Month: August 2016

Jesus In Prayer — Part 1

In Luke’s Gospel we have the Lord Jesus presented as the perfect, dependent man. In keeping with the character of the gospel, we find Him in prayer seven times.

At His baptism:

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened” (3:21).

During His busy service:

“And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (5:16).

Before He chose His disciples:

“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (6:12).

In the presence of His disciples:

“And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him; and He asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?” (9:18).

What a wonderful example and encouragement for us to pray in every circumstance of life. We will notice three further instances tomorrow.

 

Bible Algebra

D+D-F=D

When our hearts are filled with Doubt and Disappointment there is going to be a lack of Faith, and if unchecked will quickly add up to Discouragement.

When Peter was walking on the water he got his eyes off the Lord. We read, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). When we look around and only see the work of the enemy and the circumstances of life we too are going to be filled with doubt and disappointment. However, in the next verse we read, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). What a gentle, kind yet firm rebuke this must have been to Peter.

Let’s not bring doubt and disappointment into the equations of life. Doubt and disappointment always bring into question the wisdom and goodness of God our Father, while shaking our faith in the one who truly loves us.

 

Today’s World

A look at the world we live in today is frightening! Politically there is unrest and tension, with wars and feuds on every hand. Religiously there is confusion, as false teachers seem to increase and abound. Economically there is uncertainty, and talk of prosperity is offset by the reality of unemployment and decreased spending. Physically there is much suffering in spite of improved medical skills and medication. Mentally there is a rapid decline. Crime and lawlessness are on the increase every day.

The combination of all these things is more than the human body, mind and heart can bear. However, there is a bright lining to this seemingly dark cloud. It is just this: “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8). This is the happy hope — and should be the daily expectation — of every believer in Christ. It makes it possible for the child of God to live victoriously in these difficult times, and brings joy and comfort in the midst of sorrow and trial. We are told to be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Are we?

 

Dear Young Christian:

As I write this Monday letter, I am sitting at a desk at Bible Truth Publishers, with a large map of the world on the wall in front of me. It reminds me of the words of the Lord after He rose from the dead, and before He ascended back to heaven. He said to the disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The world is a big place, and we can’t all travel far and wide and be missionaries in foreign countries and remote areas of the planet. But we can all be missionaries and evangelists in the part of the world where God has placed us. If you are a faithful missionary on your own street and neighborhood, who knows? The Lord might even send you farther afield with the message of the gospel. Remember, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10).

There are so many ways to get the gospel out! Be exercised and concerned for souls, and take heed to the Lord’s command … “Go.”

Your Christian friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Worship

“And Abraham said unto his young men … I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Genesis 22:5).

Abraham and Isaac went to perform the highest act of worship that a father has ever been called upon to perform — to offer his own son in sacrifice to God. This was Abraham’s ultimate test of faith. Would he go through with it? We know from Scripture that he did. Abraham, who acted in faith all his life, seemed to know that somehow God would give Isaac back. And He did!

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Hebrews 11:17-19).

A substitute was found! But there was no substitute for God’s beloved Son. “He … spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32).

Doesn’t that produce worship in our hearts today?

 

Ready

“Be … ready” (Matthew 24:44).

Please regard this as a personal appeal! Rest assured you must meet God. Are you ready? In comparison to this question all others sink into utter insignificance and before it all others problems and dilemmas pale.

You may be a brilliant student, a good worker, healthy in body and mind; you may be religious and respected by your friends and family. But there is a solemn unanswered question raised by the Lord when He was here on earth. It is just this: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

To be ready to meet God requires more than material success, more than good health, and more than religion and respectability. It requires God’s salvation through the Lord Jesus based on the work of Calvary and the blood of Christ.

Are you ready? Can you say, “Yes I am!” with a glad confidence? Have you experienced “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21)?

 

The Armor

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil … Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11,13).

If we were to hear the shouts of war, the groans of death and destruction, and the clanging of swords all around us we wouldn’t casually ignore the action. We would be on high alert and ready and watchful for whatever came our way.

Our enemy in spiritual things, the Devil, uses cleverness and subtlety to disguise the conflict of spiritual warfare and to lull us to complacency and sleep. God instructs us to have our armor on at all times until we can finally relax in the Father’s house with Himself, and the battles of this life are forever over.

As long as we are in this world there will be conflict. However, all has been provided so that each believer can win every battle, and live for the glory of God and the honor of the Lord Jesus, who is referred to as “the Captain of their salvation” (Hebrews 2:10).

 

The Best — Part 2

“And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in
that day when I make up My jewels” (Malachi 3:17).

When the diamond cutter struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring out that gem to its perfect shapeliness, radiance and splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin that superb precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption. From those two halves were wrought two magnificent gems that the skilled eye saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine.

Sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life, and the soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God, and He is the most skilled gem cutter in the universe.

Someday you will blaze in the diadem of the King. As you lie in his hand now, He knows just how to deal with you. Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from its depths blessing and spiritual enrichment, unseen and unthought of by you.

 

The Best — Part 1

The following story illustrates how our God knows best what is needed in each of our lives.

Many years ago there was found in a South African mine a most magnificent diamond. It was presented to Edward VII, King of England, to blaze in his crown of state. The King sent it to Amsterdam to be cut by an expert. What do you suppose the expert did with it?

He took the gem of priceless value and cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument, and the superb jewel lay in his hand, cleft in two. For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, it lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful diamond cutters in the world.

Was that blow a mistake? No! It was the climax of that man’s career! We have one who created us, and knows us through and through. Job said, “Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:9-10).

 

The Eagle

The eagle soars above it all,

He has a heavenly view;

And we with wings of spiritual power,

Can rise above it too.

The runner may have many things,

To block his goal from view;

But we, with Jesus as our source,

Our strength He will renew.

Although we may not soar or run,

Though walking be our lot;

Still, we can forward move each day,

To faint, our hearts need not.

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).