joy and pleasure here in this world.

For a happy and fruitful life we need to go to Him. The Lord Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Everything this world has to offer is “Vanity of vanities” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Solomon further exhorts us, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Yes! While it is the bright, fresh springtime of your life, remember your Creator. Give God your early days, your best days. Many have regretted in middle life that they did not obey His call and turn to Him for salvation earlier.

The Lord’s Will — Part 4

Here’s the final set of questions we can ask ourselves that will help us in discerning whether we have the Lord’s will or not, when there is no definite Scripture.

15. Does it have the appearance of evil?

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

16. Is it captivating and enslaving?

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

17. Am I in a hurry about it?

“He that hasteth with his feet sinneth” (Proverbs 19:2).

18. Have I counselled godly Christians about it?

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:15).

Above all, we need to ask the question that the Apostle Paul asked, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6). Remember too, “if any man will do His will, he shall know” (John 7:17). “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

The Lord’s Will — Part 3

Here are more questions we can ask ourselves that will help us in discerning whether we have the Lord’s will or not, when there is no definite Scripture.

 Do I find myself justifying it to others?

“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse” (Job 9:20).

 If it involves the expenditure of money, could the money be better spent?

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9).

 If it involves time, could the time be better spent?

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

 What effect will my conduct in the thing have on others?

“Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9).

The Lord’s Will — Part 2

Here are more questions we can ask ourselves that will help us in discerning whether we have the Lord’s will or not, when there is no definite Scripture.

Will it promote godliness in me?

“Godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (1 Timothy 1:4).

Would I feel right to bring the Lord there if He were physically with me?

“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

Would the Lord have done it?

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Would you like to be doing it when the Lord comes?

“Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing” (Matthew 24:46).

 Am I at peace about it, or am I uneasy?

“Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

The Lord’s Will — Part 1

Here are questions we can ask ourselves that will help us in discerning whether we have the Lord’s will or not, when there is no definite Scripture. (This series adapted from How to Know the Will of God for Your Life: Part 2 by B. Anstey.)

Is it for Christ?

“Them that honour Me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30).

Will it bring glory to God?

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

What is the source of such a desire; is it the flesh or the Spirit?

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Which nature does it feed?

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).

Will it make Christ more precious to my soul?

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious” (1 Peter 2:7).