Psalm 28 - 2007.12.29

"Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up." — Psalm 28:5

We live in a day when it is not deemed "politically correct" to identify and condemn sin, or speak of coming judgment. Either because we fear the reaction of the unbelieving majority, or because we ourselves no longer really believe it, there is little emphasis, even in the churches, on the inevitable judgment of a holy God.

Scripture, of course, is not silent on the subject, as our text will illustrate, which may be one reason so many are inclined to ignore or despise the word of God. The verse before us has a twofold thrust. The first cites a condition prevailing in the human heart; the second cites the consequences of that condition.

It is of particular interest to note that the sin described here would make no headlines in today's daily news. It is not some gross or lewd conduct, violence or outrage, but something which characterizes the vast majority of mankind in such a way that we easily take it for granted. Those indicted are not immoral in the ordinary sense of the word. Their crime is simply disregard for "the works of the Lord [and] the operation of His hands." It is important to connect the indictment with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ when He sought to stimulate faith in Himself on the part of His detractors. For one example among many, "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him [ John 10:36-38]." He identified the works, again and again, as the signature of God.

Today, in our worship of "science, falsely so called (cf. I Tim. 6:20)," the "works of God [and] the operation of His hands" are assigned to a mindless, unproved and unprovable philosophy called "evolution." In defiance of the scriptures, men who cannot recall what they had for dinner yesterday tell us in great detail how the world began and life developed in unguided, ungoverned "natural selection" five or six billion (more or less!) years ago.

We do not often see this for what it is: sin— defiance of God and His word. Consider what this brazen philosophy and its exponents do. First, they discredit the scriptures which, time and time again assign this vast, complex and awe-inspiring creation to the handiwork of a personal God. So doing, they w rite God out of the creation script. Second, they destroy in the process the foundations of morality. If man is the accidental product of a mindless process, any conception of morality is also an evolutionary process without validating roots, and at best arbitrary. Life is devoid of meaning. Current trends in our culture illustrate this all too well.

There is a third consequence, equally solemn, stemming from this rationalism, and that is that it discredits the integrity of Jesus Christ, making Him either a liar or an idiot. Christ affirmed the existence of God and assigned Him as the first cause of all things. If that is not the way it all began, the Savior was clearly deluded. You cannot have it both ways. The sin in all of this is unbelief, clear and simple. It is as reprehensible to God as adultery, fornication, thievery and murder. Perhaps we may call it "white collar sin!"

David anticipates divine judgment on those who hold and propagate such deceit. "He shall destroy them…" That destruction is already in progress, though little recognized by the majority of mankind. "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind… [Rom. 1:28]." This side of eternity, man is never in worse straits than when God gives him up to his own devices. That is the road to self destruction. God's abandonment, however, is the the first phase of "the wrath to come." Ultimately men will stand before God and be required to give account for their rejection of the Truth. Then will they be assigned to "everlasting destruction," the awful consequence of denying or defying the truth of His word. And, "respectable sinners" will fare no better than riotous ones!
For the Lord of glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Prayer Needs Update

My "flower" seems to be holding her own, for which we praise the Lord. On Thursday afternoon she looked up at me, smiled and said, "We made it!" referring to our 60th wedding anniversary that day. And, just for prayer in passing, our son-in-law Ange is on his way back to France even as I write, and son Dave leaves for China Monday morning, leading a group of graduate students from the University of Buffalo.

WMF

Christmas 2007

Unto you is born this day...
a Savior, which is Christ the LORD

Dear Friends in Christ:

As it is written, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" (Ps. 90:10). We have reached that plateau, and are keenly aware of the frailty of life in the flesh. In consequence we are the more deeply grateful for the hope of eternal life afforded us through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and certified by His resurrection from the dead.

The year was very routine - our travels pretty much limited to church, grocery shopping and the inevitable doctor’s appointments - until two weeks before Thanksgiving, when Miriam suddenly lost her mobility altogether and I was obliged to send her to the hospital via the E.R. Two weeks in the hospital were followed by eight days in a rehab facility, during which she showed little improvement. The day finally came when it was necessary for her to be hospitalized again, in the ICU for several days, eleven days altogether. Two days ago (12/12/’07) she was released to another rehab facility especially equipped to treat pulmonary diseases. She is diagnosed with "restrictive and constrictive pulmonary disease," struggling to breathe and inclined to incessant sleepiness. Only the Lord knows what the future holds, but at this moment things do not look promising for her recovery. We do know Who holds the future, and we know that He does all things well!

As the Lord’s providence would have it, Sue and Doug had planned to be with us during what proved to be the first week of her hospitalization, and son-in-law Ange had scheduled a holiday with us for the month of December, and is here now, all have been a great help and encouragement. In France Ange pursues his medical career covering part time for several doctors in mountain villages in Provence. David and Linda and Sue and Doug all remain busy in the same enterprises as last year: David at University of Buffalo, Linda teaching French in high school, Sue in nursing and Doug in computer programming. All continue active in their respective churches, and we are grateful to the Lord for all of them.

Our prayer for each of you is that you may have had a joyful Christmas and will have a New Year under the government and blessing of His Holy Spirit. Apart from individual needs and concerns, these are “perilous times,” morally and spiritually at least, and we need more than ever to “walk worthy of the Lord,” abiding in Christ and insulated from the evils from which for now we cannot be isolated. MARANATHA!!

Sincerely in Christ,

...in Whom we have redemption through His blood

Psalm 27 - 2007.12.22

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." — Psalm 27:4-5

A psalm of David. The 'sweet singer of Israel' is here distinguished by a single-mindedness that exemplifies a proper faith. "One thing" consumes his soul, and it is, in a word or two, an unwavering, abiding relationship relationship with God. How enviable is such devotion! It is the counterpoint to the charge of the apostle James when he declares, "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

Regrettably, most of us are ambivalent, like the clock we bought a few days ago. Fired up and hung on the wall, it was totally unreliable. It would run for a time, then stop for a season, then start up again full of promise, but unpredictable. In frustration my son-in-law said of it, "It's a part time clock!" Too often distracted by the world, we are in danger of being 'part time Christians.' Not so David, who said, "one thing… will I seek after," i.e., "to dwell in the house of the Lord… all the days of my life." In this passion he reflects the spirit enjoined upon us by the Savior who exhorts believers to "Abide in Me… ," and assures, "If ye abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you [Jn. 15:7]."

The foundation of an abiding relationship with the living God is an established personal relationship with Christ, as reflected in the familiar 23rd Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want… and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." The latter is the proper and logical result of the former, following where the Shepherd leads.

There is added here a fine nuance when the writer adds, "to behold the beauty of the Lord." It is his manifest desire to contemplate "the King in His beauty," "the beauty of holiness," not merely to enjoy His benefits. In so doing, there is great reward. The apostle remarks, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord [II Cor. 3:18]." It is by way of consistent contemplation of His holiness, glory, beauty that we are changed into His image. He became like us (cf. Rom. 8:3) so that we might become like Him. That is the everlasting aim of the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 8:29,) but in this our cooperation is required.

Finally, his single-minded aspiration includes, "… and to enquire in His temple. This suggests growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord by hearing and heeding the One who is both the Temple and the Word of God. The fundamental and consistent question of those who properly enquire in His temple is, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Abiding is obeying the divine response to that query. (Cf. John 15:10-11.)

There is great benefit to be realized from such single minded devotion to God, "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." Job said, "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward [Job 5:7,] and "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble [Job 14:1]." And the Savior said, without qualification, "in the world ye shall have tribulation… [John 16:33]." The time of trouble will come sooner or later to every man. Blessed is he who has a hiding place and a secure foundation when it reaches him. And such a man is the single-minded saint whose one great aim is to make God his habitation "all the days of [his] life."

"I am thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith, And be closer drawn to Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious bleeding side."

by F. Crosby

For God's glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Prayer Needs Update

My Flower still lingers (PTL!) Actually, a little better than a week ago, but still unable to walk, or to talk above a whisper. And, the respiratory therapist said today, categorically, that her condition is "irreversible." The LORD is still in control, and "His way is perfect."

WMF

Psalm 26 - 2006.12.15

"But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD." — Psalm 26:11-12

This remarkable Psalm is an interesting study in spiritual commitment, and its spirit should characterize every true believer. Observe first of all the writer's aspiration or, if you will, his determination: "I will walk in mine integrity." In the opening verse he declared , "I have walked in mine integrity." And in the second verse he defines what integrity is, when he says, "I have walked in thy Truth." In this verse he purposes to continue to pursue the path of righteousness.

The whole gives rise to a consideration of the will in relation to the walk of the Christian. The will of the unconverted man is held in bondage by the adversary. Writing to Timothy the apostle Paul declares, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will [II Tim. 2:24-26]." No passage more clearly emphasizes the bondage of the will of the unconverted.

The believer, in happy contrast, is released from that bondage, if he will, to pursue the will of God. The savior said, "If any man will do his (i.e. God's) will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself [Jn. 7:17]." In other words, as I see it, if the heart inclines to do the will of God, the Spirit of God will open and confirm the word of God so that we may know the good and the right way; the way of integrity.

There is with the Psalmist, however, as there must be with us, acknowledgment of dependence upon His work for us and in us. "Redeem me, and be merciful unto me," indicates his sense of dependence upon God's grace in order to walk uprightly. The sinner needs the Savior before he can "walk worthy of the Lord,"and the redeemed man needs Him in order to walk in the will of God. Paul writes of the conflict we face when he defines the struggle, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would [Gal. 5:17]," and illustrates it when he declares, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord… [Rom. 7:22-25a]." As one discerning preacher said, "It takes God to be godly."

Having called upon God for redemption and mercy, however, the believer expresses his assurance: "My foot standeth in an even place." Firmly established on the plateau of God's grace, we stand in a secure position, pursuing "integrity," but relying on His righteousness, not ours, for our eternal destiny. The security of the believer is ever found in what God has done for us, not in what we have done for Him. Only thus can we identify with the confidence of the Psalmist, "I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide [Ps. 26:1]."

This in turn eventuates in the ascription of praise; "In the congregations will I bless the Lord." Those who walk in integrity, as defined by the word of God, will ever render praise to Him for every step in the right direction. Christianity is not a "do it yourself" experience. Our cry must ever be, in every victory, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth' sake [Ps. 115:1]."

Spurgeon's comment may serve as a suitable conclusion: "Our integrity is not absolute nor inherent, it is a work of grace in us, and is marred by human infirmity; we must, therefore, resort to the redeeming blood and to the throne of mercy, confessing that though we are saints among men, we must still bow as sinners before God."

For God's glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Prayer Needs Update

Please be uplifting the Frasier family in your prayers to God. Pastor Frasier emailed me this morning to say "The flower of my life is fading fast!"

Psalm 25 - 2007.12.08

"Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me." — Psalm 25:1

It is sometimes said that Adam and Eve were created righteous, but that is not really the case. Righteousness, or the lack thereof, is determined by testing. Until tested, Adam and Eve were innocent. When tested, they failed and established themselves as unrighteous. In the history of the race, with the single, unique exception of our Lord Jesus Christ, there has never been an inherently righteous man on the face of the earth. "There is none righteous, no not one [Rom. 3:10]."

In their innocence prior to their transgression it is said of Adam and Eve, "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed [Gen. 2:25]." Shame and guilt are byproducts of disobedience and sin. Having transgressed the word and will of God, our progenitors "heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself [Gen. 3:8-10]." Now they were ashamed!

Shame is a condition that can be addressed in one of two ways. The rebellious heart will become defiant and bold, until the conscience is "seared with a hot iron (cf. I Tim. 4:2)," becoming calloused and insensitive to sin, and "God is not in all their thoughts." The Savior said, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of his also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels [Mark 8:38]." Shameless sinners develop a hostility toward the word of God, which could prick their conscience, reawaken a sense of shame and send them in search of forgiveness. Note in contrast the apostle saying, "… I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith [Rom. 1:16-17]."

Happy are those sensitive souls who share the apostle's view of the word of God, petition Him for deliverance from shame and its causes, and wash away their guilt in the blood of Jesus Christ. And if we would continue our journey unashamed, the counsel is, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [II Tim. 2:15]." To this we may the words of the apostle John, "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him [I John 2:28-29]."

Delivered from our shame by the grace of God and clothed upon with the righteousness of Christ, let us give heed to the word of God and give diligence to do the will of God, walking in that practical righteousness that affords no occasion for shame before His all seeing eye. Never again can we regain innocence, but trusting the Savior we can be forgiven, cleansed and afforded righteousness by faith, maintained by an obedient heart inclined to do His will.

And, let us make this our prayer: "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed…O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee [Ps. 25:1-2,20-21]."

For God's our eternal good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Prayer Update

For those who care and thos who have asked:

Miriam's condition remains little changed. Certainly there is no significant improvement. Plans to move her to rehab (again!) are on hold at least for the weekend, and possibly longer. She struggles to breathe, is on oxygen 24/7 and from time to time uses a sophisticated breathing machine.

She is able to feed herself, for the most part. She has no phone in the hospital. She still maintains a good spirit, but tends to panic when the breathing becomes too restricted. Each night, as Ange and I prepare to leave, she plaintively says, "I want to go home with you!"

Your prayers are so much appreciated!

Sincerely in Christ, "Pastor" Frasier
Psalm 23

Prayer Update

Miriam is back in the hospital in ICU (a different one this time, where the people and the are seems much better.) The primary culprit seems to be respiratory failure. She has made no progress with respect to rehabilitation and regaining her mobility. When we saw her last night, she had rallied a little bit, at least awake and coherent.

Our son-in-law Ange arrived Friday evening from France. He will be here for most of the month, and will be a good help.

Between trips to the hospital and other essential tasks, there seems to be little time for much else. I was able to bring a word from the Word yesterday at a well attended man's prayer breakfast in our church.

THANKS AGAIN to those of you who have written, to all who have held us up by prayer and to those who have relayed our information to other groups and individuals.

We continue to walk by faith and not by sight!

In HIM by grace,
"Pastor" Frasier

Psalm 24 - 2007.12.01

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation" — Psalm 24:3-5

The opening clause of our text defines our position before God. "Who shall ascend… " implies, correctly, that we are in a position of inferiority. The greatest distance in the world is the distance by which the sinner is separated from our Holy God. Vain man, in his pride may deem himself exalted, and that he may be in the eyes of his peers, but not so in the eyes of God. Created in the image of God, assigned to be the competent custodian of His garden, he became an outcast when he elected to worship the creature more than the Creator.

No matter where we may be in the social, political or economic scale of things, we are at rock bottom in our relationship to "the hill of the Lord," and he is a wise man who will ask David's question, "Who shall ascend… ?" For those sincerely concerned with spiritual matters, our passion will be to "ascend." There will be an initial desire to reach the top, and wherever we are in our spiritual journey, we will aspire to rise higher— to draw "nearer, my God , to thee."

There is, of course, but One whose aspirations and accomplishments have lifted Him on high. Risen from the dead, Christ alone has "… ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things [Eph. 4:10]," "for He alone is worthy."

That leads to the reiteration of the question, "Who… shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, and who shall stand in his holy place?" The answer defines the prerequisite. In a word, it demands holiness. "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully." Well, then does the apostle James cry, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded [James 4:8]." But where? and How? Beloved, the waters of purification, for you and me, flow down only from the smitten Rock of Ages. There is ascendancy only for those who have recognized their impotence and called upon the Lord Jesus Christ for washing from all their sins. That is the spiritual aspect of this great truth. God's grace alone can make us fit for the kingdom of God.

But the query has practical significance, too. Those who aspire to ascend into the hill of the Lord would do so not only in some as yet unseen future, but also in the "today" of their experience. And the foundation of practical holiness is the same as that for the establishment of our initial holiness before the Lord. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him [Col. 2:6]." How does one receive Him? By faith. How, then, does one walk in Him, that is, in practical holiness, in fellowship with the King of glory? By faith! And note, the call is to both inward and outward purity. The heart and the hands are both to be involved. There is a superficial morality that may suffice to fool the watching world that we are men of character and principle, but "the Lord looketh on the heart." It is the righteousness that flows from within, all of grace, that will deliver us from the pursuit of emptiness and a deceitful tongue. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God [Matt. 5:8]."
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"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting [Psalm 139:23-24]."

For God's glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier