Revelation 2 - 2010.09.25

DO YOU HEAR?

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” —Rev. 2:7

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1) is addressed to “the seven churches which are in Asia,” seven representative churches of that time. Each church is addressed and evaluated by name in chapters two and three, and each of the seven addresses conclude with a plea and a promise. The promise varies from church to church, but the plea is identical in each case: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” And it is important to note that while the addresses are presented to the church in general, the appeal is made to individuals within the church. As with preaching today, the message goes out to everyone in the assembly, but it must be heard and heeded individually. Given a sound message, its impact will be made only if someone is listening.

The messenger here is the Holy Spirit of God. No greater preacher ever addressed the church. And what is true of this message (to the church of Ephesus) is true of the whole Word of God to the church in general, throughout the ages of church history. We are instructed through the apostle Paul that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works [II Tim 3:16-17].” And through the apostle Peter that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [II Peter 1:20-21].” Wherever the word of God is preached, however gifted the speaker may or may not be, the Spirit of God has something to say to the church. When the Bible speaks, God speaks!

The implication here is that not all in the “churches” are going to hear what is really being said. “He that hath an ear, let him hear…” Certainly all the members of the church had “ears.” But not all had hearing ears. The problem is reflected in the best of churches, to say nothing of the world at large. God is speaking, but not all are listening. Jesus said of His congregation on one occasion, “…this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them [Matt. 13:15].”

God’s ultimate message to the world and the church is His Son. This is confirmed in the first chapter of Hebrews: “God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son…” More precisely the ASV renders the last clause, “In His Son.” When Christ the Savior came, He brought a message. On the occasion of His transfiguration “there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him [Mt. 17:5].” That is important, and Jesus said often, in conjunction with His teaching, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” But larger even than the message He spoke is the message He is.

If you want to know what God is like, watch Jesus Christ. He said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the father.” If you want to understand holiness, watch the Lord Jesus. He Himself said, “I do always those things that please [the Father.]” Pilate, the Roman governor said three times during His trial, “I find no fault in Him.” (See John 18:38, 19:4, 19:6) If you want to know the price and power of sin, behold Christ on the cross where He became “sin for us.” The price of sin is seen in His suffering and death, and the awful power of sin is revealed in His anguished cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” The message? Sin brings eternal anguish and eventuates in separation from God. If you want to know the power of God’s deliverance, witness the resurrection of the Son of God and His eventual return to the right hand of the Majesty on high. He is the message!

Here, if I may so speak reverently, is God’s great audio-visual of the gospel. It is not a sermon to be delivered in abbreviated form on Sunday morning, then hid between the covers for the next seven days. It is a Life to be received by faith and lived out “twenty-four seven times three sixty five” through those who “have ears to hear.” It is not a creed to be recited, but a great drama to be displayed on the stage of life for all to hear and see, so they may understand the Message of God; and this in the church, which is His body. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!” Do you have an ear for God!?

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 1 - 2010.09.18

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” —Rev. 1:7

My mother used to say, “There are two sides to every story.” Whatever that may mean for stories in general, it is certainly true with reference to the return of the Lord. An old letter came my way some time ago, written in 1994. The writer remarked in one place, “It just seems as if the Lord must come soon with all the tragic events [that are] taking place.” That sentiment I hear again and again these days from Christians sensitive to the times. But when Christians make such remarks, they are usually thinking in terms of relief from distressing circumstances. That is one side of the story, but it pertains primarily to the Lord’s coming for His church. Then there is the dark side that pertains to His coming with His church. This is the side we often forget, or overlook.

He is coming! “Behold, He cometh with clouds.” It is affirmed here not as a possibility, but as a certainty. I must confess that in times past I have translated that into a vision of soft, white “summer day” cumulus clouds, a comfortable sight, perhaps like the cloud that “received Him out of their sight” when the Savior returned to glory after His resurrection. But a careful consideration of the verse will reveal that is not the case here. These are storm clouds; thick, dark, ferocious. These are angry clouds accompanying the return of an angry God coming to judge the earth. These foretoken not the rapture, but the revelation, an event that will be fulfilled at the close and consummation of the Great Tribulation that marks the terrible climax of this dispensation, when Christ will return to set up His millennial kingdom on earth. (See Rev. 19:11-21)

It will be an event universal in scope. “Every eye will see Him.” I have heard it said that TV may make it possible for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Nonsense! The Almighty will not need our technology to display His coming to the world; He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we…think.” As the Creator of everything we are dependent upon for our technology, God will have His own means of advertising His presence to a rebellious world. The prophecy embraces the whole scope of His return, including His millennial reign and final conquest, because the next clause declares, that “they who pierced Him” will also be witnesses of it. The implication is that the “the rest of the dead” (i.e., the unsaved multitudes) will finally be released from their spiritual imprisonment to witness His final conquest. Death and hell will provide no exemption from the wrath of a holy God. (See Rev. 20:5ff)

That this is the correct understanding of this terse text is made unmistakably evident by the next clause, “and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” This “coming” involves His ultimate triumph, and man’s final tragedy. Herein is the echo of a prophecy written long before:

“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath… [Zephaniah 1:14-18].”

The “tragic events” that are taking place on our planet today, many of them, certainly are tragic. The violence of man and the calamities of nature wreak havoc on many. But these are nothing compared to the scope and severity of that which is here foretold. And there is no way out, except through the Son of God, “Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus” Who is able to deliver us “from the wrath to come.” (Cf. I Thess. 1:10) If you have never trusted Him as your personal Savior and Lord, it is not too late, but tomorrow might be. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Far too many have accepted the hedonistic false philosophy, “Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” There should, in fact be no period after that clause. The biblical counterpoint is, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment.” [Heb. 9:27].” Those who ignore His word “treasure up [to themselves] wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God [Rom. 2:5].”

“Behold, He cometh with clouds.” The clouds are storm clouds. Trust the Savior before they break upon this rebellious race!

Sounding the alarm,

"Pastor" Frasier

Matthew 5 - 2010.09.11

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16

Our text for today follows hard on the Beatitudes and seems an appropriate appendix to them. It is my judgment that the beatitudes are representative of the character of the incarnate Son of God and His approbation of those who manifest these qualities, “Blessed are ye…” - favored of God - indicates God’s great pleasure when He sees the character of His Son reproduced in those who are fellow members of the family of God.

The Savior was meek and poor in spirit; “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Mat. 11:29). He mourned; “A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). He hungered and thirsted after righteousness; “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). He was merciful; “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17). He was pure in heart; He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15b). He is the ultimate peacemaker; “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Col. 1:19-20). And that He was “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” needs no verification; the cross is the ultimate proof, conjoined to Pilate’s remark, “I find in Him no fault at all” (Cf. John 18:38, 19:4, 6).

Certainly these are visible characteristics of “the man Christ Jesus.” And that He was blessed of God the Father is evident in the voice that came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased [Matthew 3:17].” And just as certainly they are qualities God longs to see reproduced in us and constitute the Divine intention for “the today of our experience” while we remain on earth. We have noted before that this is the present objective of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer,”For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to to be conformed to the image of His Son… [Rom. 8:29].” It formed an exhortation on the part of the apostle Paul who wrote to the Roman Christians, “…put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ…” and to the Ephesians, “…put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness [Rom. 13:4, Eph. 4:24].’ And it was part of the apostle’s agony for his flock when he said, “My little children, for whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you [Gal. 4:19, italics mine.].”

The Savior said, “As my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you [John 20:21b].” He was sent as “God manifest in the flesh,”and could say to the inquirer “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” It is obviously God’s intention that those who are in Christ should so cultivate His characteristics that those who want to know what God is like can see the family resemblance in us. This side of heaven we will never attain any of these qualities to His level, but that is not the issue; the issue is, are we aspiring to display His likeness before the watching world? Are we making any progress in that direction?

A dear friend of mine is in the habit of saying, we are still here because God has something for us to do. May I alter that just a bit and suggest that more than something for us to do, God has something for us to be. As we make progress in being what God wants us to be, whatever we do will reflect His glory, and that will align us with the Savior Who said to His Father, “I have glorified Thee on the earth… [Jn. 17:4].” That was His aim, and it should be ours.

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain: O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

T. O. Chisholm - 1897

For our good—for His glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Matthew 5:10-12 - 2010.09.04

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against youfalsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” —Matthew 5:10-12

In its inception Christianity came with a high price tag. Those who considered a “decision for Christ” had to decide whether they were willing, if necessary, to suffer for His name’s sake. It does not come easy to see a “blessing” in being persecuted, reviled, lied about as a direct result of identifying with the Lord Jesus Christ. A “paper Christ” will never suffice for that. Those who will accept Him with this prospect confronting them must be convinced in heart that “He is, and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Yet, this is the crowning beatitude, and the most elaborately developed. And, many of the early believers, including some of the apostles, experienced such hostility even to the point of death. Paul counseled, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution [II Tim. 3:12].” Peter instructed his readers, “But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing [I Pet. 3:14-17].” And Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, “…we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer [II Thess. 1:4-5].”

It is not persecution in general that assures divine favor, but that which is unjustified and specifically connected with faith in Christ. We are not encouraged to seek it, or to behave ourselves in such a way as to justify it, but to experience it as a result of a life springing from faith in Christ and bringing with it the virtues set forth in the preceding beatitudes. The Spirit of God referred to it again through the apostle Peter when he said, “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God [I Pet. 2:20 and context].”

Perhaps the most striking thing in this text is the attitude that is commended when suffering for Christ’s sake: “Rejoice and be exceeding glad.” It is not grim endurance of suffering for the faith of Christ that is here encouraged, but an exultant spirit. We are afforded a real life illustration in the experience of the apostles who were arrested and imprisoned, supernaturally released, then re-apprehended for continuing to publicly preach the testimony of Christ in Jerusalem. Charged, admonished and threatened, they affirmed their faith in the presence of the council and were beaten. Nevertheless, “… they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ [Acts 5:41-42].” These are among those who “esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches” than the transient treasures and pleasures of this present evil world. No earth bound faith will enable for this.

There is little such persecution in our country today, so our blessedness in this respect is little evident. However, as it was in the beginning, so it may be more and more as we near the end of the church age. May God give us the grace to stand should the day require it.

*****

Someone has likened these beatitudes to the Decalogue; the Ten Commandments. They are more than that. They are not qualities to be pursued to obtain salvation, but as a result of having received eternal life as a gift of God’s grace and so “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Cf. Rom. 13:14) They are vibrant threads in the fabric of the “robe of righteousness” that distinguishes the true Christian from the world. May our love for Christ enable the Spirit of God to make them more and more evident in our daily walk with Him.

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier