Nuggets from the Word of God

Prayer (Matthew 6) - 2012.01.28

2012-01-28T18:01:00.000-05:00

ON PRAYER (3)

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father…" — Matthew 6:9

The first words of the Lord’s Prayer imply to the thoughtful soul that we should enter the throne room with adoration. When I listen to prayers uttered in public, whether from pulpits or in prayer groups, or when I “listen” to my own prayers, I am struck by how seldom anything like real worship enters our prayer life. When we are invited to “come boldly” to the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16), it is not to suggest that we come brazenly, thoughtlessly, irreverently. Far too often, I fear, our motivation for prayer is to ask for something we need or want, and not for fellowship. If that is all a child approaches his father for it is a pretty poverty stricken relationship, when intended to be much more.

“Our Father…” It is quite striking, to me at least, that the Savior initiates His model prayer with these words. It is the form of address He commends to His disciples in response to their request, “Lord, teach us to pray.” We must remember that this is the terminology the Savior Himself consistently used with reference to both His and our relationship with God, and is so used in Acts and in throughout the epistles.

“Our Father…”: it is a warm and benevolent term. It implies the obvious—that God is the Author and Sustainer of our lives. We are indebted to him for our existence and its maintenance; something we too often forget. It applies to all men: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?… [Mal.2:10],” but it is appreciated only by believers.

The term and concept are rooted in the Old Testament as descriptive of the relationship between God and His people, His children. The Spirit of God remarks, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” Singling out one of those people, David, representative of all those who are rightly related to Him, He declares, “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation [Ps. 89:15-16, 26].”

As our Father, God assumes responsibility for our welfare.

He makes provision for our needs. “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus [Phil. 4:19]” and opens His hand to “[satisfy] the desire of every living thing [Ps.145:16].”

He has compassion for us when we are in distress. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him [Ps. 103:13].”

He superintends our development for our own good. “ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?…Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby [Heb. 12:6-7,11].”

This relationship stands behind those passages of scripture that indicate how fathers are to relate to their children and how children are to relate to their fathers. Sadly, in our broken world fathers are, too often, not what they should be, and children do not see in their earthly fathers the model for their attitude toward God.

“Honor thy Father… [Ex. 20:12].” The commandment requires that children recognize the father’s position of dignity and authority and relate to him with respect and subordination. The command is reiterated by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. [Eph. 6:1-4].” Beneath this benevolent address,”Our Father,” I am convinced that the Savior is intending that we recognize when praying our position with reference to the One Whom we are addressing, and it should be our first consideration in petitioning the throne of grace.

As children of God we are dependent upon Him for life, both in its origin and in its maintenance. We are subordinate to Him and He merits our profound respect. Given the haphazard way in which we all too often approach Him, it is little wonder that we hear Him declare, “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? [Mal. 1:6].”

“Lord, teach us to pray!”

"Pastor" Frasier

Prayer (Matthew 6) - 2012.01.21

2012-01-21T21:50:00.000-05:00

ON PRAYER (2)

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” — Matthew 6:9-13

Some time ago I was invited to conduct Sunday morning services for a small group of senior citizens in an assisted living facility. One request made by those in attendance was that the recitation of ‘the Lord’s prayer’ be included in each service.

Now I am not much given to ritual, but it seemed a relatively harmless request, and I have complied. In fact, the matter prompted a study of the prayer on my part and subsequent sharing with the little group, early on, some of the fruits of that meditation. It is, in fact, quite instructive and will provide the foundation of our consideration here over the next several weeks, Lord willing and enabling.

Upon reflection, ritual is very much a part of our lives, even those of us who are inclined to disavow it. Much of our habit of “Sunday worship” is, or threatens to be ritualistic. It is not the ritual that is the issue, but what the heart does with it that matters most. Too often, I fear, we go through the motions of “going to church” and sitting through the “ritual” of a prescribed “order of service,” checking our watches if the routine seems to take too long and leaving when it is “over,” often as empty of virtue as when we arrived. True worship can be missing from the routine. Similarly he recitation of a pattern prayer or a creed can be as empty as an inverted cup—but it does not have to be.

Thoughtfully considered, the Lord’s Prayer is a remarkable piece. Recall, as we noted last week, that it was born out of the disciples’ request after hearing the Son of God pray, “Lord, teach us to pray.” To that lofty request by His awestruck disciples the Savior responded with this now almost too familiar, but astonishing prayer. I say astonishing because of its brevity and its content—what it includes and what it does not include when compared to other prayers in the bible and to our prayers in general as reflected in the “prayer request’ segment of our public prayer meetings.

As to its brevity, it is, in this longest rendering of it in the King James Bible, just sixty six words in length and can be carefully uttered aloud in less than thirty seconds! As to its content, if the Lord wills we shall look at what is included in more detail over the coming weeks, but when set alongside our ordinary “prayer requests,” it is interesting to note some of what it omits. There is, for example, no mention of sickness or health. As for material necessities the only reference is to “our daily bread.” There is here no petition for the lost, nor any reference to ‘ministry’ or witnessing. And, there is very little focus on “us” and at least as much upon God. Granted, a study of all the prayers of the bible would give justification to many such requests and more in our prayers, both private and public, but the Lord Jesus did not include them in this response to the disciples’ plea, “Lord, teach us to pray.” It is quite amazing to note that the One through whom all true prayer must be directed (Cf. John 14:6, 13-14) responded to His disciples’ passionate request on so lofty a subject with such “profound simplicity.”

Obviously, if this prayer is taken just on its face value, long and complex prayers are not essential to reaching the ear and heart of God. He is not impressed with rhetoric. You may recall Jesus’ indictment of the Pharisees, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation [Matt. 23:14].” And again, His introduction to this prayer, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking [Mt. 6:7 - all my italics].”

In one of my churches there was a man who, due to a war injury, was a bit “different,” unusual and very direct. One morning as we met by chance on the post office steps, he bluntly said, “Good morning preach. Did you say your prayers this morning?” I replied, “Yes, Joe; did you say yours?” His quick response was, “Nope. I pray my prayers!” There was a lesson there I have never forgotten. Any prayer uttered just to be heard is only a ritual. But the heart cry that sincerely seeks the ear of the Father of Glory will not go unanswered.

“After this manner therefore pray ye.”

"Pastor" Frasier

Prayer (Luke 11) - 2012.01.14

2012-01-14T21:48:00.000-05:00

TEACH US TO PRAY

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." — Luke 11:1

Of all in this world that is available to man in general and believers in particular there is no resource greater nor more underutilized (or misused) than prayer.

Prayer gives us access to the throne of the living God, audience with the King of Glory, and opens to us His infinite resources. Whatever their prior exercise in prayer may have been, when the disciples heard the Savior pray they immediately sensed a need in their own lives which prompted this earnest plea, “Lord, teach us to pray…” And it is worthy of note that it was their association with Him that gave rise to their sense of need to pray and to pray more effectively. We will never long to pray until we have spent time with Him, and we will never learn really to pray until we have consulted Him.

Our objective over the next few weeks will be to considera the Savior’s remarkable response to the disciples’ impassioned plea, affording what is popularly referred to as “the Lord’s Prayer.” But for today we may reflect upon the subject of prayer in a more general way, observing some of the New Testament references indicative of the importance of meaningful prayer.

The Lord Jesus Himself underscored the priority of prayer when He “spake a parable unto [the Pharisees] to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint [Lk. 18:1].” The clear inference here is that we may be crushed beneath life’s heavy load if we do not avail ourselves of the resources to which prayer gives us access. Whether we need guidance or undergirding, it is from God that real help must come, and it is by prayer that we tap into His gracious resources. His emphasis is reiterated and amplified for the church in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, “Pray without ceasing [I Thess. 5:17].” Clearly there is prayer that is particular and addresses specific matters, but this verse suggests an aspect of prayer that might be called an “atmosphere” in which we are to live. Years ago I read an article that referred to prayer as “spiritual breathing.” The inference was that we may develop the exercise of prayer in a way that becomes autonomic, affording an unconscious and unbroken communion with God. It is quite different from the crises praying with which we are more familiar, and far more rewarding.

On another occasion Jesus exhorted His disciples, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. [Mt. 26:41].” In a world where temptations abound, prayer is the believer’s first line of defense. Those who do not cultivate it leave themselves vulnerable. Effective praying can not only keep us from fainting, but it can also keep us from falling.

Later, in the epistles, the Holy Spirit instructs us, “Be careful [anxious] for nothing;l but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,” and assures us, “and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [secure] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus [Phil 4:6-7].” The inference here is that in bringing specific matters before God we may, indeed, find “grace to help in time of need,” so that we can live a stress-free life in a stressful world. Most believers know the verse; how well do we apply it—in “everything!”

Nowhere are these truths more significantly emphasized than in the life of the Savior Himself. Though He was “God manifest in the flesh,” He made prayer a priority. “In the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place and there prayed [Mk. 1:35].” Prayer was more important than sleep. When multiplying loaves and fishes He acknowledged the Father’s power and goodness with prayers of thanksgiving [Cf. Mt. 15:36, Mk. 8:6, Mt. 14:19]. After the feeding of the five thousand at the close of the day “He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when evening was come, He was there alone [Mt. 14:23].” Morning, before His busy day and evening at the close thereof, it would appear He engaged in prayer.

The Savior prayed when healing the deaf and dumb man (Mk. 7:33); as a preface to the transfiguration (Lk. 9:29); when about to raise Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:41-43); He prayed for the sustenance of Peter’s faith (Lk. 22:32); and He agonized in prayer when anticipating the incomprehensible crisis of the crucifixion (Mt. 26:36-46), remonstrating His disciples for their failure to stand with Him in prayer in that crucial hour (v40, 41).

If the only begotten Son of God needed thus to incorporate prayer in His daily life, how crucial must it be for those of us who are children of God by adoption—and mere mortals at that? LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!

"Pastor" Frasier

Romans 8 (pt 14) - 2012.01.07

2012-01-07T21:45:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (14)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” — Romans 8:3-4

One more meditation must be added before we close out this series. We need first to contemplate the only One who ever fully met the requirement of the Law of God.

The Law is not discarded by the gospel, but it is fulfilled for us and in us in the person of our Savior, and faith in the Redeemer is the ground of our righteousness, not obedience to the regulations. As it is written, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth [Rom. 10:4].” Our hope rests not upon our works, but upon His finished work. Long before He came into the world Christ’s devotion to the Father and His will was revealed in Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” This is confirmed by the quotation of this text in Hebrews 10:7 and its specific application to the Savior. Following the incarnation His ministry confirms it. Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work [Jn. 4:34].” Every natural appetite was subordinated to the will of the Father. Again, on the very threshold of the crucifixion, in the garden of Gethsemane He said in the hearing of His disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me,” then “…he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt [Matt. 26:38-39].” Every natural instinct—in this case self-preservation—was sacrificed to the will of God. What a contrast between “the last Adam” and the first—and us!

And it is important to our study to note the relationship that prompted this dedication. It was a love relationship. “The father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand [Jn. 3:35b].” “…The Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth… [Jn. 5:20a].” In wonderful contrast to the first Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ responded to the Father’s love—even when it required His death—with loving obedience.

That obedient love is the foundation of all our hope of eternal life, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us… [Titus 3:5].” We are redeemed and restored as a result, and called to love Him who first loved us, and on that ground to “keep His commandments,” not in order to be saved, but as an expression of appreciation for “so great salvation.” He said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it [Matt. 10:37].” In other words, nothing and no one should compete with our love for Christ and God. That will eventuate in our walking “not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” and so to fulfill the will of God. It was here that the ‘rich young ruler’ faltered.

We are saved by faith. Obedience does not save us, but demonstrates that we are saved and love Him who died for us and rose again. In the church today there is a great tendency to disconnect faith and love, but that will not stand the test of scripture. Love is the fulfilling of the Law (Rom. 13:10b) and “faith works by love.” “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (i.e. religious exercise); but faith which worketh by love [Gal 5:5-6].” Love is the dynamic of faith, and faith is the ground of our hope. “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love [I Cor. 13:13]

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” —John 14:15

Not because we have to, but because we “delight” to!

"Pastor" Frasier

James 2 (pt 13) - 2011.12.31

2011-12-31T21:40:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (13)

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” —James 2:10

If one has followed this series of messages on the commandments, two things should be obvious. First, “…by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in [God’s] sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin [Rom. 3:20].” Second, believers are not sanctified by “keeping the commandments.” No more can we attain to the divine standard after salvation than before. We said at the outset that the underlying issue is not one of obedience, but of love. And love cannot be cultivated by keeping the law. In fact, it is the other way around. Where love is, there will be an aspiration to obey the Lord, but seeing the Law through the magnifying lens of God’s word, even the “saintliest” of Christians “come short of the glory of God.” “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.”

“Good works” add nothing to our standing with God. “…All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (See Isa. 64:6) Unfortunately “religion,” even evangelical religion, too often cultivates the idea that there is something we can do to “please God,” and seeks to whip us into some kind of “service” as though through it we might obtain merit with God. The fact is, only as we surrender in love to His Lordship can He work through us to accomplish His will. Then all that is accomplished will be His doing, not ours, and all the praise and glory will belong to Him, not to us. Loving our neighbor is valid only as it flows out of our love for God, and our love for God is evidenced not by singing in the choir, “serving” in the church or witnessing to the lost. All these things can be done out of false motives and self-righteousness that undermines all merit.

To illustrate: Speaking of the day of divine reckoning the Savior said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [Matt. 7:21-23] .”The “good works” of these empty professors are by Him characterized as works of iniquity.

The Son of God went one day to dinner where two sisters hosted Him. One labored diligently for Him, the other simply sat and listened to Him:

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” —Luke 10:38-42

Martha’s dutiful service is not discredited, but it is subordinated to Mary’s loving devotion. “If you love Me…”

These two women are brought to our attention again:

“Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” —John 12:1-6

Martha is still occupied for Him; Mary is occupied with Him. And the egocentric disciple charges Mary with waste and irresponsibility. For all his words of “caring for the poor,” (loving your neighbor) the Spirit of God reveals that his real motive was false. “By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight [Rom. 3:20].”

Our root problem is heart trouble—that we have little or no heart for God. “Out of [the heart] are the issues of life [Prov. 4:23],” and “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it [Jer. 17:9]?” And “…The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” God is looking for those who have a heart for Him, who will seek Him and sit at His feet and listen. Who will pour out their richest and best, indeed, their all on Him. Insofar as that love prevails for Him, the spirit of the commandments will be evidenced in and through us. And, borrowing a fragment of scripture out of context, “Against such there is no law.”

“Oh to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be!”

"Pastor" Frasier

Christmas Letter - 2011.12.24

2011-12-26T16:35:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends in Christ:

THANKS for the welcome greetings and kind words from so many of you. It is great to hear from you.
As for me, life goes on… The year has been routine, except for time out for kidney surgery in late May, which went very well. I continue to work in the supermarket four or five hours a day two or three days a week on average. It is my exercise and social life aside from the church fellowship.
The family are all well and busy as usual, Ange, my son-in-law in France included. Sue and Doug came for a week over Thanksgiving and we all got together at Dave and Linda’s (my son who lives nearby) for the holiday, a happy reunion. Sue (my daughter) also came for two weeks to assist me while I was recovering from surgery in June.
The first three Sundays of each month I continue to minister to a tiny handful of seniors in an assisted living facility nearby, and send out the weekly devotional by email. That is pretty much the extent of my “ministry” at present. The Lord is good, and I praise Him for His grace and love.
May He give you and yours a blessed holiday, a spiritually profitable new year and a glorious eternity through the Son of His love.

Exodus 20 (pt 12) - 2011.12.17

2011-12-17T22:48:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (12)

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's..” — Exodus 20:17

“Thou shalt not covet…anything that is thy neighbor’s. A preacher acquaintance of mine many years ago developed a rather quaint phrase defining the word “covet,” calling it “the desire to acquire.” It has remained unforgettable for me, and serves as a broad general description of the term in its negative aspect in the King James Version of the scriptures. This in turn agrees well enough with the Oxford dictionary’s definition of “covetous”: “having or showing a great desire to possess something, typically something belonging to someone else.” Vine’s dictionary of New Testament words offers as parallels “desire, envy, jealous[y].”

We may consider here the reason for the commandment as it stands in the Old Testament, suggested by the Savior’s summary of the second table of the law, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Lust is the opposite of love, and wars against the character of God and His will for His children. To fulfill the spirit of this commandment is to prefer others before ourselves and to rejoice in their well-being rather than to desire their benefits as our own. Lust centers in self; love centers in others, “does not envy,” and “seeketh not her own.” (I Cor 13:4,5)

The price of passionately desiring that which is not legitimately ours (that is, whatever God withholds or forbids) is vividly illustrated in the case of Achan in the Old Testament. When Israel went up to conquer Jericho the people were expressly prohibited from taking spoils therefrom (Joshua 6:18), but Achan disobeyed and as a result the Israelites were defeated in their next campaign, all the people suffering because of the transgression of one. When the problem was rooted out Achan confessed, “Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it [Josh. 7:20-21].” The “desire to acquire”—against the revealed will of God—can be costly. It cost Achan and his family their lives.

We are led, then, to consider the New Testament implications of this commandment. Jesus warned, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (See Luke 12:13-31) Here the Savior lifts the commandment from merely desiring what our neighbors have to an inordinate desire for anything the world has to offer. It is a prohibition against making “stuff”—even “necessary” stuff our goal in life. This is further explained for the believer in Colossians 3:5 where we are admonished to “put to death [our] members which are on earth,” including “covetousness, which is idolatry.” It will thus become evident that covetousness is a violation not only of the tenth commandment, but also of the first! Covetousness moves God out of center and makes a god out of “stuff.”

In other words, one does not have to have an idol on the shelf to be guilty of idolatry. When earthly “treasure” consumes us, we have set up idols in our hearts, invisible, it may be, to others around us, but clearly evident to our omniscient Lord. The prohibition reaches its zenith when through the apostle John the Holy Spirit warns, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever [I John 2:15-17].” And we hear the echo of the Savior’s words, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you [Luke 12:31].”

It is most interesting, in conclusion, that the apostle Paul offers this commandment as the one that tripped him up. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet [Rom. 7:7].

What really drives our lives, shapes our ambitions and determines our actions? Is it the “desire to acquire,” or simple, uncompromising faith that “[God] is, and that He is [the] rewarder of those that diligently seek Him?” With that question projected against the background of this commandment in its Old Testament roots and its New Testament revelation, any thoughtful and transparently honest person will be moved to cry out, “Thank God for Calvary!”

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” —Rom. 3:20

Saved by grace alone,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 11) - 2011.12.10

2011-12-10T22:45:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (11)

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." — Exodus 20:16

The Lord Jesus said, in a very familiar verse, “I am the…Truth.” And of God it is written, “God…cannot lie [Titus 1:2].” We have suggested that the commandments are a reflection of God’s character, and this ninth is no exception. The God who is Truth and cannot lie counsels His own that we should “walk as He (Christ) walked,” hence we should walk in truth (II John 4). “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight [Prov.12:22].”

When the Savior distilled the second table of the law into single statement He said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” It is interesting that this terse phrase first occurs in the review of the law in Leviticus, in the context of this very commandment. “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord [Lev. 19:15-18].”

The perversity and power of false witnesses is amply illustrated in scripture. False witnesses, acquired under the evil genius of ungodly Jezebel, resulted in the murder of Naboth (I Kings 21:9-14). The Psalmist cried, “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul [Ps. 35:11-12].” Godly Stephen was stoned by an angry mob after false witnesses charged him with blasphemy. (Acts 6:9-15; 7:54-60) Certainly the ultimate illustration is in the person of the Son of God, of Whom it is written, “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee [Mt. 26:59-62]?” These false witness provided the flimsy ground upon which the Savior was condemned to the death of the cross.

Of course the outcome does not have to be so radical in order to be guilty of breaking this commandment. False witnessing may include gossip if one repeats things that prove not to be true, and injures the reputation of another, as the above passage from Leviticus would indicate. Those preachers who deny the resurrection of Christ are false witnesses. (See I Cor. 15:14-15) All lies and deceit told to or about others, compromising truth, fall within the scope of this commandment.

The root of all lying is Satan. Jesus said to those who opposed Him, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it [John 8:44].” Those who choose to lie are not only out of favor with God; they are in league with the devil.

Lest there be any question about the seriousness of the commandment, we have only to consider the conclusion of the matter. In Revelation 21 the beloved apostle gives us the glorious description of the new heavens and the new earth, and the city of God that is central in it. Concluding that description he declares, “And there shall no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie…” (v.27) And lest there be any doubt or uncertainty he adds in the following chapter, “For without (the holy city) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolators, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie [Rev. 22:15].” Such are the companions of liars!

Our tendency, I believe, is to think that lies are not always as serious as other sins. The word of God will not allow that distinction. And when we take this commandment seriously, we are once again confronted with the stunning truth that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We will never achieve citizenship in the commonwealth of heaven on our own merits. We stand in need of a Savior, and Jesus Christ, “Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree,” is the One through Whose stripes [we may be] healed.” (I Peter 2:24) Have you fled to Him for refuge?

Thankfully “free from the law,”

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 10) - 2011.12.03

2011-12-03T22:54:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (10)

“Thou shalt not steal." —Exodus 20:15

Here, on the face of it, is a commandment that seems pretty simple, easily understood and not too difficult to obey. But, as is true of many things, and especially the scriptures, the first glance does not always capture the whole picture. Paul asks the question which we may well ask ourselves, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? (Rom. 2:21) His inference is, perhaps, twofold. First, it is easier to recognize wrong in others than in ourselves; second, there is a scope to the commandment that we do not immediately see, and we may be guilty without awareness.

A contemporary dictionary includes two interesting variations in its definition of the word “steal.” (1) To “take (another person’s property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.” (2) To “dishonestly pass off (another person’s ideas) as one’s own.” This latter is the stealing of another’s reputation and/or rights. In fact in Leviticus 19, a kind of reiteration of the commandments, stealing, lying and fraud are rather intertwined (Cf. Lev. 19:11, 13).

The severity of the crime, from God’s perspective, is amplified in the elaboration in Exodus 22:1-5, and in v.5 stealing is expanded to include allowing one’s beast to feed in another man’s field! The thief caught in the act and unable to make restitution was to be sold into slavery. If slain in the act of stealing, there was to be no charge leveled against the manslayer, overriding the sixth commandment. When God issues a decree, it is no light matter!

In scripture, however, there are other aspects of stealing. “If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you [Deut. 24:7].” This is echoed in the New Testament when the apostle Paul writes to Timothy, “…The law is not made for a righteous man, but for…menstealers… [I Tim. 1:9-10].” The crime is stealing another’s freedom and making merchandise of him - slavery.

There is yet another kind of theft mentioned in the inspired word. “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor [Jer. 23:30].” While opinions vary in the interpretation of this passage, it would appear that any who pervert the word of God or hinder its transmission to others are guilty of stealing God’s word from his fellows. Many are those who over time have been guilty of this infraction of the commandment.

It is the prophet Malachi who takes this sin to a yet higher level and a much broader spectrum. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation [Mal. 3:8-9].” Scripture says categorically, “the tithe…is the Lord’s.” (Lev. 27:30) When a believer fails to tithe, keeping for himself that which belongs to God, he is charged with stealing from God, thus breaking the 8th commandment at the highest level.

As always, the New Testament takes the believer to a higher level. “…Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive [Acts. 20:35].” The key word for the Christian is not “take,” but “give,” whether with reference to man or to God. And in this we all still “come short.”

Careful reflection on these thoughts will, it is hoped, deepen the wound of the “the sword of the Spirit,” and increase our awareness that “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” [Rom. 3:20].” It should drive the unconverted to the fountain of God’s grace, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,…that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified [Gal. 2:16, my italics].” And, it should send the redeemed to the heights of praise!

Free from the law, O happy condition, Jesus hath bled, and there is remission;
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall, Grace hath redeemed us once for all.
Now are we free—there’s no condemnation, Jesus provides a perfect salvation;
“Come unto Me,” O hear His sweet call, Come and He saves us once for all
Cho: Once for all, O sinner, receive it; Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall, Christ hath redeemed us once for all!
—P.P Bliss

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 9) - 2011.11.26

2011-11-26T22:43:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (9)

“Thou shalt not commit adultery." — Exodus 20:14

The term “adultery,” in scripture is sometimes limited to sexual transgression involving a married person, and sometimes used to cover the whole range of sexual sin, including “fornication,” which is sexual union outside of marriage. It is the latter, in my judgment, which is the ground of this commandment. Scripture allows that marriage alone justifies sexual union, and that between male and female. All other sexual behavior falls under the general heading of adultery and is in violation of this commandment. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply… [Gen. 1:27-28a].” It is marriage which is “honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge [Heb. 13:4].” Extra marital union comes up against the “thick bosses” of this commandment.

Throughout history men have hated this restriction, and nations and cultures have defied it in practice, and by legalizing what God has denounced, America no exception. The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, sharpened the focus:

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery [Matt. 5:27-32].”

Indicted here are pornography (v.28), lust, divorce and remarriage (v.32, cf.Mark 10:11-12, Rom. 7:1-3.) With respect to sexual relations, God’s order is ‘one man and one woman for life.’ Divorce, as an act of man, does not satisfy the divine requirement. Death, which is an act of God, dissolves the relationship and removes the indictment of adultery from remarriage (Rom. 7:3.) Even the church (i.e. the visible organization called ‘the church’) has relaxed its view on these matters in this day of growing apostacy and many allow without restraint what God has clearly condemned.

Let the church recall the scripture: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…shall inherit the kingdom of God [I Cor. 6:9-10].” God has not changed His mind, nor His standards!

At this point it may be well to note two things. First, this is not the worst of sins. It is only one among the many that place this rebellious race in jeopardy before a Holy God. Second, it is not an unpardonable sin. Christ died for all our sins, and because “His blood can make the foulest clean,” repentance and faith will bring forgiveness, cleansing and hope for eternity. But, it is only through the Savior that this wrong can be remedied. And, if we would teach these things to our children they might be better equipped to stand against the temptations thrown at them in this “adulterous and sinful generation.”

There is, however, another dimension to this commandment revealed in the course of scripture, which merits our consideration. “Adultery” is used not only in the literal sense we have considered above, but also in a figurative sense to describe infidelity in our relationship with God, corporately and individually. The Old Testament prophets are graphic in their use of the term to describe departure from the true God on the part of His people; e.g., “The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge [Israel] yea, declare unto them their abominations; That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house [Ezek. 23:36-39].” And in the New Testament the apostle James accuses, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God [Jas. 4:4].”

These are representative passages that should remind the church that God demands integrity in our relationship with our spouses and in our relationship with God. If the church does not wake up, there is no hope that the unregenerate world ever will. May God move us to “awake to righteousness and sin not.” (See I Cor. 15:34)

"Pastor" Frasier

Thanksgiving Greeting

2011-11-24T17:57:00.001-05:00

Thanks to God Hymn

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost Provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and stormy fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure.

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of

God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

I Thessalonians 5:18

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 8) - 2011.11.19

2011-11-19T13:59:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (8)

“Thou shalt not kill” —Exodus 20:13

The sixth commandment enjoins respect for human life. Except for the Sabbath commandment, it is the first with its roots deeper in they Old Testament. It is the prohibition of the malicious taking of another’s life. It is somewhat more clearly rendered in other translations, “You shall not murder.” Taking of life in war and by civil authority when capital crimes have been committed is not at issue here, as some pacifists would have it. In this fallen world God has authorized war and commanded the death penalty for certain transgressions of societies and individuals. The commandment is aimed at the disposition that acts against others in hatred and violence for selfish reasons.

In the beginning all slaughter of “living creatures” (Gen. 1:24) was evidently forbidden, and man was vegetarian. After the flood the divine restriction against killing animals for food was lifted, but with it a strict prohibition was issued against the taking of human life and, in fact, at that time capital punishment was instituted under God’s direction. “…at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man [Gen. 9:5b-6].” (Those who are inclined to swallow the lie of evolution should meditate on this early text that distinguishes between animal life in general and human life as a distinct and separate creation, and note the declaration that man was made in the image of God. (See Gen. 1:27))

It is worth noting in passing that it is the deliberate act of violence that is targeted by this commandment. That the accidental killing of another was exempt is evident from the establishment of the cities of refuge in Israel after their settlement in the land, for the protection of any who accidentally slew another.

However, if that seems to ease a bit the severity of the commandment, Jesus’ treatment of it in the New Testament takes it to a much higher level:
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing [Mat. 5:21-26].”

How, one wonders, how might church attendance (poor enough as it is) change if men were prohibited from attending and offering if there was any bitterness in their hearts toward other fellow men. As is customary with the Savior, the commandment is removed from addressing the act, and focused on the attitude. As always, “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

There was a cartoonist whose work was published in our local newspaper when I was growing up whose lead character, when offended for some reason would carry the “thought balloon” over his or her head containing the words, “The urge to kill.” It was, sadly, reflective of that in the human spirit which the Lord here cites as “in danger of the judgment.” It is from this perspective, I think, that the apostle James says of certain in the church, “ye kill.” We cannot conclude that believers were actually murdering one another, but entertaining the attitude in their inner sanctuary that might sponsor it if they could get away with it. The apostle John is more transparent when he says, “[He that] hateth his brother is a murderer [I John 3:15].” The commandment is violated when the attitude is formed, not simply when the act is committed. “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the Truth [James 3:14].” There are not many overt murders in the church, but I fear there may be many who are covertly guilty by the Savior’s standards.

Nowhere, of course, is the groundless hatred of a fellow human being more evident than in that exercised by the (religious!) Pharisees who sought to murder the Son of God. Of them, and of all who violate this commandment in fact or in spirit, He says, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it [Jn. 8:44].” There is but one way out: “Repent…and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out [Acts 3:19].” That is the objective of the commandments!

To open our eyes,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 7) - 2011.11.12

2011-11-12T07:12:00.000-05:00

The COMMANDMENTS (7)

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee..”—Exodus 20:12

With this commandment the emphasis in the decalogue shifts from the “vertical” to the “horizontal,” or, if you prefer, from responsibility to God to responsibilities to others under God. It is the point at which the Lord Jesus Christ divided the “ten” into two, from “God” to “neighbor.” (Cf., e.g., Matt. 22:34-40) The so called “second table” of the law is no less significant, but its immediate direction is different.

There is an implied prerequisite to this commandment that is often overlooked. That is the implication of the responsibility God places on parents in the matter of raising children. If submission to parents is to be all it should be, then parents must function in that capacity under the government of the heavenly Father. It takes godly parents to cultivate godly children. That parallel is revealed in scripture on more than one occasion, and is especially relevant to fathers. In God’s plan, the wife is to function under the authority of the husband (Eph. 5:22) and the family is to be under his control. Fathers are responsible under God to exhibit submission to God and to cultivate the spiritual order of the household. In far too many cases in the visible church this order is not followed, and spiritual initiative is left to the wife and mother. In such cases, though father and mother are still to be honored, the divine plan will not function as God intended. A man’s relationship to his heavenly Father, and a woman’s respect for her husband’s authority should illustrate the child’s relationship to his or her earthly father.

“Honor thy father and thy mother.” To honor parents is to love, respect and obey them, just as all are commanded to honor God. We honor our heavenly Father when we love Him and out of love obey Him, and our responsiveness to the first four commandments lays the ground for our children to respond to this one. Jesus reiterated this commandment on more than one occasion, with emphasis, extending it into old age: “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition [Mt. 15:4-6, cf. Ex. 21:17, Prov. 20:20].” In addition, He exemplified it when after His adventure in Jerusalem at the age of twelve He “…went down with [Joseph and Mary], and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them… And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man Luke 2:51-52].”

Writing to the Ephesians the apostle Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) referred to this as “the first commandment with promise.” (Eph. 6:1-3). The promise is well being and long life. There are temporal benefits as well as eternal ones in keeping God’s commandments and respecting His order.

The general tenor of scripture reinforces the importance and value of this commandment. Noah evidently had the respect of his children, long before the commandment was codified in the decalogue. As a result, when he entered the ark his children and their wives entered in with him and enjoyed as a result much longer life than had they not respected their father. While the world scoffed they evidently believed him and no doubt aided him in the construction of the instrument of deliverance. Every godly man wants all his children in the “ark” of salvation. Realizing that blessing begins with godly parents and eventuates with children who honor them.

Abraham was commended by God as one who would “…command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which hath been spoken of him [Gen. 18:19].” In sad, but striking contrast is Eli, a godly priest, but a deficient parent, of whom it is written, “And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever [I Sam. 3:11-14].”(Christian workers take note!)

May God give us enough love for our children to “train them up in the way that they should go,” and our children enough love for us in consequence that they will honor us—and Him—by “following in His steps” and “not depart from it” when they are old.

And, to God be the glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 6) - 2011.11.05

2011-11-05T07:10:00.000-04:00

The COMMANDMENTS (6)

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”—Exodus 20:8-11

On the seventh day of the creation week “God rested from all His work,” and set that day apart as a memorial of His mighty enterprise. He “blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,” or set it apart as special. (Cf. Gen. 2:1-3) When Adam sinned, God’s sabbath rest was broken, and there is no mention of the sabbath again until the issuance of this commandment for the children of Israel. A study of scripture reveals that the sabbath actually commemorates two things: God’s role as creator (Ex. 20:11) and His role as redeemer, so noted in the reiteration of the commandments in Deut. 5:6ff, where we read in verse 15, “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.”

The objective of the Sabbath, as far as man is concerned, is suggested in Lev. 23:3, “…the seventh day is the sabbath of rest…” The Lord Jesus said, “The sabbath was made for man [Mk. 2:27],” and certainly one of God’s gracious objectives in ordering it was for our physical refreshment and renewal. A second, and obvious purpose was to maintain the awareness of His people of His Lordship and continuing involvement in their lives, both as creator, redeemer and Lord. In this connection it was established as a periodic day of worship; “keep it holy.” Disregard for the sabbath principle is a disregard for God, and for the believer’s covenant relationship with Him (see Ex. 31:16-17).

Responsibility for maintaining the sabbath was assigned to men, heads of households, who were to exercise government over family, servants, enterprise and visitors. God has always laid responsibility for spiritual order upon men (i.e. the male) and will hold them accountable.

Probably of all the commandments this one is the most lightly regarded in Christendom today, but it behooves us to note the severity with which God imposed it. “Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death [Ex. 31:14-15 (See also Ex. 35:1-3)].” Scripture gives us an illustration of the exaction of the death penalty for violation of the sabbath; see Numbers 15:32-36.

With this background it is, perhaps, not surprising that in the gospels we see a running battle between the religious fundamentalists of the day and the Son of God, who seemed to exhibit a more relaxed attitude toward the Sabbath. For example we have in Mark 2, early in His ministry, the Pharisees indicting His disciples for snacking on grain as they walked through the fields on the sabbath day. It was then that Jesus declared that they misunderstood the purpose of the sabbath, which was to be a blessing, not a burden; and, that they failed to recognize His Person as “Lord of the sabbath.” (See Mk 2:23-28)

When we come to the New Testament era, the sabbath is no longer emphasized. Two considerations have been noted: First, that on the sabbath day the Son of God was in the grave. Second, that on “the first day of the week” He rose from the dead. There was a mighty transition from the Old Testament dispensation of the Law to the dispensation of Grace. The early church began to gather for fellowship and worship of the risen Christ on the first day of the week. Those who trust Christ as Savior move from periodic rest to a permanent sabbath-rest in Him. When that transition is made by an intelligent faith, He becomes our rest, and every day is (should be) devoted to the Lord. “For he that is entered into His [sabbath] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his [Heb. 4:10].” That is the great redemptive sabbath that the day anticipated, and we are “no longer under the Law.”

However, in my judgment the value of the one-in-seven principle remains to be recognized as we move from here to eternity. It should serve the believer as a reminder of our dependence upon God for our existence and for our destiny. It should provide special time for fellowship and worship. And, it will prove beneficial in the practical matter of rest and recuperation from the busy-ness of this mad, rushing world. It is both spiritually and physically therapeutic.

Time is a gift from God. We have it only as He extends it to us. It is well that we set a day apart for Him in recognition that, after all, we owe Him everything. The “first day of the week” is a good time to keep sacred as a reminder that without His grace we would be law breakers in the first degree and candidates for eternal destruction.

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 5) - 2011.10.29

2011-10-29T07:07:00.000-04:00

The COMMANDMENTS (5)

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”—Exodus 20:7

As a child growing up, guided by a mother who had great respect for the word of God, this was one of the warnings I remember. For many years I regarded the commandment as referring to the use of profanity, and still cringe when I hear the words “oh my God,” or “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ” used in profane punctuation of ordinary or vulgar conversation. This is akin to the view of many of the rabbis in bible times. The view is certainly legitimate, but woefully inadequate to plumb the depths of the commandment.

The word vain means, among other things, empty or frivolous. An official dictionary definition is, “[to] take someone’s name in vain [is to] use someone’s name in a way that shows a lack of respect.”

There are those, of course, who deliberately choose to blaspheme God in blatant unbelief: “For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain [Psalm 139:20 my italics].”

It is my judgment that His name is also taken in vain when it is attached to advertising for the purpose of soliciting funds for man made, man centered projects more mischievous than spiritual. Recall the case of the seven sons of Sceva:

“…certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified [Acts 19:13-17].”

Employing the name of the Lord for personal advantage, these were certainly taking His name in vain—and paid the price!

An empty profession is taking the name of the Lord in vain: “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate [Titus 1:15-16].” When the lifestyle contradicts the will of God, His name is taken in vain.

My view now is that we take God’s name in vain when we say it or sing it without a proper regard for Who He is. It can happen in church. Jesus said, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men [Mt. 15:7-9].”

Christianity pursued as a religion without a redemptive relationship to the true and living God regularly takes His name in vain. Jesus warned of this when he declared “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [Mat. 7:21-23].”

Man, it may be, is influenced by outward profession, but “the Lord looketh on the heart.” And the heart of any man who senses the scope and depth of this commandment must be indicted before God as guilty of transgression and in need of mercy. That kind of insight will move one to fear God, revere Him and hope in His salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ that can cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It can also motivate us to a moderate and reverent lifestyle, to say nothing of the careful use of the tongue, even as Solomon declared before God, “Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain [Prov. 30:7-9].”

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. —Ps. 30:4

For His glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 4) - 2011.10.22

2011-10-22T15:55:00.000-04:00

The COMMANDMENTS (4)

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”—Exodus 20:4-6

When visiting China two years ago, I had the dubious privilege of seeing idol worship for the first time. In the city of Shanghai we visited a Buddhist temple and there in the square before it many were burning incense and obviously praying to the idols representative of the founder of that religion. Imported to China out of India, Buddhism was founded by a real person, a kind of “religious philosopher,” who after his death was revered and eventually idolized in the literal sense. Many and varied are the figures that represent the man, but the images and the figure behind them are regarded as gods by many who follow him and the moral system he devised.

Man has an inclination to worship, but it is not generally an inclination to worship the true God. The first and second commandments are closely related. Together they forbid our bestowing our love and devotion on any god but the true God, the self-revealing God of the bible, or any representation of god in any thing in the height, breadth or depth of the natural realm. No element of creation is to be exalted as the Creator. Any such is an insult to the infinite and eternal God. Of all creation, man alone was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26), and that image was marred beyond recognition in mankind since Adam bestowed his worship and allegiance upon the Serpent.

When men pray to “saints” and “the blessed mother,” when they idolize “the cross,” and/or put man made representations of Christ upon it, for example, the commandment is violated, however solemn and sincere the practice may appear. Sincerity is no substitute for obedience, and transgression can be wonderfully subtle.

Through the apostle Paul the Holy Spirit defines God as “…the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God,” to Whom alone belongs “honour and glory for ever and ever [I Tim. 1:17].” He is made visible only in and through the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature [Col 1:15].” It is of far more than passing significance that He left behind no statues, sketches, or other representations of Himself when He returned to the right hand of the Majesty on high. There have been many such representations created and published since, but in light of the second commandment, all of them are false and not one of them carries the endorsement of God. We may not be idolators in the formal sense, but I fear many are by default. In many a church more love and devotion is poured out on the building and/or the program, the ritual and the routine than upon the living God himself.

And, there are other ways in which idolatry manifests itself. Should you think we are going a bit overboard, we need only turn again to the authority of the word of God and read His indictment of “covetousness, which is idolatry,” in Col.3:5. Here is an idol with a shape all its own. When “things” or what an acquaintance of mine used to call “the desire to acquire” becomes our goal in life, God is belittled and outraged.

You may recall that we said in an earlier meditation that the underlying goal of the commandments is not law, but love. When we love things, and their acquisition becomes the driving force in our lives, God is marginalized, and as the “giver of every good and perfect gift,” Who has promised to supply all our need, He is justifiably heartbroken as well as outraged.

Two things at least should emerge from this, as from each of the commandments. First, you don’t have to have a statue or icon in your home or church in order to be guilty of Idolatry. You have only to shift your focus, your priority in life, your devotion from the living God to anything or anyone else in all creation, great or small. Second, rightly understood, if this were the only commandment, we would all be convicted of having “sinned and come short of the glory of God,” standing in danger of eternal damnation and desperate need of a Savior.

Meditating on this passage of scripture should move us to humble admission of guilt, a passionate trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and a growing love for “the God of all grace.” What—or who—is the primary object of your affection?

For His glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 3) - 2011.10.15

2011-10-15T15:53:00.000-04:00

The COMMANDMENTS (3)

“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”—Exodus 20:3

God reveals Himself by His Word through His Spirit. It is my contention that all divine revelation is of the Father through the Son by the agency of the Holy Spirit. Here, then, God reveals Himself through His Word in a miraculous way to His people; “God spake all these words, saying…” And what He says is a disclosure of —

(1) His person: “I am.” Recall that this is the title He authorized Moses to use when he went to Pharaoh to plead for the release of the Israelites from Egypt. It is also of no little value to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ laid claim to the title when He declared to the “the Jews,” “Before Abraham was, I am,” and so outraged them that “they took up stones to cast at Him [John 8:58 and context].” The significance of the title, with respect to deity, is afforded in Revelation 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Simply put, the Eternal One.”

(2) His position: “the LORD thy God.” It is the position of priority and authority. The significance of the word LORD is disclosed in Psalm 83:18: “…thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”

(3) His compassion: “I… have brought thee out of Egypt, out of the land of bondage.” This signifying that what is being said is directed to the redeemed, not to the world at large. The New Testament confirms this; “…the Gentiles, … have not the law [See Romans 2:14].” As we noted previously, the commandments were not given in order that men might be saved, but that by them those who are His people might reveal themselves as such by loving submission to His revealed will. Obedience to the commandments is simply “thanks-living.”

It is important to recognize that this principle is paralleled in the New Testament “under grace.” It is to believers, not to the unregenerate that the call to obedience is issued. It is to “His own” that the Savior says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

First and foremost, then is this commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” The obvious implication is that God, because He is God, should have no competitors in our lives. No person or thing is to be the primary object of our love, to say nothing of our worship, other than He. He is to be our “first love.”

The threat of competition is illustrated variously in the New Testament. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…[Mt. 6:33].” “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him [I John 2:15].” “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me… [Mt. 10:10].” People, position, possessions, even personal welfare—all is to be subordinated to the will of God out of love and respect for Him.

When the rich young ruler had revealed that his love for the material world was competing with love for God, “he went away sorrowful,” and the Savior turned to the disciples and said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,” to which the disciples responded with amazement, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Impetuous Peter reacted saying, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” Jesus responded, “every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (See the whole account, Mt. 19:16-30) God is a benevolent Master!

The first commandment, understood and taken seriously, introduces us to our spiritual bankruptcy. Paul said, “When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” That is the necessary reaction of everyone, saved or unconverted, who understands even this first precept of “the law.” If this is what God requires, we have come short; woefully short. If we are to make it to heaven, it must be on some other ground. Happily, that ground is at Calvary. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe [Rom. 3:20-22].”

“On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

Saved by His grace alone,

"Pastor" Frasier

Exodus 20 (pt 2) - 2011.10.08

2011-10-08T08:19:00.000-04:00

The COMMANDMENTS (2)

“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God…” —Exodus 20:3a

It is most interesting to note that the commandments were not laid down from “the beginning.” They come much, much later in history. Clearly, then, they are not the basis of a relationship with God. That foundation is revealed to us in a significant, but little noticed passage in the epistle to the Hebrews. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him [Heb. 11:1, 6].” Two things are posited here as necessary to a relationship with God: (1) Faith that God IS - His being; (2) Faith in His benevolence - that He is good to those who trust Him.

Adam had no problem with the first. He did not have to take God’s existence by faith; he knew God. In the garden, in the beginning, they (Adam and Eve) communed with God. (See Gen. 3:8-10) His problem was believing the God he knew! It was not an issue of trusting in God’s existence, but of believing that the God he knew was trustworthy. Giving heed to the Liar rather than to the One who is the Truth, he fell victim to the original sin, “I will be like the Most High.” That is the problem many a Christian has today.

We see the issue as one of trust. heartily singing, “Trust and Obey.” The Savior declares it as one of love. “If ye love Me keep my commandments [John 14:15].” “Love and obey!” Again, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him [John 14:21].” And, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love [John 15:10].” This is really quite remarkable, since it shifts the fundamental ground of our relationship with God from faith to love. And, this is reflected in the Savior’s reduction of “the Ten” to “the Two,” wherein the “first and great commandment” is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment [Matt. 22:37-38].”

Love generates trust. “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love [I Cor. 13:13 my italics].” Adam simply loved himself more than he loved God. This astonishing principle is illustrated again in the Savior’s encounter with the ‘rich young ruler.’ He appeared to score 100 on Jesus’ test with the “second” commandment, but failed miserably, for all his temporal morality, when it became evident that he loved money more than he loved God, this present world more than “the world to come.”

The commandments, many or few, were never given to cultivate our relationship with God, but to test it. The overarching question is never “will you obey Me,” but “Do you love me?” (See John 21:15-17) We think we need redemption because we have failed in obedience to God’s rules. In fact the “ground zero” of our failure is a failure in love. A slave can be made to obey, but no one can be forced to love.

Most men (even professing Christians) think of God as a taskmaster. That is not the case. He gave to Adam only one commandment. It was the only prohibition in his world. Everything else was at his disposal, and he ruled over all—under God. The one prohibition was, clearly and undeniably, for Adam’s good. It was an expression of love on God’s part, not Self interest. And, it became the test of Adam’s love for God. Adam failed the test. So do you and I. That is why Calvary was necessary!

When you think of the commandments, remember that they were not given for the salvation of His people, but to those who were already redeemed:

“Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.” (Ex. 15:13)

For “by the law there shall be no flesh be justified in His sight [Rom. 3:20].” The commandments are simply given to “crowd us to Christ.” If we love Him, the commandments will not be hard to take, though impossible to perfectly fulfill.

Remember:

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked [I John 2:3-6 my italics].” Salvation, in all its aspects, is a love story!

For the praise of the glory of His grace,

"Pastor" Frasier

Matthew 22 (pt 1) - 2011.10.01

2011-10-01T08:17:00.000-04:00

THE COMMANDMENTS (1)

“And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.” —Matt. 22:33

“They were astonished at His doctrine.” Three of the four evangelists use this same phrase to describe the popular reaction to the teaching of the Savior. Well they might. The Lord Jesus Christ could take men deeper into truth with a short sentence than most preachers can with an hour long sermon.

We have lost our concept of sin, both in our culture and in the “established” church. The tragic result is at least two fold. First, we have an inadequate concept of the holiness of God. Second, we lack a real appreciation of the glory of the gospel. The apostle Paul said of ‘the law,’ “When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” Subsequently he affirmed the law as “holy, and just, and good.” (See Rom. 7:9, 12) In the interest of sharpening our appreciation of God’s grace and quickening our sense of His holiness, we will spend the next several weeks (D.V.) meditating on that distillation of ‘the law of the Lord’ popularly referred to as “The Ten Commandments.” I am well aware that we are neither saved nor sanctified by ‘keeping the commandments.’ But the New Testament makes it abundantly clear that the gospel does not destroy the law, and that redeemed men should aspire to live no less than to its standard.

Worthy of particular note is Paul’s reference to ‘the commandment’ in the singular, rather than plural. He sees the law, in spite of its apparent diversity, as one. Then recall that the Savior reduced the Ten to two:

“When the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. [Mt. 22:34-40].”

Then, through the apostle James we are taken even deeper. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all [Jas. 2:10].” The obvious lesson is, no part of the law can be singled out as more important than another. The law, “the commandment,” is an entity. It is a revelation of the character of God, and when we violate it, He is violated. When we offend, He is offended! If it were merely a matter of keeping rules, we might be more or less successful. But given this perception of the divine law, we are at best miserable failures. Hence the need, the desperate need of the gospel of the grace of God if we are to have any “hope of glory.”

The question then becomes, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” There is a more or less familiar hymn that declares, “A ruler once came to Jesus by night, to ask him the way of salvation and light; The Master made answer in words clear and plain, ‘Ye must be born again.’” The reference, of course, is to Nicodemus, as recorded in John 3 where the Savior says “clear and plain,” “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” But, earlier and with specific reference to “eternal life,” another ‘ruler’ came to Jesus and said “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life [Mt. 19:16, cf. Luke 10:25]?” The Son of God directed him to the commandments, saying, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. And he saith unto Him, Which?” Remarkably, He who reduced the ten to two by-passed what He had referred to as “the first and great commandment,” and declared the second: “Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (See Mt. 19:16-19ff) Without hesitation the young man replied, “All these things have I kept from my youth up,” but added, What lack I yet?” revealing his uneasiness that, as good as he (thought) he was, he might not be good enough.

Without challenging his candid response, the Savior replied, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” (v.21) “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” He fared well with respect to the “second commandment,” but failed miserably with respect to the first. God had a competitor in his life. And, ‘half a loaf will not do.’

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” —Rom. 3:20

For our eternal good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Jude 17-21 - 2011.09.24

2011-09-24T08:18:00.000-04:00

KEPT and KEEPING

“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” — Jude 17-21

One of the great doctrines of the Bible is one usually defined by the two word expression, “eternal security.” Its essence is that a person once truly saved will never lose that salvation. The Biblical underpinnings of that great truth are considerable:

Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) And of His “sheep,”I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” (John 10:28, 29) Paul wrote, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:35-39) And again, ”…I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (II Tim. 1:12) The apostle Peter wrote of believers that they are “Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”(I Peter 1:5)

If we had but one of these passages by divine inspiration, it would be enough to inspire assurance. Taken together, they provide a fabric of truth that cannot be ignored. This truth inspires confidence in the heart of every child of God who has struggled with sin in the process of his spiritual growth. Expressed in other terms, this is the doctrine of the preservation of the saints. Simply put, it is the promise that God guarantees to see the believer through, come what may, all the way from earth to glory. “Blessed assurance!”

However—having noted all that—there is another aspect of God’s word that must not be overlooked. We must never let the assurance afforded by the promise of divine preservation lead to complacency in our Christian life.Preservation—God’s part—is to be accompanied by perseverance on our part. The same God who encourages us by His great promises of security with equal vigor urges us to “keep [ourselves] in the love of God.”

Jude perceived, at this early stage in church history, the intrusion of false doctrine and false apostles aimed at destroying “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) With that attack launched against the believer, we are counseled here on the importance of being everlastingly on guard. We are instructed throughout the New Testament to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the progress of our redemption.

Three things vital to our perseverance are noted here. First, to protect faith from being undermined, we are to “remember the words…spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Bible is the ground and source of what we are to believe and how we are to behave from here to eternity. The Christian who neglects and/or forgets the Word will be in danger of being thrown off course and, if not losing his salvation, losing his potential as a disciple of Christ.

The second admonition is to spiritual growth and Spiritual prayer, the one related to the other. There is no growth without prayer, and little power in prayer on the part of those who remain spiritual babies. (See Hebrews 5:12-14)

The third exhortation, flowing out of the first two, is “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” The Christian life, biblically defined, does not come naturally, nor progress unchallenged. We face an adversary who is fiendishly clever and persistent. And, the problems we have to confront are not only those from the unregenerate world without, which are brought to our attention in other scriptures, but those that may arise within the organized church, which is the issue here. Believers need to be discerning in the church as well as in the world at large, if they truly seek to glorify God. Let us never take God’s truth for granted!

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

3 John 4 - 2011.09.17

2011-09-17T13:48:00.000-04:00

“O TO BE LIKE THEE!”

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." — III John 4

Every pastor, worthy of the name, can echo this sentiment of the beloved apostle John. It might be added that every Christian parent worthy of that solemn title will feel the same way. And, if we take it but a step further, the same disposition may doubtless be found in the Son of God Himself.

John, of course, is speaking metaphorically. The “children” to whom he makes reference are those who under his ministry had responded to the gospel and professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Every true pastor is in the ministry not for personal gain or glory, but to see souls saved and lives transformed for the glory of God. When there is evidence of this in the life of one who has been under his spiritual care, it is, indeed, the ultimate reward of his labor.

The question arises, then, what does it mean to “walk in truth?”

We will have, I think, a tendency to respond to that query in terms of doctrinal content, certain Biblical pronouncements, commandments. Certainly that is not wrong, as many other texts will verify, but it is not enough. It is of paramount importance to remember that in the New Testament “Truth” is a Person. As you are well aware, Jesus said,”I am the…truth [Jn. 14:6b].” Truth is not simply something He communicates; it is Himself. Thus to “walk in truth” is to abide in Christ, finding in Him the reason, the resources and the regulation for living. John had said on another occasion, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked [I John 2:6].”

The Person is “the image of God.” The incarnate Christ is identified in the epistle to the Hebrews, among an number of other references, as “the brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person [Heb. 1:3a].” The result is that when the apostle Philip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father,” (Jn. 14:8) Jesus could respond, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father (v.9).”

When we “walk in truth,” —to the extent that we do so— the nature of Christ will be seen in us, just as the nature of the Father was evident in Christ. It is not mere conformity to a set of rules or standards, but embraces the whole person. It involves not only outward appearance, but internal character. It includes disposition as well as deportment; doing the right thing for the right reason and in the right spirit. And it is here that we so often fail. Jesus charged some very religious persons, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity [Mt. 23:27-28].” Too often our conduct has the appearance of conformity to Christ, but our heart attitude is far from being what it ought to be. And, that is not walking in truth.

Unfortunately, external conformity to a set of standards may cause a pastor to rejoice that his “children” are walking in truth, but it will not satisfy God. As the Lord said to Samuel when looking for a king for Israel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart [I Sam. 16:7].”

It is what I would call the “three dimensional image of Christ,” that constitutes walking in Truth.” And that is the divine goal for every believer; “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren [Rom. 8:29].” It is not attainable by us, but in us as we devote ourselves to contemplating Christ Who is Truth, and surrender our will to His, our government to His Holy Spirit: “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].” The “glass” (mirror) is the word of God studied not as a theological textbook, but as a revelation of Jesus Christ and with an eye to His glory.

May we be stimulated so to seek Him who IS truth and bring joy not only to a pastor’s heart, but to be a joy to the great Shepherd (pastor) who loved us and gave Himself for us. Let others see Jesus in you! This side of heaven, that is the goal of New Testament faith.

For His joy,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 John 9 - 2011.09.10

2011-09-10T23:02:00.000-04:00

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” —II John 9

The doctrine of Christ is key to our relationship with God. It is not the substance of theology, but a matter of divine revelation. If we are wrong about Christ, we are wrong. If we abandon the doctrine of Christ, we are lost. That is certainly the thrust of our text for today, and of this tiny, but significant epistle.

Familiar though it may be to my readers, it bears review for our good.

John zeroes in on the subject in v. 3, where he identifies “the Lord Jesus Christ,” as “the Son of [God] the Father.” We have become so familiar with the words that we too often miss their significance. In His essential nature, Christ is Deity; God, the Son, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and infinite in power and glory. He is the uncreated cause behind every created thing. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made [John 1:3].”

He is not only the creator of all, but He is creation’s sustainer, “upholding all things by the word of His power” (cf. Heb. 1:3). This aspect of His enterprise is reinforced by the statement in the epistle to the Colossians, “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [Col. 1:17],” where the Greek word rendered “consist” is closely equivalent to our English word, “cohere,” or “stand together.” Christ is the cohesive power of the universe, the Reason why it does not fall apart.

In addition, the scriptures indicate that He is the owner of it all, for the Father has appointed Him “heir of all things.” He owns the earth and everything related to it. “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein [Ps. 24:1].” One day it will all return to Him and be compelled to recognize His authority as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That day could be not too far away.

The second great emphasis of the Doctrine of Christ is disclosed in v.7; “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” Doctrinally this is referred to as the incarnation: “God was manifest in the flesh,” becoming true humanity (Cf. I Tim. 3:16) This, of course, concurs with one of the names given to the Lord Jesus before His birth: “Emmanuel,” “God with us.” The great truth is that God, in the person of His Son, became one of us and one with us for the purpose of accomplishing our salvation, “full and free.” John here echoes his emphasis in the first epistle, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life… [I Jn. 1:1].” It is clearly John’s conviction that the tangible flesh and blood Jesus was the eternal Son of God, and out of that incomprehensible union of the human and the divine carrying our sins “in His own body [to] the tree,” comes our hope of eternal life. And those who distort, diminish or deny this truth are here referred to as “deceivers” and “antichrist.”

Doctrine matters, and most particularly the doctrine of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

All of this is foundational to our text for today. The doctrine of Christ, as revealed in scripture, is the foundation, superstructure and capstone of our faith. Those who deny it, and those who abandon it are without God and without hope—in this world or “the world to come.” A mere “paper Christ” will not suffice. A Christ manifest only in words and not in deeds will not do. And a temporary relationship (“whosoever abideth not…”) will utterly fail in the end.

Hence John’s solemn warning, especially relevant in this day of growing apostasy and “church-ianity”: “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (v.8) If our doctrine of Christ is sound, we cannot lose our salvation, but straying into alien territory can cost us dearly. We need to be sound in our faith, consistent in our walk and careful in our associations, lest we be “ashamed before Him at His coming.”

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. —I Jn. 2:28

For our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 John 5 - 2011.09.03

2011-09-03T23:01:00.000-04:00

ASKING

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” —I John 5:14-15

“He that hath the Son hath life…” (v.12a) Life, in the proper sense of the word, is the result of union with Christ through the operation of the Holy Spirit as a result of faith in the finished work of Christ. It is the Life of God in the soul. That is what God gave man in the beginning when He consummated His creative work by breathing into man the breath (spirit) of life, and “man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) That is what Adam forfeited when he aspired to be his own God and disobeyed the word and will of God. From that day to this man has not had life, but death as his birth heritage.

We labor under the illusion that we are living, but in reality every soul on the planet is dying from the moment he is born—until and unless he is “born again” of the Spirit of the living God. “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Life is the gift of God; the greatest gift a man can receive. With that gift come some incredible blessings, not the least of which is he privilege of fellowship with God by prayer—a privilege all of us utilize too little, and many a professing Christian fails to enter into, to his own impoverishment.

It is no coincidence that immediately after his terse statement regarding eternal life John utters these words that suggest that with life comes this access to the treasury of heaven. Sharing His life with us, God wills to share His resources. In a familiar text the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul assures us, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus [Phil. 4:19].” And, if some neglect this privilege, there are others who would abuse it, and some today who are engaged in false teaching with reference to it. Prayer is not a blank check for us to endorse and gratify our desires. Our nugget can provide some significant insight for both extremes.

First, we are made aware that asking is requisite to receiving. “If we ask…” The Lord Jesus Christ Himself made much of this in His teaching. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened [Matt. 7:7-8].” The underlying implication of this verse is not only the prerequisite of asking, but of persevering in prayer. Fellowship with God involves more than casual contact. The apostle James later put emphasis on the same condition when he said, “…ye have not because ye ask not [Jas. 4:2].” The prayerless Christian will be spiritually poverty stricken, notwithstanding the fact that he is an “heir of God and joint heir with with Christ.” (See Rom. 8:17)

Note, however, that there is another constraint placed upon the privilege of access to divine resources. It is “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” It is not the divine intention to gratify the old nature, but to underwrite and undergird the new life we have in Christ. When the Savior gave the disciples a pattern prayer He included the phrase, “Thy will be done.” When He Himself agonized in the garden of Gethsemene and pleaded for exemption from the cross His ultimate plea was, “If Thou be willing…not my will, but Thine be done.” He asked according to the Father’s will and went on uncomplaining to Calvary. James, having indicted some for failing to ask, proceeded to chastise others for asking “amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Some “asked,” to be sure, but their prayers were self indulgent and missed the mark.

When the will of God motivates our praying we will be concerned with our sanctification (I Thess. 4:3), well doing (I Pet. 2:15), the conquest of our fleshly desires (I Pet. 4:2) and the grace to suffer, if need be, for the testimony of Christ and the glory of God (I Pet. 4:19). That is very different from much that passes for prayer today, but it is the ground upon which the confidence rests, “whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Appropriate to this, and perfectly aligned with John’s teaching in this first epistle is Paul’s plea, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God [Rom. 12:1-2].”

The life we have from God is to be invested for God, and it is thus that we have unrestricted access to His limitless resources and the fulness of joy. ("Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" —Jn. 16:24)

For His joy in your life,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 John 4 - 2011.08.27

2011-08-27T22:59:00.000-04:00

AS HE IS

“…As He is, so are we in this world.” —I John 4:17b

There is, perhaps, no more daunting text in the New Testament that this one. It defines in stunning language and with astonishing simplicity what Christians are, in the Divine plan. We are to be a manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ, reflections of His glory. “Mirrors” of His majesty, holiness and love.

On the eve of finishing His earthly ministry, about to give His life a ransom for many, the Savior uttered a great prayer to His Father which the Holy Spirit saw fit to record for our learning (See John 17). In that prayer He outlined the Father’s plan, and said, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work that Thou gavest me to do.” At the cross He finished His work, but the work was not finished. That which He came to do must be declared and demonstrated throughout the earth so that those for whom He did the work might have opportunity to hear of it, see it in operation and benefit from it. “Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Presently He said, “And now I am no more in the world, but these (“His own”) are in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee.” The clear implication is that the proclamation of that for which He had laid the foundation would be accomplished by “the men which Thou gavest me out of the world (Jn 17:6).

Obviously the church is to be the extension of His life and to execute the remainder of the Father’s will and plan; “That the world may know… (v. 23). This is confirmed by the Savior’s remark, “As thou hast sent me into the world,

even so have I also sent them into the world (v.18).” There is no other reason for our being here,except to manifest the Lord Jesus Christ and to make His salvation known. That is the reason for His declaration, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (v.15-16).

And again,confirming John’s emphasis in our text for today, “As Thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world (v. 18).” And what He here affirms to he Father in prayer He soon addressed to the disciples in person; “…as My Father hath sent Me. even so send I you [Jn. 20:21].” Years ago I heard a great message on this text in which the teacher said we are sent on the same mission (to reach the lost), in the same manner (totally dependent on the power of God) and by the same method (crucifixion!) And it might be added, under the same motive, the love of God. Given the sorry state of the church in the world today, one wonders if the task will ever be accomplished.

There is ample indication in scripture that the Savior, while carrying out His part of the mission, anticipated returning to His Father. When the Father’s will had been accomplished He was confident, “…I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do (v.4) [and] … I come to Thee (v. 11).” We also live in anticipation of entering the glory that shall be hereafter, but let us remember that in another place He said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness, then shall the end come [Matt. 24:14].”

Despite the saturation of communication today, there still unnumbered multitudes who have no conception of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who have never seen its transforming power demonstrated. We are not responsible to win them, but we are responsible to represent Christ to them. To the saints at Corinth (of all places!) the apostle Paul said, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart [II Cor. 3:2-3].” What is the world “reading” of Christ through your life and mine?

We are not here to “eat, drink and be merry.” We are here to faithfully represent Him in a dying world, “doing always those things that please Him” in the workplace, the marketplace and any other place we may occupy. “As He is, so are we in this world.” Oh Lord, make it so!

For His glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 John 3 - 2011.08.20

2011-08-20T22:52:00.000-04:00

WHAT WE SHALL BE

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” —I John 3:1-3

Two weeks ago the focus of our meditation was on justification. Last week, due in part to a memory miscue on my part, we were in this same chapter and focused on sanctification, which is John’s primary concern in this epistle. Our nugget for today is related to a third great doctrinal truth, the matter of our glorification. It seemed appropriate, though it breaks our usual pattern, to keep this article and send it out for that reason.

From our present perspective, if one’s faith is genuine, justification looks back to the past when our profession of faith in Christ, delivered us from sin’s penalty through the phenomenal efficacy of the blood of Christ. Sanctification, in the practical sense, is focused on present. Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, received at the time of our conversion, we are now able to be delivered from sin’s power and to grow in grace and in likeness to Christ. We are learning to walk as Jesus walked. Positionally we are already sanctified in Christ Jesus, Who is “made unto us…sanctification. Practically, however, it is a work in progress, begun at conversion but which will not be finished until we reach the other shore.

Today’s text looks to the future when our redemption is consummated and “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is,” and be finally delivered from sin’s presence. We are first reminded of our dignity in Christ, “called the sons of God,” in the scriptures by virtue of our union with Christ. Reflect on some of the titles assigned to believers in the New Testament: We are “saints” (i.e, sanctified, set apart ones—God’s peculiar treasure.) We are “children of God” and “joint heirs with Christ, signifying that all that is His is ours. We are “members of His body,” “partakers of His glory,” citizen’s of His commonwealth, “kings and priests,” and there is more that could be discovered if time and patience allowed. What a high calling!!

For now, however, while we remain “in the flesh,” and sanctification remains a process in progress, “it doth not yet appear what we shall be.” To paraphrase a line made popular a few years ago, “God is not finished with [us] yet.” Here and there are evidences of “what we shall be,” but for now the portrait is incomplete. For the earnest believer that is a matter of dismay. And, it is the reason why for now we need an Advocate with the Father. Nevertheless, there is a great day coming! “When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” That is the day every sincere believer longs for, every struggling Christian anticipates.

It has long been my opinion that Adam was created to be a “mirror,” in which case, facing in the right direction he would have reflected the glory of God. He would have had no glory of his own, and to fulfill his potential he would have been utterly dependent upon God. And, as he fulfilled that created purpose observers would not have admired Adam, but His Creator.

Satan tempted Adam with the notion that that was not enough. He could seek his own glory, shine in his own light and attract attention to himself rather than God. “Ye shall be as Gods.” When Adam fell for that the mirror was shattered in millions of pieces and man became a colossal ruin. In the fragments that remain there are occasional glimpses of glory, but generally speaking “the glory has departed,” and none of us have ever seen a man as God intended man to be, with Christ as the solitary exception. He, and He alone could say, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.”

The objective of redemption is the restoration of the mirror. “We all, with open face beholding as in a glass [mirror] 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].” The grand objective is for man to once again reflect the glory of God. Then we will be as radiant as Christ Himself—not for our glory, but for His. And that will be enough. After all, a mirror is as beautiful as that upon which it is focused. In that glorious day, “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is!”

“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” Let’s practice reflecting His glory now!

A prayer—“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me”

For His glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 John 2 - 2011.08.13

2011-08-13T16:25:00.000-04:00

“IF ANY MAN SIN”

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” —I John 2:1-2

In this short passage we have first John’s statement of purpose in writing: “These things I write unto you that ye sin not.” The aim is to direct believers to “walking in the Light,” rather than to be entrapped in the darkness of sin. That is the divine intention for the redeemed between here and eternity, and if it is not our desire, we hardly qualify as true believers.

God’s provision in Christ is not merely our justification, but also our sanctification. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, declares that Christ is “made unto us…sanctification.” The design of God in redemption is through our union with Christ to afford believers not only justification, or the removal of sin’s penalty, but sanctification, which is practical holiness of heart and life and includes deliverance from sin’s power. “Sin shall not have dominion over you… [Rom. 6:14].”

Justification is instantaneous; sanctification is a process. In principle we are sanctified from the moment we believe, but in practice, we are a work in progress. That this is true is evident in John’s emphasis in the previous chapter where he says categorically, “If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves…” Every discerning Christian is aware of his own imperfection. Here, while exhorting that we “sin not,” he immediately follows with this consideration, “And if any man sin…,” allowing if not the probability, certainly the possibility of sin in any believer’s life. Our susceptibility to sin is also verified in the testimony of the apostle Paul:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For 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 [Rom. 7:18-23].”

It is in the face of this ongoing and ofttimes discouraging conflict in the sincere heart that the apostle John brings the encouragement of our nugget for today, enlarging our understanding of Christ’s relationship to us. Two things in particular should win our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude: “we have an Advocate” (v.1), and “He is the propitiation for our sins” (v.2). Together these provide an impregnable fortress for embattled saints.

As our Advocate the Lord Jesus Christ is, as it were, the believer’s legal representative before the Father in the judgment hall of divine justice. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: [Heb. 9:24 my italics].” As a lawyer represents and pleads for a client, so the Son of God pleads the case for those who have put their trust in Him.

But, there is a great difference here. In an earthly setting a lawyer must either presume his client is not guilty of the charges against him, or hope to manipulate the evidence to make it impossible to prove him guilty. In the courtroom of heaven no such circumstances will prevail. The Judge, the Advocate and the client all know that the one charged is, indeed, guilty. Our Advocate does not plead our case on the basis of our innocence, but on the ground of His role as “the propitiation for our sins.” The propitiatory work of Christ (think “sin offering”) is the ground upon which, as our Advocate, He pleads our case. The case against us is not dropped, but the due penalty for our transgression has been paid for by Another. When the charge is laid against us by the all seeing, all knowing “Judge of all the earth,” our Advocate responds (so to speak) “I died for that!” We are spared the penalty (“the wages of sin is death”) because He paid it for us. Hallelujah!

Granted, this is a rather simplistic approach to a most profound issue, but it at least outlines a great truth. And, it should initiate a double motive for our forsaking the darkness and walking in the light. First, the redeemed must love God, and for love’s sake do not want to grieve Him. Second, our sins exact sorrow and suffering from our Advocate, and we should not want to add anything, as it were, to His incredible burden borne on our behalf.

For the praise of our Advocate,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 John 2 - 2011.08.06

2011-08-06T21:03:00.000-04:00

ETERNAL LIFE

“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” — I John 2:25

There is a subtlety in John’s writing that may be too easily overlooked. It is reflected here in his use of the term “eternal life.” We are prone to think of eternal life “quantitatively;” that is, in terms of duration. Part of the reason is that we so readily connect it with the familiar KJV rendering of John 3:16 where we read “everlasting life.” While it is true for the believer that the life received is “everlasting,” it is in fact, if our faith is genuine, “eternal life,” and essentially it is not quantitative, but qualitative.

Clearly here, in context, the emphasis is not on how long this life lasts, but upon what it is. And in this epistle “eternal life,” as the distinguishing characteristic of true Christian experience, becomes the test as to whether we have, in fact, obtained everlasting life.

Observe that in the first chapter John refers to the Savior first as “the Word of Life” (v.1). That is not a reference to what Christ says, but to what He is. We read in Hebrews 1:2 that God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son…” The Greek rendering is, more precisely, “in Son. The Savior did not simply bring the message from the Father, He is the message. We speak of the bible as ‘the word of God.’ That is not quite correct. The bible, the written word is as, it were, a transcript of the message, but the message itself is Christ, the Living Word of God.

For all of my life as a Christian I have heard a steady emphasis on the value of the bible in the life of the believer. We are exhorted to read it, to memorize it and to obey it. That is not wrong, of course, but it is not enough. There is no transforming power in the printed page. One may read the bible until he goes blind and still be ungodly. It is only as the written word links us to the Living Word that it reaches its full potential. The Word we are to worship does not lie between the covers of a book. Our trust and obedience must be placed in the Person of whom the book speaks, and in whom it centers. John does not say, I read the word of life; he says we heard, saw with our eyes, reflected upon and handled with our hands—that Eternal Life “which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.” (Jn. 1:1-2)

Bear in mind as you reflect on this that the earliest believers did not have the book. Individual Christians could not open a manual and “have devotions” every morning. The Word they knew and revered came down from heaven, walked on two feet, spelled out the Truth as history and it was by His Spirit that they “read” and followed Him.

Similarly the same context tells us of “that eternal life” which was “manifested,” or made visible, and with whom those early believers had fellowship, or communion. Eternal Life is not “it,” but Him; a person. It is not the bible, but “Christ in you [which is] the hope of glory [Col. 1:27].” “He that hath the Son hath life…,” and that life is not a commodity exported from a heavenly warehouse; it is Christ himself! To understand this is to be better able to understand more vividly the thrust of John’s almost harsh judgment in John 1:5-6, where he declares that “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all,” then asserts without any wiggle room, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” As darkness is incompatible with light, so sin is incompatible with the Life of God, which is the life of Christ, that eternal Life who inhabits every true believer.

Understanding this truth also gives justification to the counterpoint in this second chapter, “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (v. 6). Biblical faith, too often in contrast to contemporary “christianity,” represents salvation not as life from Christ, but life in Christ. Hudson Taylor, renowned missionary to China, called it the “exchanged life,” in which the believers’ life goes to the cross with Christ and His life takes over.

The apostle Paul said it first, of course: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me [Gal. 2:20].” You and I cannot live the Christian life, because it is not a commodity; it is Christ Himself, and only He can live it. If you really “know Him,” He wills to live His eternal life through you, now and forever. Let Him—not in some vague ‘tomorrow’ called eternity, but today!!

For life worth living,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 John 1 - 2011.07.30

2011-07-30T20:57:00.000-04:00

REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,…” I John 1:1-3a

As a young believer I recall attending a Christian concert where a talented gospel singer billed as “the Swedish Nightingale” was featured. Except for the memory of a beautiful voice, I recall only one song she rendered, which carried the line, “I was there when it happened, and I ought to know.” It was sung as a personal testimony to the reality of her conversion experience. (Curiously, an internet search indicates that the song was more recently popularized by Johnny Cash, but in no way was his rendering comparable to what I heard years ago.)

In our nugget for today the apostle John gives emphasis to the personal nature of the gospel record; “That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon (contemplated), and our hands have handled…we declare unto you.” What he bears witness to is not founded upon fiction or imagination, but upon tangible reality, real life experience that resulted in some remarkable conclusions regarding the person and work of the man Christ Jesus.

Given John’s assertion, it is worth noting that it is reinforced by others who were “there when it happened.” Peter, for example, declares, “…we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount [II Pet. 1:16-18].” And Paul, though not an “eyewitness” in the ordinary sense, affirms a similar assurance based on his personal encounter with the risen Christ when he says, “Last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time,” in the process confirming the witness of a number of others who were “there when it happened.” (See I Cor 15:3-8ff) In addition, of course, we have the testimony of the other three evangelists who, if they were not all associates of Christ while He was here on earth, were intimately acquainted with others who were.

Living as we do so far removed from the event itself, and confronted by skepticism and overt denial of the gospel record, it behooves us to think again of the great historical ground upon which our faith rests. We may also note in passing that these all observed not only the uniqueness of the person of Jesus, but also the drama of His death and resurrection, the great seal upon the deity of Christ. It was what these saw, heard, studied and touched that drove them to their conclusion as to who He is and from whence and why He came.

These have either passed on verifiable truth or we have the greatest collection of liars—or lunatics—in history. If you are ever tempted to doubt the gospel, remember John’s implication: “I was there when it happened, and I ought to know!”

There is another emphasis in this chapter, however, which we should not overlook. If, in fact, this is what we believe, then the same kind of veracity should be evident in our testimony. Faith in the “Word of Life” brings us into fellowship (communion) with God the Father and with His Son, in whom there is “no darkness at all.” Darkness is John’s synonym for sin; all that is contrary to the mind and heart of God. If we have a verifiable Christian experience we will, then, be found “walking in the light.” The Savior Himself said, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life [John 8:12].” And later the apostle asks the rhetorical question, “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness [II Cor. 6:14]?” The two are mutually incompatible.

This hell bound world of scoffers needs desperately to see in us tangible evidence of the salvation Christ came to provide. We profess that we have fellowship with God the Father and the Son. Let us prove it by walking in the light “If you were “there when it happened,” it ought to show!

For HIS glory and our goodI John 2,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Peter 3 - 2011.07.23

2011-07-23T13:41:00.000-04:00

WHAT OUGHT [WE] TO BE?

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” — II Peter 3:11-14

Given the state of the world, both the reachable world around us and the world at large, brought to our attention day by day by the dubious benefit of the media, we are often tempted to perplexity, if not doubt, by reason of God’s seeming indifference to all that is taking place. Like David, long ago and in a much simpler time, we may be crying, “Lord, how long wilt Thou look on…Thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence…” (Psalm 35:17, 22).

Under such circumstances our nugget for today and the remarkable chapter from which it is taken are invaluable. First, the trends that trouble us are clearly predicted (v.3-5a). Second, assurance is given: “The day of the Lord will come…,” but on God’s timetable, not ours (v. 8-10a). Third, God’s seeming indifference springs, in fact, from His mercy toward both the unsaved world and the sluggish church (v. 9).

Years ago I heard this last verse paraphrased, “He is giving us (i.e., the church) time to get the gospel out.” The commission was given to the church to “preach the gospel to every creature,” and the Savior once said, “…This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come [Mt. 24:14].” As we long for the return of Christ as, for us, an escape from “this present evil world,” we need to keep in mind that it will be an awful day for those who know not the Lord. God in His mercy to them extends the day of opportunity, as He did for 120 years before the great flood of Noah’s day.

All that having been noted, our nugget focuses on how we as believers are to behave ourselves while the night shadows are drawing nigh. The first emphasis is on the futility of living for the world. “All these things shall be dissolved.” In another place God alerts us, “The world passeth away and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever [I John 2:17].” For all our professed disenchantment with the age, it is incredibly easy to become distracted from God and the things of God by “the things of this world.” not one of which will survive the coming judgment. When we go out we will take nothing with us for which we have lived and labored. All will be “burned up” but our spiritual investment.

“What manner of persons,” then,”ought [we] to be?”

First, we ought to be wholly holy. Elsewhere we are exhorted, “Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable in all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come [I Tim. 4:7-8].” As we used to hear from time to time, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Toward that end we should maintain our confidence in the return of Christ. The scoffers will say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Believers must guard against that ungodly skepticism. We are warned again and again in scripture to be patient in our waiting for the coming of the Lord and that expectation should condition our values and our behavior. Israel, given the promise of a coming Messiah, grew weary of waiting and wandered away from the principles and practices God had commanded them to follow. “But when the fulness of the time was come [when the time was right] God sent forth his Son…to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons [Gal. 4:4-5].” And when the time is right, He will come again!

We are further assured that the God who made all things is going to make all things new, hence let us live with faith that “the best is yet to be.” Time, in its best state, will pale to insignificance when we behold the glories of eternity. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him [I Cor. 2:9].” Perspective is everything in the walk of faith.

Finally, from that perspective we should “be diligent that [we] may be found of Him,” when He comes, “in peace, without spot, and blameless.” “True hearted, whole hearted, faithful and loyal,” wrote the poet. This should characterize us as believers in Christ, living in anticipation of His return and “the things that shall be hereafter.” Half hearted “Christianity” will not see us through. Let us so live that when He appears “we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming [I John 2:28].”

For readiness of heart,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Peter 2 - 2011.07.16

2011-07-17T07:58:00.000-04:00

THE UPLOOK IS BETTER THAN THE OUTLOOK

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” — II Peter 2:1-2

Those who have lived to become old have seen many changes in the moral and spiritual realm; changes that can bring dismay, perplexity and apprehension. We have seen spiritual values deteriorate in the community and even in the churches. The word of God has been increasingly marginalized in our contemporary culture and our values, if we have any, are arbitrary and insecure. Those who have high standards, especially those drawn upon the scriptures are often the subject of ridicule, if not persecution. While the USA has never been a Christian nation (there is no such entity, and never has been) its foundation incorporated many values drawn from the scriptures and suited to our well-being that are being relentlessly attacked and replaced with liberal and licentious notions that loom as a gathering cloud of judgment on our horizon.

In fact, if we are at all familiar with the prophetic aspect of New Testament scripture, this should not surprise us. Rather than threaten our confidence in the word of God, it should reinforce it, for things that are happening today confirm the extraordinary insight of faithful men of God thousands of years ago. Our “nugget” for today, and the whole chapter from which it is taken, indeed, the whole epistle in which it is found, is a case in point.

Scripture anticipates the proliferation of false prophets and false teachers over time. The thinking of many believers, I fear, tends to limit this prediction to heresy within the church. In fact, it is much broader than that. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostle Peter notes “there were false prophets among the people,” meaning the people of God in the Old Testament dispensation. Remember that, while there were those who perverted the faith and order revealed through faithful men of old, and men who would teach error for a price, there also plagued the nation of Israel the false prophets of pagan religion and philosophies. The “prophets of Baal” serve as an example. The Spirit of God anticipates their denial of Christ (anti-christian) setting themselves up for judgment.

The second note of emphasis here is that “many shall follow their pernicious (“shameful” - NIV) ways.” The moral deviation and doctrinal perversion will draw a crowd ready and willing to scoff at the Word of the Lord, both written and in Person. We are seeing that trend on the ascendency in our culture today, promoted by a multitude and endorsed by legislatures. The false teachers and those who endorse and promote them are found in the halls of congress and in the temples of “learning” and pseudo science, as well as the more obvious dens of iniquity.

In consequence scripture predicts, “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” It is coming to pass, and will gain impetus as time progresses—because the bible says so! Already biblical Christianity is deemed a hindrance to “progress.” How remarkable the insight of the apostle who said, “…the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables [II Tim. 4:3-4].” This trend in society is aided and abetted by false teachers within the churches who compromise the truth and collaborate with the ungodly in what has become “cultural Christianity.” These “promise liberty” (v. 19), i.e. freedom from the restraints of scripture, but are “themselves slaves of depravity.” (NIV)

While it is surely disheartening to see a nation that has been so highly favored with the knowledge of “the way of righteousness” readying itself for judgment, it should not be surprising. And it need not bring doubt, but reinforce our assurance that God knows what He is talking about and can, indeed, see the end from the beginning. Rather than cast doubts about the uniqueness and authority of scripture, it should have just the opposite effect.

While it remains true that there has never been a Christian nation, in the ordinary sense of that word, scripture affirms the existence of a mystical nation that permeates all the nations. Built upon the foundation of the written and Living Word of God, “…ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy [I Pet. 2:9-10].” And in the midst of this “crooked and perverse nation,” in which we now live, we are admonished to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul,” and “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God [Col. 1:10].”

Accept the challenge, and “look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!” The outlook is grim but the “uplook” is great!!

Take heart and trust God,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Peter 1 - 2011.07.09

2011-07-09T07:53:00.000-04:00

FRUIT FOR HIS GLORY

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — II Peter 1:5-8

On a certain occasion the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit… [John 15:16a].” He has made an investment in the believer that merits a return, and it should be our desire to fulfill that potential.

There is a touching story in the Old Testament that illustrates the point. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, a great prototype of the Lord Jesus Christ, was married, but had no children. She developed a passion for realizing her God given design of motherhood, moving first to “bitterness of soul,” and then to ernest and unrelenting prayer. “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life [I Sam. 1:10-11].”

As it is in the nature of woman to bear children, so it is in the nature of saving faith to bring forth “fruit” to the glory of God. Faith is not passive, but active. Yet, that activity is not automatic. The apostle urges his hearers to “give diligence” to fulfilling faith’s potential. The English dictionary defines diligence as “careful and persistent work or effort.” It takes no effort but faith on our part to become a Christian, but it requires relentless effort, born of genuine passion and prayer, to manifest that new life in Christ in our daily walk. A reminder: we are not saved by good works, but we are saved “unto good works,” as is abundantly evident throughout the New Testament.

The potential of faith, the areas in which it may be expanded, is illustrated in the exhortation that follows, which seems to represent faith as a kind of spiritual cornucopia out of which an abundance of good things may flow. The first is “virtue.” Virtue is simply, moral goodness. That moral goodness is, of course, as defined by the word of God. The writer Proverbs asks, “Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above above rubies.” (Prov. 31:10) A careful study of this nobility will indicate in greater detail the significance of the term. One has referred to it as “internal godly worth.”

Virtue should be the first evidence of genuine Christian faith. The second, here, is “knowledge.” This is not mere expansion of the intellect, but its significance is suggested in the last verse of this epistle, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The apostle Paul exhibits this passion when writing to the Philippians he says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord [Phil. 3:8a],” and again, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection…[v.10].” The knowledge of Christ surpasses all other knowledge and is the key to right understanding of everything else we know. It is a proper extension of faith.

Out of the knowledge of Christ we are to learn “temperance” or self control. It is the knowledge of Christ eventuating in the government of the will by His Spirit, thus conditioning our conduct. “Patience” follows; it is the power to endure under pressure of various kinds. Jesus said, for example, “Ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved [Matt. 10:22],” where endureth is the same word as patience. When faith is pursued with diligence it will eventuate in stedfastness to the end. and “godliness” in character. Godliness is, perhaps, self defining. It is God-like-ness; character and conduct flowing from faith in God and attributed to Him.

Godliness will be manifested in brotherly kindness. In a great verse we are admonished, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you [Eph. 4:32].” That is the substance of brotherly kindness and is realized in faith growing to maturity. And finally, all is to emerge in “charity,” which is unconditional love. That is the character of the love of God.

Simple faith in Christ, developed to its full potential, reaches its zenith in Christ like love. And it is here that the Holy Spirit assures us we will “neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When God gave Hannah her “man child,” she gratefully gave him back to the Lord “all the days of his life.” May we grow our faith in such a way that we, too, will have something of His own doing to give back as “fruit” for His glory!

For our good and His glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Peter 5 - 2011.07.02

2011-07-02T05:55:00.000-04:00

THE GOD OF ALL GRACE

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” — I Peter 5:10-11

The Lord Jesus Christ advised His disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” He made no suggestion that the life of the believer would be trouble free this side of heaven. No sooner than the church was born did the truth of His statement begin to be evident. There were assaults from within and without. Paul and Peter, among others, confronted false teachers who would have scattered the flock, and the church suffered persecution at the hands of opponents to the truth that threatened the faith of many. In addressing the problems the apostles consistently did two things. They reminded believers that at the root of every adversity is the “adversary the devil.” And, they directed suffering saints to God Himself as the resource essential to sustained faith in the face of the various trials we may face. The battle is essentially spiritual in nature and only spiritual resources will be sufficient to achieve victory when we are under attack, whether individually or corporately. That is the general context of the details of this epistle, and out of it emerges this encouraging “nugget.”

Observe first how God is characterized: He is “the God of all grace.” His grace is the source of our salvation and the secret of its security. The word “grace” has a variety of meaning, but its general signification will be apprehended by most true believers. Grace, may I suggest, is that quality in the divine nature that motivates God to restrain His wrath, reveal His love, redeem the lost and render the saved able to endure unto the end.

His grace is a cornucopia of blessings. Because of His grace He is also the God of “patience and consolation,” or perseverance and encouragement, enabling us to persevere in faith in the face of life’s challenges. He is “the God of hope,” a hope that is “stedfast and sure, anchored” in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “the God of peace,” imparting peace to those who seek Him in time of trouble. And He is “the God of all comfort” when life threatens to become intolerable, or heartbreak enters in.

God’s grace is the reason for our hope. It is not because of our goodness, but out of His grace that we are saved. He took the initiative and “called us” out of darkness into His marvelous light, and sustains us from day to day. Grace has established not only our beginning, but the end. He has called us not in a probationary way, but to a sure destiny—”unto His eternal glory;” “to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven“ for us.

And, His grace is the ground of our assurance and the source of our victory over all that the “adversary” may direct our way. It is His grace that will “perfect” us, that is, bring the work to completion. We are sometimes discouraged not so much by the problems we face, but by the evidence of our own frailty and fickleness. How wonderful to know that His grace is able to secure not only the destiny, but the journey: to establish us, keeping us from falling; to strengthen us, for His strength is made perfect in weakness; to settle us in quietness and confidence when we face unsettling circumstances along life’s way.

Nevertheless we must not take that grace for granted, but make application for its realization in our lives by prayer and supplication. Well said the poet, “Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be; let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.” “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.”

This little gem of truth reminds us that our redemption, from start to finish, is all of grace, the grace of the God of all grace. And it should give rise in our hearts to the benediction of the apostle here, “To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

“Praise is comely for the upright!”

For the assurance of faith,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Peter 4 - 2011.06.25

2011-06-25T05:47:00.000-04:00

WATCHING UNTO PRAYER

“…the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” — I Peter 4:7

Our nugget today begins with an alert; a disclosure: “The end of all things is at hand.” Some years ago a woman asked, “Do you think the Lord is coming soon?” My response was, “I don’t know. But, I know this; Scripture teaches that He was coming soon then, and His return is two thousand years nearer today than it was then!” It is a matter of perspective, and from God’s perspective, He is coming soon, and we are to be ready for His return all the time.

That leads to a directive on the part of the Holy Spirit through the apostle: “Be sober.” This is not a call to be joyless or depressed, for such counsel would contradict many other scriptures; it is rather instruction to take life seriously, not frivolously and superficially. It is an exhortation in agreement with the teaching of the Lord Himself who instructs us, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh [Matt. 25:13].” There are many such warnings in the word of God. Life, especially viewed from an eternal perspective, is serious business.

The directive is followed by what amounts to the Christian’s duty in light of the above: “Watch unto prayer.” Or, if you will, be serious about prayer. The two greatest weapons in the believer’s arsenal are the word of God and prayer. The word of God gives us direction and prayer provides dynamic. When the early church was distracted by partisan “murmuring” over the daily dole for widows, the apostles initiated deacons to handle that mundane matter and declared, “we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word [Cf. Acts 6:1-4].”

Here, faced with the prospect that “the end…is at hand,” the whole church is called to prayer as its great resource for victory. Sadly, many professing Christians seldom pray. That is like a marriage in which husband and wife rarely communicate. Or, like an army that fails to wait on the instruction of its commander before going out to battle. Sadder still, many who do pray often “pray amiss.” It is the apostle James who charges, “…ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts [James 4:2-3].” That is as true today as it was when it was written. Prayer in our churches, corporate prayer at least, is more likely to be address temporal and material concerns than spiritual issues. We are far more likely to pray for the healing of physical cancer than for the ills that make the church weak and powerless, or the appropriation of that which will make it “strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might [Eph. 6:10].”

Certainly scripture gives us the right to pray for the sick (See James 5:14, 15,) but even this in the context of spiritual well being. Search the rest of the New Testament for instruction and examples of prayer and you will find little that addresses physical and material well being. The emphasis is nearly always on spiritual considerations.

When the Savior prayed for Peter, it was that his “faith fail not.” Many a Christian needs prayer to that end. When He prayed for “His own,” (John 17) it was for their preservation and unity with one another (v.11, 21-23), for the manifestation of the joy of the Lord (v.13), for their preservation from evil (v.15), for their spiritual health and well being (”sanctification” - v.17), the effective impact of their testimony on the unbelieving world (v.23), their successful journey to glory (v.24) and the infusion of the love of God in their lives (v.26).

Studying the prayers and prayer requests of the apostle Paul will yield a similar emphasis.

Unlike Paul, Peter records few prayers or prayer requests as such, but a consideration of his concerns for those to whom he is writing will give at least a hint of how he must have prayed for them. It was a suffering community of believers, as just the chapter at hand will indicate (v.4, 12-16), yet there is no suggestion of seeking relief or redress. Instead believers are again admonished to live transformed lives, even when it brings mockery (v.1-4, 15), to love one another (v.8), to exercise spiritual gifts to the glory of God (v. 9-11), to exhibit joy and spiritual integrity in the face of opposition (v. 12-16) and to find their resources in God alone (v.19). Their survival and prosperity was not the issue; the triumph of their testimony was the real concern, and must have been the substance of his and their “watching unto prayer.”

Thus should it be with us, and so much the more as we “see the day approaching.”

For a divine perspective in prayer,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Peter 3 - 2011.06.18

2011-06-18T05:41:00.000-04:00

ORDER IN THE HOME

“…Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” — I Peter 3:6-7

Out of this rich chapter some will no doubt think it strange that we have chosen this for our “nugget.” But in an hour when marriages are failing at a precipitous rate, in the church as well as outside of it, the subject is one of considerable significance, and the rejection of biblical values and principles is as much a factor as any thing.

First to be noted is that God has established an order in society which was to be reflected in the family. You are no doubt conversant with the more familiar passage on this subject, where we read, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church [Eph. 5:22-23].” The principle could not be more clearly or emphatically stated. And, there are those who despise it. The cry for “equal rights for women” is loudly affirmed in the modern world, and defined in the popular mind as affording equality of authority as well as opportunity.

In the beginning God made the woman out of Adam and under his authority to be a “help meet for him.” That was the divine order and has never been rescinded. The New Testament notes in another passage affirming the subordination of women, “Adam was first formed, then Eve [I Tim. 2:13 (see v.8-15)].” When Eve overstepped her God given role, taking initiative over her husband, she opened the door to chaos. Violating God’s order will always have that consequence.

The issue is not one of value or equality; it is one of administrative order. Such an order is manifested even in the godhead. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are equal in character and glory, but even a cursory study of God’s word will reveal that there is an administrative order there. The Father is over all, the Son is under His authority and the Holy Spirit is subject to them. The Father sent the Son into the world, for example, and the Father and the Son jointly sent the Holy Spirit. Administratively their roles are different, and were it not so the divine program would suffer paralysis.

However, returning to the matter of marriage, it is to be noted that the husband, who is to be head, is to exercise his authority for the well being of the wife, “giving honor unto the woman as unto the weaker vessel,” and to “love [their] wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it [Eph. 5:25].” Again, for emphasis, the Holy Spirit teaches us, “So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies… [Eph. 5:28].” The Christian husband is to be as considerate of his wife as he would naturally be of himself. The divine intention is not that women should be enslaved, but cherished, cared for and honored.

When a woman submits to her own husband “as unto the Lord,” and a man exercises leadership in love “as Christ loved the church,” a relationship is formed that is impregnable. The two have become one not only biologically, but in every way. Each is living for the other, and that is what God designed for marriage. When Adam was created he was under God’s authority, and God took responsibility for him. When he insisted on being independent, he ultimately lost everything. We cannot improve on God’s order.

This relationship does not make, nor imply, that the woman is inferior to her husband. It simply defines her role. Her equality is evident in the reference to husband and wife being “heirs together of the grace of life.” God has the same glorious destiny in store for the believing wife as for the Christian husband. From the spiritual perspective “there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus [Gal. 3:28].” That will be wonderfully apparent “in the resurrection [where] they neither marry, not are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven [Mat. 22: 30].” Till then the believer is responsible to observe God’s assigned order.

The solemnity of all this is evident in the concluding phrase of our nugget: “that your prayers be not hindered.” Too easily glossed over, the inference here is that if we fail to submit to God’s authority in our marital relationship, we will undermine our relationship with Him and jeopardize our prayer life. For professing Christians who do not pray, that will hardly seem a serious matter, but for those who recognize something of the importance and potential of prayer, it is cause for alarm.

Much of the impotence in present day Christianity may be traced to indifference on this all important matter.

For order in the home,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Peter 2 - 2011.06.11

2011-06-11T00:52:00.000-04:00

THERE’S A WAR ON

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” — I Peter 2:11-12

One thing every believer needs to learn is that faith in Christ introduces us to conflict. While we may know this in a general way, the Holy Spirit would introduce us specifically to the conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Parallel to this the Christian needs a keen awareness of the nature of his “calling” once he comes to Christ. Both are defined for us in scripture, and illustrate the reason why a working knowledge of the word of God is so important.

From the moment of the “new birth” we are called of God to live holy lives. Writing to the Romans, for example, the apostle declares, “Now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life [Rom. 6:22].” Simply put, a holy life is a life pleasing to God, both in outward conduct and inward motive. We are called not only to do the right thing, but to do it for the right reason. Insofar as we succeed, we are walking “after the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1) The power to live God’s kind of life does not come from our own resources, but from the indwelling Holy Spirit and in scripture is called “fruit,” because it stems from our union with Christ and is produced not by us, but in us.

No sooner is the passion ignited and the process begun than the conflict arises. If the Enemy cannot keep us from becoming Christians, he will do his best to keep us from being the kind of persons God wants us to be, and the battle will be lifelong. One of the great elements in this battle is “the flesh;” the soul governed by “the desires of the flesh and of the mind.” Thus we are alerted here and warned to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” The conflict is elaborated on in the epistle to the Galatians, where we read, “The flesh [makes war] 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 my paraphrase].”

Satan knows our weaknesses and makes every effort to exploit them. Perhaps at no time in the history of mankind has he had more tools at his disposal to excite our unholy desires than in this era of instant communication. “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life,” make their appeal to us in a kind of “saturation bombing” that is often unsolicited and hard to resist. Yet to yield is to suffer loss, not only to ourselves, but to the testimony of our Savior.

Our defense involves at least three things: The first is recognition of the danger. My experience in the U.S. Navy many years ago involved courses in what might be summed up in the phrase, “know your enemy.” In aircraft recognition we were trained to distinguish between friend and foe, so that under the pressures of combat we might be able to spare the one and strike the other. The Bible is the believer’s handbook for the same in our ongoing spiritual warfare. It warns us who the adversary is, what his tactics are and what steps to take to withstand them.

The second factor is resistance. Here, for example, we are warned to “abstain from fleshly lusts…” In another place we are admonished to “make no provision for the flesh, to obey it in the lusts thereof [Rom. 13:14],” where the key word is “no.” And again, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you [James 4:7].” Unfortunately, our resistance is too often half hearted and our abstinence only occasional. The enemy creeps in through the gaps in our wall. To be victorious in this battle, our resistance must be whole-hearted.

But there is more. The scripture teaches us, “Ye cannot do the things that ye would [Gal. 5:17].” Spiritual victory over fleshly lusts is not a do-it-yourself affair. An acquaintance of mine, a superb bible teacher, often employed the phrase, “It takes God to be godly.” Every true believer in Christ is a god-inhabited person. “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” Paul writes to the Colossians. He by His Holy Spirit is the only one equipped to do battle with the enemy and win. Believers need to be conscious of the Spirit’s presence in our lives and exercise a conscious reliance upon Him if we are to emerge victorious from the fray.

The goal in the life of every believer is to cultivate a life of good works that will demonstrate the power of God’s grace to the “watching world.” That will identify us as the “strangers and pilgrims” referred to here, and ultimately rout the critics who delight to say that “Christianity doesn’t work.”

For victory,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Peter 1 - 2011.06.04

2011-06-04T23:31:00.002-04:00

THE PROSPECT OF GRACE

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." - Peter 1:8-9

If you were presented with a tray of gold nuggets and invited to choose just one, you might have a hard time making your selection. That is our case here today. The chapter is very rich, and making a selection is, indeed a challenge. One can only trust the Lord to superintend this feeble effort, both in selection and in development.

The believer has in Christ what the apostle here calls “a living hope.” It is the same hope the apostle Paul refers to
when he says, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it [Rom. 8:24-25]. Writing to Titus he calls it the “hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began [Titus 1:2].” And the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews declares, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil [Heb. 6:19].”

This hope is not a vague uncertainty, as our word “hope” commonly suggests: it is “hope” only because it is as yet “unseen.” Our hope, in all its aspects, centers in Jesus Christ. He is it ground and assurance. If Christ is trustworthy, this hope is sure. If this hope is not sure, the Lord Jesus Christ is a deceiver.

For now “we see Him not,” but believing that He is Truth (John 14:6) eventuates in three things suggested by our text. The first is love for the Son of God Who loves us and gave Himself for us. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him,” and “We love Him because He first loved us [I John 4:9, 19].” The word declares, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends [Jn. 15:13].” Christ’s love is greater than this, for “when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son [Rom. 5:10a].” Who, understanding and believing this, would not love Him back! We are moved to cry with the Psalmist, whose vision of the redeemer had not yet the cross to look back to, “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength [Psalm 18:1].”

The second thing resulting from this conviction is faith. Faith is both the ground of our hope and the sustaining power of it. “In Whom…believing.” Generally our concept of what is certain is based upon our senses—what can be seen, heard, touched, etc. Faith gives substance for the believer to “things not seen as yet [Heb. 11:7].” “Now faith is [that which gives substance to] things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen [Heb. 11:1, my paraphrase].” It is wondrously illustrated in the account of Noah’s spiritual experience: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith [Heb. 11:7, my italics].” Faith is the window through which we are given a glimpse of things eternal!

Thirdly, this grace results in joy; inexpressible, irrepressible joy. The scripture puts it, “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” There is a false and superficial excitement in some quarters of professing Christendom ofttimes stirred up through the flesh. That is not the kind of joy referred to here. This is the reflected glory of the Savior Himself registering in the soul and running deep, where true faith is found. The Savior prayed, “And now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves [John 17:13].” His joy is referred to when we are encouraged to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God [Heb. 12:1-2].” It is a joy that comes from “seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27) and maintaining faith in Him.

This love, faith and joy leads to assurance in the end result of trusting Christ, “the salvation of your souls.” We live in a world, and in an hour where from many quarters “doubts arise and fears dismay.” Here is our “life raft,” if I may say it reverently. “Stayed upon Jehovah hearts are fully blessed, finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.”

Get a fix on “the Bright and Morning Star,” and you will never be thrown off course!

For a secure future,

"Pastor" Frasier

Titus 3 - 2011.05.28

2011-05-28T23:37:00.001-04:00

FAITH WORKS

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” —Titus 3:8

Someone has said the devil is an extremist; if he cannot push us to one extreme, he will attempt to push us to the other. This suggestion is illustrated in our reaction to the issue of faith vs. works. Where scripture promotes a synthesis, many seem to encourage divorce.

Early in my experience as a believer we were encouraged to choose a “life verse.” Mine became Titus 3:5-6—”Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (To which might be added verse 7, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”) This is one among many passages in the new testament which happily emphasizes the glorious truth that our salvation does not rest upon anything that we must “do,” but solely upon the mercy of God. Typically, however, we are reminded that though we are not dependent upon “good works” in order to be saved, we are saved “unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (See Eph. 2:10)

God’s grace is designed for our assurance of salvation, but it is not issued as a license to sin, though many seem to interpret it that way. Before conversion we were powerless to do “good works,” suited to salvation from sin. Through the prophet Isaiah the Holy Spirit declared, “…we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away [Isa. 64:6].” The best efforts of the natural man are no match for the problem sin represents to a holy God. However after salvation we are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit and both equipped for and called to a life characterized by “good works.”

Good works include personal, social, moral and spiritual actions as defined and directed by the scriptures. God has something to say about all these areas and it becomes our responsibility to search the scriptures to see what His will is in every area and to pray and work toward their development in our lives until they become our habit of behavior. Our text asserts that they are to be affirmed “constantly,” and practiced diligently.

The Savior Himself said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven [Mt. 5:16].” While some may argue for a dispensational perspective that puts this exhortation under law and not under grace, the epistles verify its application to New Testament believers. We have already noted Ephesians 2:10, which is crystal clear, and our nugget for today is another.

The Spirit instructs us in another familiar passage, “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].” In other words, the whole purpose of scripture, divinely inspired, is to equip and motivate us to good works. Titus 2:14 incorporates good works in the very fabric of God’s redemptive plan, declaring that our Savior Jesus Christ “…gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” To aim for less is to ignore the word of God, and to teach otherwise is heresy.

Sadly, the attitude of some professing Christians seems to be, “I am saved by faith alone, so it doesn’t matter how I live.” The truth is, the faith that justifies becomes the dynamic of a life lived to the glory of God. Anything less than that aspiration in the life of a professing Christian brings his salvation into question. In short, the faith that saves works!

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity;
Oh, thou Spirit divine,
All my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

For living a ‘good’ life,

"Pastor" Frasier

Titus 2 - 2011.05.21

2011-05-21T08:05:00.000-04:00

“ADORNING” DOCTRINE

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine…that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. —Titus 2:1,10b

The apostle Paul rendered an indictment of Israel’s hypocrisy in his epistle to the Romans, charging, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you,” and in the process declared, “He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly…but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly…whose praise is not of men, but of God [See Rom. 2:17-29].” He was berating them for a lack of correspondence between profession and performance.

Writing to Titus he made a similar accusation of certain in the church, as we noted last week, saying, “They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him.” This consideration sets the stage for today’s emphasis, which follows what seems at first reading a curious thought. It seems as though he is urging Titus to teach sound doctrine, (v.1) but immediately he addresses behavioral issues in various categories of believers: old men, aged women, young women and young men—even slaves (servants.)

The message is clear: without sound conduct, sound doctrine becomes irrelevant. When our behavior fails to “adorn” what we profess, when our conduct contradicts our theology, our deeds discredit our doctrine and the unregenerate world around us has little reason to take what we say seriously. And, such inconsistent behavior threatens to undermine the cause of Christ. When this happens Christianity falls to the level of religion rather than a relationship with Christ.

Christianity as a religion is as bankrupt as paganism. It is only insofar as Christ has become our life and our lives radiate His character that Christian faith becomes more than another competitor in the religious marketplace. True doctrine, in other words, is not static and academic, but dynamic and life changing.

The Savior said “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father [John 14:9].” Later, addressing the Father in prayer He remarked, “Now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world [John 17:11],” and a bit later, “As thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world [Jn. 17:18].” The latter emphasis was reiterated directly to the disciples by the Savior after His resurrection: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath set Me, even so send I you [Jn. 20:21].” The inference is that the character of God will be as evident in the lives of believers as it was in the life of the Son of God.

Sadly, that has not been the case over time. The two major emphases in the Savior’s teaching are love and unity. As we have noted more than once, He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another [Jn. 13:35]. And He prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou has sent Me [Jn. 17:21, my italics].”

Sadly, these doctrines are not demonstrated in the professing church as a whole; sadder still, they are not even significantly evident in many a local congregation of “believers.” To say nothing of sin in the ordinary sense, the doctrine that should lay the foundation for love and unity is often the catalyst for strife and division. This, of course, is the adversary’s genius. The divine objective (part of our “sound doctrine”) is to “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him… [Eph. 1:10].” Hence it has become the devil’s strategy to divide what God would unite, making it appear that he has successfully frustrated the divine goal, and thus discrediting the testimony of Christ.

Ultimately, of course, God will accomplish His objective by His own means. But for now the church’s position is greatly weakened by the disparity between our doctrine and our demonstration. Scripture still pleads for these to be brought into correspondence with one another. There is no immediate large scale solution available. (Ecumenism is an attempt to achieve unity at the expense of doctrine, which is another evil.) Scripture still urges believers to “adorn the doctrine of God.” For now it can only be realized in individual lives committed to Christ and infused with the Holy Spirit, then embraced and displayed among those groups of believers, few in number perhaps, who share the same commitment to Christ.

“Examine yourselves.” And let it be remembered that anything less fails to adorn the doctrine of God and discredit the Truth.

For the glory of God,

"Pastor" Frasier

Titus 1 - 2011.05.14

2011-05-14T10:51:00.003-04:00

ABOMINABLE “SNOWMEN”

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” —Titus 1:15-16

There is no task on earth more demanding than the gospel ministry. Its influence effects the destiny of the souls of men, and its standards are defined by God. Thus the apostle Paul took great pains to counsel young men for the ministry. We noted it in passing in our remarks in the studies in Timothy and it confronts us again in this epistle to Titus. Following his introduction the apostle defines essential standards for the gospel ministry (v.5-9) then issues a warning about men in ministry so disqualified for the office that he says “[their] mouths must be stopped.” One cannot but wonder what he would say about many a “minister” in this day and age!

The Holy Spirit has capitalized on the situation to convey truth which, if heeded, will pay great spiritual dividends in the church. If ignored, it will ultimately leave the “sheep” to the “wolf” and scatter the flock. (See John 10:12-13)

From the perspective of our “nugget” for today, consider first the declaration: “They profess that they know God,” but their motive in so doing is for their own gain (v.11). Then note their designation by the Holy Spirit: they are “defiled and unbelieving.” The inference is strong, if not absolute, that these are unconverted men who for selfish reasons have adopted the ministry as their vocation. If there were some in Paul’s day, there are many in ours.

The degradation of these “hirelings” is defined as extending to “mind and conscience.” They neither think according to the truth of God, nor do they live it. Both head and heart are involved, and the results are tragic: “whole houses” (v.11,) entire families, are caught in the brambles of their false teaching and ungodly example. Today we may say whole churches are the victims of those who for hire will say what best serves their own interests rather than the truth of God.

Finally, there is the demonstration, already alluded to, that justifies the accusation: “in works they deny Him.” That is to say, these false teachers not only distort the truth of God in their teaching, they degrade it in their behavior. These correspond in this dispensation to those the apostle condemned in the former when he said, “The name of God is blasphemed among [unbelievers] through you, as it is written [Rom. 2:24].”

It is true, of course, that we are not saved by our “works.” But it is equally true that we are saved “unto good works,” and those works are defined by the word of God. It is the measuring instrument of our conduct, and our conduct defines our character. This, by the way, applies to every professing Christian, not only to the church’s leadership. As Emerson put it long ago, “What you do speaks so loud I cannot hear what you say,” proving that sometimes, indeed, “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light [Luke 16:8].” Wise men will read our lives more keenly than they will read our lips, but that kind of wisdom is often wanting in many a congregation, threatening them with misdirection in both doctrine and practice when “hirelings” are in the pulpit.

Now someone will doubtless say, that is all well, but of what value is it to readers of this article? To this our response is threefold. First, there may be among my readers some whose churches are in search for a pastor. Schools can make preachers; only God can produce pastors, in the true sense of the word. Take heed to the warning in this nugget, and give careful attention to the divinely disclosed standards for spiritual leadership delineated in verses 5-9.

Second, some of our readers are involved in ministry. Listen to God’s charge, and renew your efforts to walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him, so that you may adorn the doctrine you preach with practice that illustrates and proves it.

Thirdly, let every Christian observe that God does not intend to have first class and second class members in the body of Christ. The standards demanded for those in ministry are intended for all who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All are called to be witnesses for Christ, and what we are in practice should reinforce, not contradict the faith we profess.

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.”

[II Cor. 5:17]

For the adorning of the doctrine of God,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Timothy 4 - 2011.05.07

2011-05-07T07:08:00.000-04:00

FAITHFUL MINISTRY

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” — II Tim. 4:1-2

Our nugget for today has to do with the gospel ministry as the Spirit inspired apostle and seasoned pastor mentors his younger companion in this high calling. The seriousness and solemnity of the matter is evident in the first verse, where Paul holds himself accountable to the Father and the Son for the counsel he is giving. Every gospel minister will do well to maintain a continual awareness of this profound truth. No true minister of the word of God assumes the role on his own initiative, but must accept it as a calling from God. Someone suggested years ago that a man should not become a minister of the gospel if he could be content doing anything else. The charge to Timothy affords significant evidence of what this ministry involves.

“Preach the word.” The primary responsibility of the gospel minister is the communication of the Word of God to the people of God. In His last recorded encounter with the apostle Peter, the Lord Jesus laid the foundation for this exhortation. Three times He charged Peter, “Feed My sheep.” The only fodder God has given for feeding His flock is His inspired word, and it is the preacher’s task to convey it to them. Ministers are not called to be psychiatrists, marriage counsellors, entertainers, or baby sitters; they are called to feed the sheep, to communicate the word of the Lord so that the redeemed may “grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.” (See Eph. 4:11-15)

The task is relentless, and not always easy. Thus the Holy Spirit says, “Be instant,” i.e., be faithful to the task “whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome or unwelcome.” (Amplified paraphrase.) The faithful gospel minister will “sow by all waters,” and in all seasons, under all circumstances. We are advised that “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap [Eccl. 11:4].” The minister is to disregard the climate and keep his eye on the Lord and his heart committed to his high calling. If he does, he will reap God’s blessing “in due season.”

“Reprove, rebuke, exhort…” Here, in brief, is the substance of the ministry. To reprove is “to show people in what way their lives are wrong.” (Amp.) This is not designed to make the shepherd popular with the sheep; it is intended to protect them from their own natural inclination to folly. The resource for this, of course, is not the preacher’s opinion, but that word of God which is a lamp for our feet and a light to mark the path of wisdom and security.

To rebuke is to speak with authority commanding correction. The word used here in the original is used only twice in the epistles, but is used often with respect to the ministry of the Lord Jesus in the gospels. He “rebuked” evil spirits, and the wind. He even rebuked the disciples, which is perhaps the best illustration for our purpose. When the Savior was rejected by a certain “village of the Samaritans,” the disciples suggested that they “command fire to come down from heaven and consume them.” Christ’s response was to turn and rebuke them and say ”Ye know not what what manner of spirit ye are of. For the son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” (Cf. Luke 9:51-56) The rebuke is aimed at correcting what is wrong, and this must ever be the pastor’s goal.

To exhort is “to urge” onward in spiritual growth. Or, to encourage in the right direction.

Given the fallible nature of even the best of men, this is an unending task to be undertaken with “all longsuffering and doctrine.” Longsuffering suggests patience, self-restraint and perseverance. The shepherd is not called to beat the sheep, but to lead them as he feeds them. Doctrine suggests both content and technique. Doctrine, in scripture, is truth drawn from the word of God and teaching, a synonym, is the method of its communication. It involves instruction, which is more than just “telling.” I once had a mentor who sought to teach me how to make a straight saw cut across a board. When he told me, I didn’t get it. Then he said, “watch me.” When he showed me, I began to catch on. The patient communication of doctrine to the people of God will involve the pastor in showing the way by example. Thus the Savior said on one occasion to those who doubted Him, “I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” (Cf. John 10:24-25) That is an illustration of “longsuffering and doctrine.”

Now you may be tempted to ask, of what value is this to me? If you are involved in ministry, it affords valuable instruction as to the nature of your responsibility. And if you are under a minister, it will afford some insight into what to expect and what to pray for in your leaders. “Do all to the glory of God.”

For our good here and hereafter,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Timothy 3 - 2011.04.30

2011-04-30T07:05:00.001-04:00

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth…But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” - II Tim. 3:7, 14-15

It is the tragic vanity of the mind of man (in the generic sense) that we know everything—or soon will. And, that we are in control of our own destiny. Certainly when one visits a great library, or now the internet, what man knows something about is in fact quite overwhelming. Spend enough time in the library, however, and you will discover that what man was “sure of” yesterday is often no longer accurate.

Simply observing history one will discover that much of what we “know” we don’t know enough about. We now know, for example, how to start nuclear fission, but we do not know enough about how to stop it. We can predict where an earthquake may occur, but we do not know if, or when it will happen, and are powerless to forestall it if we did. We may anticipate a tsunami, but are powerless to control it, as is the case with much of nature. We know how to make mighty machines that take advantage of our ability to develop and control available resources of energy, but we cannot generate the raw material ourselves. We can build wind generators, but cannot create the wind to power them. We can produce mighty engines of war and destruction, but have no solution for the problem of war itself, despite millennia of trying to find one. These are admittedly few, feeble and random examples, but they illustrate the point.

Jesus put it simply, but sharply, when He said, “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell where it comes from, nor where it goes [John 3:8].” And again He said, “When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? [Luke 12:55].” In short, we may take advantage of the wind, but can neither create it nor control it. And so it is with much of what man has learned over the millennia of his existence.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. For all our vaunted knowledge in science and philosophy, we do not know where we came from, why we are here nor where we are going. Speculation abounds, but truth is wanting with respect to the great issues of being. And, a “sea of primordial scum” hardly affords a satisfying answer. We know much about the tree of life, but nothing about its roots—apart from revelation. Dig though we may, and speculate as we will, we cannot go back to the beginning and will never by “learning” discover our roots. And our most sophisticated telescopes have not yet and never will give us glimpse of the future. If we are going to know anything in these areas, Someone is going to have to tell us—and we are going to have to listen.

Order does not come from chaos. We have seen whole cities reduced to rubble by fire, wind and earthquake. We have never seen one put together by the same process. All that we study in our quest for knowledge and for answers should make us aware of this truth: there must be a magnificent Mind and a mighty Hand at work to account for it all. Iif we are to know who He is, He must make Himself known. And He has. In His word. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork [Ps. 19:1].” But it is the scriptures that give us His portrait, and His Son who reveals His person. The Savior said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father,” and again, “I and my Father are one.” He certified His wisdom and His truth by His resurrection from the dead, and this He has preserved and communicated in His word.

If man in general goes on his way in ignorance of that which matters most, whether by chance or by choice, individual men, confronted with this Truth in the “holy scriptures,” can discover that which is the most important knowledge of all, and be equipped for that glorious “salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” It is my sincere hope and prayer that you are one of them.

I have more understanding than all my teachers:

for thy testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Psalm 119:99-100

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Timothy 2 - 2011.04.23

2011-04-23T07:02:00.001-04:00

DON’T QUIT!

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” —II Tim. 2:11-13

The opening words of this chapter are, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” The apostle’s words suggest compassion and concern. His tender words, “my son,” indicate Paul’s affection for his young protege and convert, and the following phrase hints at his concern that Timothy persevere in the faith even though under the pressure of some form of opposition.

There is a lesson here for both fathers in the literal sense, and those who are spiritual “fathers” to others in the faith. It behooves us to treat our “children” with love and tenderness on the one hand, and with firmness suited to their perseverance on the other. Our nugget sums up what is at stake.

Foundational to the whole of Christian experience is the believer’s union with Christ. “If we be dead with Him…” Dying with Christ is the prerequisite to eternal life. This “dying” is not a state that can be “earned,” as by good works or religious activity, e.g., but is the result of simply trusting Him who died for us and rose again. Writing to the Romans the apostle associates it with believer’s baptism, which is the public expression of personal faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death [Rom. 6:3]?” Faith marks the true believer as united with Him, in fact, in both His death and His resurrection, thus affording from the beginning both the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection [Rom. 6:5].” Many other things follow from this doctrine, but in our text the focus is simply upon the believer’s eternal hope, “we shall also live with Him.”

For many, as perhaps for Timothy when this was written, that faith-union with Christ can bring on the experience of hostility and/or persecution. Suffering, especially when is the direct result of being a Christian can bring doubt, and doubt tempts to unbelief. Thus the apostle encourages his spiritual charge, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.” The inference seems to be that there is a special reward for faith that perseveres under fire.

The importance of persevering in faith is further underscored in the next clause, “If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” This was addressed by the Savior when sending forth His disciples as recorded in Matthew 10. Warning them of the possibility of opposition He declared, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword [Mt. 10:32-34].”

The tragic possibility is indicated in the trend suggested by the apostle here: professed faith threatened by difficulty, generating doubt; doubt turning to denial and resulting in unbelief. The end result is spiritual disaster, because God is faithful and consistent with Himself. A faith that collapses under pressure is not saving faith at all.

In our present situation, suffering for our faith is not commonplace, and the challenge to faith may come from another direction. But the principle is ever the same. Faith is ordered to persevere. And those who purpose to follow Christ will be given grace to do so. Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. It cost the Son of God everything, including indescribable humiliation and suffering. And He declared, “He that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me [Mt. 10:38].”

These are sobering thoughts, but there is a bright side. God abides faithful. “He cannot deny Himself.” That means, He always tells the truth, and His word can be trusted. Under pressure, let us simply trust Him more. “IF we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him.” That’s what matters, that’s what counts—for all eternity!

This Easter weekend take another look at the cross; that is what faith, and faithfulness is all about. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”

For a faith that perseveres,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Timothy 1 - 2011.04.16

2011-04-16T22:49:00.001-04:00

THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” — II Tim. 1:8-10

This is a powerful passage in which the apostle Paul, seeking to encourage his younger associate, summarizes the essence of the gospel. It can serve the same purpose for any true believer in any generation and in any circumstance. From my perspective, it may best be addressed by moving through it in reverse.

The essence of the gospel, “made manifest” through the incarnation and earthly ministry of “our Saviour Jesus Christ,” is summed up in just two particulars: the conquest of death, and the revelation of “life and immortality.” Death (in the final, spiritual and eternal sense) is the enemy Christ came to conquer, and that He alone could vanquish. It is the inevitable destiny of every man without God.

We think backward about life. When a child is born, we say he/she is beginning to live. The tragic fact is, the child is beginning to die. When the child is born, the cup of life is full; we have no idea how full, but all its “life” is there. Every day that child lives, he is one day closer to death. Hence, the child is really not “living,” but dying. And the greater tragedy is that this is not merely physically true, but eternally so. And it is life’s only certainty! “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment [Heb. 9:27].” This is the grim foe Christ came to overthrow and to replace with “life and immortality;” that is, eternal life. Those who obtain it are the only ones who are really living, for they shall never die! (See John 11:26). That is, in essence, the glory of the gospel.

The second thing of note is the gift of the gospel. This “life and immortality,” replacing sin and death in the believer, is “given us in Christ Jesus.” “In Christ” is a cardinal phrase in the presentation of the gospel. Everything that relates to eternal life is “in Christ,” and the believer, the real Christian is viewed as “in Christ Jesus.” Reciprocally, Christ is in us: “Christ in you, the hope of glory [Col. 1:27].” It is a relationship enjoyed as a gift from God.

What is even more remarkable, this gift was “given us…before the world began.” It is as secure as God’s eternal decree. It never ceases to amaze me that God had the “Life Net” in place before Adam ever transgressed. It was not accomplished in history; it was only “made manifest;” it was accomplished in eternity past, hence there has never been a time when those destined for death could not obtain life. Such is the scope of God’s marvelous grace.

Then there is the ground of this gift of “life and immortality.” It is, as every saved soul must know, “not according to our works.” That means it is not the result of “good works,” or religious ritual. I has nothing to do with personal merit, which means the worst as well as the “best” of men have an equal opportunity to enjoy this gift of eternal life. On the contrary, it springs from the heart of God, “his own purpose and grace,” and since God “so loved the world,” and Christ is “…the propitiation… for the sins of the whole world [I John 2:2],” the remedy for the dreadful disease of sin and death is available to all. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved [Rom. 10:13].”

Finally, there is set before us here the goal of this glorious salvation. God has “saved us and called us with an holy calling.” The significance of this phrase is that the divine purpose in our salvation is the cultivation of holiness in us. Scripture everywhere confirms this. He saves us just as we are, immersed in sin and unrighteousness, but it is not His design to leave us ‘just as we are.’ The divine purpose, as far as it respects us, is to transform us into likeness to Christ. We are “called to be saints” (Rom. 1:6-7; I Cor. 1:2). He has “called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light,” (I Pet. 2:9) and “unto glory and virtue.” (II Pet. 1:3). Hence, “…as He which has called [us] is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of [life].” (I Pet. 1:15).

How glorious is this Gospel in its power, privilege and purpose! Let us, indeed, not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, but honor and magnify His name and illustrate His grace and His glory daily in our walk before ‘the watching world.’

For the manifestation of “Christ in you”,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Timothy 6 - 2011.04.09

2011-04-09T23:40:00.001-04:00

THE PURSUIT OF GRACE

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” — Tim. 6:11, 12

“There is nothing new under the sun.” A few days ago I happened across a program on “christian” television wherein the speaker promised a series of messages on how to become prosperous, offering the premise that God intends for His people to become materially well to do. The context of our “nugget” for today teaches the exact opposite, agreeing with the doctrine of Christ that riches are deceitful, and tend to undermine or at least hinder spiritual progress (see v.5-10, 17-19 and, e.g., Lk. 18:24).

When writing to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul counseled, “Put off…the old man” and “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (See Eph. 4:21-24) It is that same emphasis which is given here. The “man of God” is a sinner saved by grace. When that transformation takes place, the believer is to “flee” some things (in this case the pursuit of “gain”) and to “follow after” that which makes for true spiritual riches. The grace of God, then, is not grounds for the pursuit of material health and wealth, but for that which facilitates spiritual growth.

The Christian who would be a man (or woman) of God is to follow after righteousness. Righteousness is simply the manner of life which makes for “good works” from God’s perspective. As we have noted often before, we are not saved by good works, but “unto good works [Eph. 2:10].” We do not work for salvation, but from salvation; not in order to become righteous, but because in Christ we are righteous. And that righteousness will be made evident in our obedience to His commandments.

He is to pursue godliness. We have before defined this a Christlikeness. He could say, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” We should aspire to be able to say, as it were, ‘If you want to know what God is like, watch me.’ As presumptuous as that may seem at first, it is exactly how the apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthians when he said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ [I Cor. 11:1].”

Then, “faith.” That is, perseverance of trust in God. And “love”; of God, family, friends, fellow believers—and even one’s enemies.

“Patience.” That is, stedfast endurance. The “man of God” should maintain his walk with God whether his outward circumstances are prosperous or strenuous.

“Meekness.” That is a quiet disposition characterized by genuine humility. It is implied in the apostle’s instruction earlier in the chapter regarding how those Christians who were slaves should relate to their masters. For us it applies to how we react to our lot in life and those who are our superiors in human affairs.

These are qualities that mark those who understand the significance of God’s grace. They will come as no surprise to anyone who has a working acquaintance with New Testament teaching. Let not familiarity breed contempt; too much of present day Christianity reveals us as having reversed the order. We are committed more to “feathering our nest” and “making it” in this present world than to furthering our faith, and the testimony of Christ suffers for it before the ‘watching world.’

The solemnity of the issue is evident in Paul’s added exhortation to Timothy, “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ [v. 13,14].” Though “this commandment” is urged upon a young preacher, it is applicable to all who have been called by God’s grace into a living relationship with “the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us.”

We have seen a fresh illustration only this week (as this is being written), in the devastation resulting from the earthquake in Japan, how quickly everything in this life, including life itself, can be swept away without warning in a moment of time. Let us not devote ourselves to living for the present, but for those things which will endure for eternity.

For values that will last,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Timothy 5 - 2011.04.02

2011-04-02T10:15:00.000-04:00

THE PERCEPTION OF GRACE

“Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” — 1 Tim. 5:24-25

Our “nugget” brings to mind another important text: “…the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart [I Sam 16:7b].”

One of the incomprehensible things about the “God of all grace,” is the fact that He knows the end from the beginning, and He knows us from the inside out. “Nothing is hid from the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.”

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: [Isa. 46:9-10].”

There is no way that our minds, which are prisoners of time and sequence, can grasp this quality of omniscience. But, it accounts for for the scope of our nugget for today. There are, our text affirms, public sins and privates ones. There are those actions that are obvious to everyone who sees us, and there are the private ones that no one knows—but ourselves and God. David identified them as “secret faults” and “presumptuous sins,” when he discerningly prayed, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression [Psalm 19:12-13].” The Lord looks on the heart.

Not only does the Lord look on the heart, but He holds us accountable for the sins that are past. This is confirmed in a striking text that affirms what we noted above regarding God’s omniscience: “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past [Eccl. 3:15].” There is, indeed, ‘no place to hide’ from the eye of the Lord. “…ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out [Num. 32:23].” There is no ‘hidden agenda” with a righteous God.

Our text for today does not stop with the negative, however. The Spirit of God remarks through the inspired apostle that the same divine insight applies to good works as well as to evil. Men are not saved by good works, and we do not “gain merit” with God by good behavior. Nevertheless, in His magnanimity God takes good behavior into account,

and it matters not whether our “good works” are public or private, lauded or overlooked by men. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do [Heb. 4:12-13].” God has perceived all and taken all into account since before the world began.

God “will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God [Rom. 2:6-10].” How He will work all this out may be beyond our comprehension, be what is certain is this: no sin will be overlooked; and no good work (with “good” measured by God’s standard) will go unrewarded.

Should you be living under the illusion that “nobody knows” your secret conduct, think again. And thank God that there is “forgiveness of sins” available to all who will repent of their transgressions and seek God’s forgiveness. That is why the Savior came. And if perhance you have labored to do that which is right and good, but feel all has been to no avail and gone unnoticed, be assured; God knows and He will appropriately reward your deeds. Only remember that it is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [saves] us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life [Titus 3:5-7].”

The worst of men are not beyond the reach of God’s grace, and the best of men are not good enough to save themselves!

For a real change of heart,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Timothy 4 - 2011.03.26

2011-03-26T10:18:00.002-04:00

THE PASSION OF GRACE

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” — 1 Tim. 4:12

The fact that we shall not attain to that ideal “godliness,” discussed in last week’s meditation, until we get to glory must not discourage us from aspiring to it and striving for it. The Holy Spirit’s counsel to Timothy is “exercise thyself…unto godliness.” That is ever the goal of the sincere Christian. (See v.7-8)

Timothy, of course, is being instructed with specific reference to his ministry, but the principle applies to every believer, for we are all called to ‘minister Christ‘ to those around us. And of particular note here is that age is no exception. One does not have to be old to be wise, nor ancient to make progress in likeness to Christ. In fact scripture indicates to every believer whatever his age, sex, status or role in the body of Christ, that the divine objective for us is “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (See Rom.8:29) The process begins with the new birth and will not be completed until until “He appears,” but the aspiring believer will be mightily aided by the Holy Spirit in the endeavor. Leadership brings added responsibility, hence the emphasis to Timothy, “be thou an example,” but, as we have implied above, everyone has a ministry role to someone. The husband is responsible to represent Christ to his wife; parents to their children; children to their siblings; redeemed children to unsaved parents; the workman to his employer and vice versa; and all of us to our neighbors.

There follows, then, some areas of particular significance.

“In word.” Scripture has much to say about the believer’s responsibility with respect to his tongue. We are admonished about profanity, vulgarity and “foolish talking,” as well as the disposition of our words. James, as you are doubtless aware, speaks incisively on the subject in the third chapter of his epistle remarking, “Out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be [Jas. 3:10].” Does our speech reflect the character of Christ?

“In conversation.” We might render the word “conversation” as “lifestyle.” In the old days schoolchildren were graded on “deportment.” or their general behavior. God still does grade that way, concerned for our appearance and conduct before the world, saved and unsaved alike. When Pontius Pilate looked for a reason to send the Son of God to the cross, he was obliged to say, “I find no fault in him.” That should be true of us when others look for something to fault us for. And the Spirit of God through the apostle Peter counsels us, “[Have] your conversation honest among the gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation [I Pet. 2:12].”

“In charity.” We need only to reflect again on the Savior’s declaration, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” That selfless love that is the love of God is the ‘badge of discipleship’ for believers and should distinguish us from the selfish love of the world. So important is this virtue that we have a whole chapter devoted to describing it in the first epistle to the Corinthians.

“In spirit.” This is the spirit of the believer under the control of the Holy Spirit. There is no better explanation of this than the list of “the fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians: “Love,” which here has already been referred to, “joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” which will be singled out next in our nugget, “meekness, temperance (self control),” These together characterize “the spirit of Christ,” and are to be evident in our lives if we are to exemplify Him.

“In faith.” Perhaps two qualities are discernible here: Faith in God sustaining us in every circumstance in life, and fiaithfulness to God in our daily walk, whatever the challenges that confront us.

“In purity.” This, of course, refers to moral purity, keeping one’s self morally clean. One writer renders the word, “chastity.” The apostle will lay this charge on Timothy again in ch. 5:22, “keep thyself pure.” In a decaying culture, where moral values are like shifting sands in a desert windstorm, the believer needs to keep God’s standards ever before him, knowing that God’s value system does not change.

These qualities are not reserved for Christian “professionals,” nor a class of super saints, but are together the aim of the Holy Spirit in the life of every born again believer in Jesus Christ. “Be thou an example” is the exhortation; “Oh to be like Thee” should be our consuming ambition.

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Timothy 3 - 2011.03.19

2011-03-19T13:59:00.001-04:00

THE PERSON OF GRACE

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” — 1 Tim. 3:16

“Great is the mystery of godliness.” To understand what the Spirit of God would set before us here, we must first understand that there is a different meaning for the word “mystery” as it is used in the New Testament from our popular use of it today. For us a mystery is something obscure or baffling. The term in scripture means almost the opposite; it refers to something once hidden, but now revealed.

To derive the significance of this text, we also need to understand the meaning of “godliness.” If you look the word up in a dictionary the definition will be something like “pious” or “devoutly religious.” Certainly that is not what the word means here. It is my judgment that the term as the Spirit uses it here is almost self defining; it means, God-like-ness.” To give godliness this significance will at once explain why it is clearly applied to Christ. He is the only one in all the history of man who manifests godliness in the ideal sense of unqualified likeness to God.

He revealed “the mystery of Godliness” (What is God like?) because He IS God. That is the first clue to the “mystery.” He was “GOD manifest in the flesh.” “In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily [Col. 2:9].” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [John 1:1, my italics].” Christ is “the image of the invisible God… [Col. 1:15],” The “brightness of [God’s] glory, and the express image of His person… [Heb. 1:3].” “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,…He hath declared (revealed) Him [John 1:18]. Thus He could say, without qualification or exaggeration, “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” (cf. John 14:9).” What is God like? He is like Jesus Christ!

That is the declaration; what follows in our text is the confirmation.

“Justified in the Spirit.” Recall that on the occasion of His baptism “…the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased [Luke 3:22].” Thus did the Holy Spirit confirm His Person and identification with the Father.

“Seen of angels.” Angels attended and announced His birth. They ministered to Him when He withstood the temptation in the wilderness. Twelve legions (as many as 72,000) stood at the ready to come at His call when He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were present at His resurrection. And, it may be noted, they will form part of His retinue when He returns!

“Preached unto the Gentiles.” His work as Redeemer disclosed the love of God (Jn. 3:16) not for the Jew only, but for the lost Gentile world as well. Humanity has ever been divided into conflicting “camps” defined by country, color, class or culture; Christ, as God manifest in the flesh, embraced them all without discrimination when He bore our sins in His own body on the cross.

“Believed on in the the world.” The supernaturalness of the Son of God is evident in the scope of the embrace of His person and work in “every tribe and nation.” The message of the gospel is an offense to the natural man; only God could persuade men anywhere that the sacrifice of “the Lamb of God” affords a remedy for the sinfulness of lost mankind. Clearly this man is much more than a philosopher or a “cleric.”

“Received up into glory.” This concluding phrase in our text assumes the resurrection, and whatever the other elements may seem to signify, this is the cord that binds them all in the bundle of Truth and confirms the deity of Christ. His Person stands unique among men. He claimed to be God; He manifested “God-like-ness” and His triumphant return to “the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3) is the seal that endorses it all!

But, the wonder of this text does not end there. The “mystery of godliness” is magnified in its extension to every redeemed sinner. For now, Christ alone qualifies as truly “God-like,” but the day is coming when that magnificent quality will clearly define every born again believer; for, “we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is [I John 3:2b]!”

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

For the glory of Christ and of God,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Timothy 2 - 2011.03.12

2011-03-12T14:11:00.000-05:00

THE POWER OF GRACE

“God our Saviour…will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” —I Tim. 2:3b-6

Recently I engaged in an exchange with a very dear friend regarding who is eligible for salvation. The conversation revolved around the age old controversy regarding “election” and what it means. Certainly I am not equipped to resolve an issue that has divided believers for generations, and would be foolish to deny that there are some things in scripture that are “hard to be understood.” However, my inclination is to take scripture at “face value,” and that will be the approach here.

The subject is “salvation,” and that is, salvation from sin and its consequences. It is the most important subject the human mind can entertain, though few are much interested in it. Scripture declares that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” and that “the wages of sin is death.” The “death” referred to is not merely physical death, but the “second death” referred to by the apostle John who said:

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [Rev. 20:12-15].”

The “second death” is the conscious condition of sinners separated from God and His goodness and glory for ever and ever. It identifies the need for salvation. It is this that we need to be saved from.

The key to salvation, as given here, is “the knowledge of the truth.” And from a New Testament perspective the Truth is a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me [John 14:6].” In essence He is saying, “I am the only way to God and heaven.” That agrees perfectly with the phrase in our “nugget”: “For there is…one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” According to the scriptures, all men are by nature “lost” spiritually and destined for eternal damnation. But God has made a way that the “lost” can be “saved.” That way is the Lord Jesus Christ; as He said, “I am the way…”—theonly way!

On one occasion the disciples heard Jesus teach (read Matthew 19:23-26) and were prompted to ask Him a crucial question: “Who then can be saved?” Jesus response was, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” God, Jesus is saying, can make a way. And this God has done through the “one mediator…who gave Himself a ransom for all.” As the song writer put it, “Jesus paid the price, Himself the sacrifice, on the cross for me.”

Let me now reiterate the disciples’ question: “Who then can be saved?” Note the opening emphasis of our nugget. “God…will have all men to saved…” This is reinforced in another place where we read that the Lord is “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance [II Pet. 3:9].” On the cross Christ did not save all, but He gave himself a ransom for all, making salvation possible for all. And it is upon that ground that scripture holds out to all this hope, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [Jesus Christ] shall be saved [Rom. 10:13].”

When Christ gave His life a ransom for sinners, He opened a door and extended to all an invitation: “I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…” (John 10:9) Who then can be saved? YOU can! Anyone who will “call upon the Name of the Lord,” in sincerity and truth, thus entering God’s opened door, so to speak, will be saved, according to the promise of “God our savior,” Who cannot lie. (Cf. Titus 1:2)

The objective here is not to argue for this gospel, but simply to declare it. The argument is established in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. The need now is to declare this truth if you know it, and to believe it if you do not. Your eternal destiny hangs upon it. God is not willing that you should perish; He would have you to be saved. The question is, are you willing to believe Him?

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”

Tomorrow could be too late!

For the salvation of sinners,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Timothy 1 - 2011.03.05

2011-03-05T07:05:00.000-05:00

THE PURPOSE OF GRACE

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” —I Tim. 1:15-17

In the nugget we have chosen for today, as we move into a new area for meditation, the apostle Paul, writing to a young understudy, gives us a bit of his personal testimony that can in some measure edify us all. Not by design on his part, the section we have chosen to consider today suggests a threefold purpose in the outworking of God’s grace. There is God’s past purpose in sending His Son, His present purpose in the lives of His children and His eternal purpose to be fully revealed in the future.

It will be no news to most of my readers to observe that God sent His Son into the world “to save sinners.” Christ did not come for Christmas, He came for Calvary. He did not come to be a good example, but to be a sacrifice for sin. This simple/profound truth is oft repeated in the New Testament. “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world [I John 4:14].” “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him [I John 4:9].” “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [II Cor. 5:19-21].” These are few of the verses that reinforce Paul’s statement here. And as a result of this divine initiative, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved [Rom. 10:13].”

This is simple evangelism. Paul here, assured of his eternal destiny through this grace of God, calls himself the chief of sinners. You and I do not hold that distinction, but because of our own sin we were headed for exactly the same condemnation as this “chief of sinners.” But the question might be raised, as it has by some, if God has done everything necessary to save us from sin and qualify us for heaven, why has he left us here, in “this present evil world?” The answer is implied in the next verse, where the apostle declares God’s present purpose that he should be “a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on [Christ] to life everlasting.” The divine plan is no different for us. It is God’s will that we should so live as to represent the grace of God in all its aspects to give direction to those around us and those who will follow after us in the faith.

Paul could say to his hearers in another place, “…be ye followers of me” and “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ [I Cor. 4:16; 11:1].” His implication is that if his hearers follow his pattern of behavior, they will be walking as Christ designs and desires. The apostle John gives the same emphasis when he writes, “He that saith he abideth in [Christ] ought himself so to walk, even as He walked.” We have a responsibility both to God and to those who will come after us to reveal the truth and power of redemption as ‘epistles’ of Christ “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” Is your life telling the truth about why Christ Jesus came into the world? That is God’s will for us in the “today of our experience,” and why He has left us here for now.

All of this leads to the ultimate purpose of redemption: To “the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.” God, by reason of His very nature, deserves to be glorified. He is glorified through our love for Him and our obedience to Him. Jesus said, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do [John 17:4].” And in that same chapter He also said, “All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” The glory of God is the issue. When He is glorified, those who glorify Him are made partakers of His glory.”

Adam, yielding to the devil’s lie, sought to glorify himself, and it cost him and all of his descendants sin and shame. If we will seek to glorify God, giving him his place in our lives, we will share His glory throughout all eternity. For Christ, and for Paul, seeking the glory of God was costly, and it may be no different with us; but it pays eternal dividends. As we glorify Him now, we will be glorified together with Him throughout the ages to come!

“Everyone that is called by my name…I have created for my glory.” - Isa. 43:7

For His glory—and ours,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 22 - 2011.02.27

2011-02-27T20:40:00.001-05:00

READY…OR NOT?

“Behold, I come quickly…” — Rev. 22:7, 12, 20

There is much in this chapter which closes both the bible and the book of Revelation that provides food for thought, and it is difficult to pass some of them by. However, we have chosen this phrase for our “nugget” because it occurs three tie in this one chapter. It is interesting as well that the same phrase is employed three times in the opening of the book, in the letters to the seven churches; twice as a threat (2:5, 16) and once as an exhortation (3:11). It seems clear that the Savior wants His own to be on spiritual tiptoe awaiting His appearing. That would, of course, agree with his declaration recorded in Matthew 25:13, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

In the chapter before us the phrase as it is used encourages three things. The first, in v. 7, is to obedience to His word: “blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” In its context the exhortation no doubt relates to the text at hand, that is, the book of Revelation which God wills we should ever keep in mind as a roadmap for the future and a stimulus to holiness. We have a great tendency to become too earthbound and “horizontal” in our thinking. Reflecting on what is here prophesied will help to keep us from fixing our hopes on earth, for it spells out in some detail how “the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” It behooves the believer to focus on “that which is to come” and make our major investment accordingly. It may be, too, that the phrase is reflexive and applies to the whole “book” the Lord has given us, namely the Bible; as for example, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free [John 8:31].” In any dispensation obedience to His word is the key to blessing.

The second occurrence of this phrase, v.12, is a stimulus to fruitful service for Christ, which is of course a corollary to obeying His word: “…I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” There is almost a conflict today among bible teachers, some of whom seem inclined to emphasize grace at the expense of good works and others who emphasis works to the point where the works are essential to salvation. Both are wrong, and a key passage on the issue is Ephesians 2:8-10. There we read, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Our works add nothing to our salvation, but they manifest the reality of our professed faith and are an essential part of our testimony. It is the Savior’s intention that we should bear fruit for His glory, and we will be held accountable for that as is indicated by the “reward” he brings with Him when He comes. The Spirit of God instructs us through the apostle Paul, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire [I Cor 3:11-15].”

Many years ago I heard one piously say, “I don’t want a reward; I’ll just serve Him for nothing.” However, let us remember that the believer’s rewards are symbolized as “crowns,” and in the day of His appearing the saints will cast their crowns at His feet as a love-offering for His redeeming grace. I should like to have many crowns!

Finally, He employs our key phrase a third time, saying in a kind of farewell and with emphasis, “Surely I come quickly (v.20).” And the child of God cries, “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” Those who remember His word and have engaged in His work will ever have as their supreme desire to see their King! Their theme song carries the line, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.”

His word is our roadmap, His work our preoccupation and Himself our aspiration. And it is “the hope of His appearing” that should motivate us throughout the journey from here to eternity

As an appendix, there remains the final verse, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” And it is, indeed, His grace alone that secures our redemption, enables us to keep going and assures us of our eternal destiny!

For a sustained pilgrimage,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 21 - 2011.02.19

2011-02-19T20:50:00.000-05:00

HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” —Rev. 21:1-5

A number of times of late I have been asked, “What will heaven be like, and what will we do there for all eternity?” Whether through the limitations of our thinking, lack of careful study or unintentional misinformation conveyed by our preachers and teachers, I have come to the conclusion that we may have a wrong conception of the believer’s eternal state. I do not believe we will “spend eternity in heaven.”

To be sure, those who die in the Lord this side of “eternity,” thus becoming disembodied souls, appear in God’s heaven for the present (Cf. Rev. 7:9-10, 14-17), but the passage before us today suggests that this is not the final residence of the redeemed, but rather the “new heaven and…new earth.” In the context it is not suggested that the redeemed will be where He is but He will be where they are: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them…and God Himself will be with them…”

There is, it would seem, a parallel between the final state of man and the order that prevailed “in the beginning” when God created man, before Adam forfeited his position and glory in the Garden of Eden. There God created an ideal environment within which was a special place for Adam and over which Adam was to be lord under the Lordship of his Creator. Adam was given responsibility for the garden “to dress it and to keep it [Gen. 2:15].” In other words, he was given responsible useful activity in his world. In addition, he enjoyed the fellowship of God in a direct and personal way (see Gen. 3:8).

When Adam sinned, tragic consequences resulted. Creation itself suffered some kind of catastrophe to be corrected in the age to come: “For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now [Rom. 8:19-22 ASV; Cf. Gen. 3:17-19, 22-24].”

In our text for today we have “a new heaven and a new earth.” It is, I believe, what the Savior anticipated when he spoke to his disciples of “the regeneration” in Matthew 19:28; a new habitation for the redeemed descendants of the first Adam. It will be under the administration of the Second Adam, our Lord Jesus Christ, sitting “on the throne of His glory.” And, it is reasonable to assume, as would have been the case with the first Adam and his descendants had sin not entered in, there will be all kinds of useful occupations in the management and maintenance of this glorious new creation. No, I do not think we will sit around all day strumming harps and singing hymns; the worship will be constant and “twenty four - seven” God will be glorified in the bodies and in the spirits of His citizenry. Whatever we may “do,” all will be done to the glory of God.

What i wonderfully refreshing is to knjow that all the negatives sin has brought into what is now “this present evil world,” will be forever banished (cf. v.4, 8, 27). Greater still is the fact that immediate correspondence and communion with God, which Adam had enjoyed in the beginning, will be restored. “Face to face with Christ my Savior” will be more than pious poetry! And, there will be nations (v. 24, 26) and the splendid “holy city” will be its ‘crown jewel’ and administrative center.

From this perspective it is interesting to note that this corresponds what the Savior said to His disciples shortly before He left them: “I go to prepare a place for you…” That place, it would seem, is not God’s heaven (the third heaven - II Cor. 12:2), but a new atmospheric heaven embracing a new earth fulfilling, and indeed surpassing what God prepared for Adam in the beginning. It will be pollution free in every sense of the word, and we may be assured, the Second Adam will not forfeit as he first Adam did; He paid too high a price to obtain it!

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. —Rev. 21:27

Question: Is your name written there?

For a blessed forever,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 20 - 2011.02.12

2011-02-12T08:56:00.000-05:00

ONE WAY OUT

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years… And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” — Rev. 20:1-2, 7-9

There is an interesting phrase that often escapes our attention, which occurs three times in the Book of Revelation. In chapter 2 and v. 27 the “overcomer” is said to be given power over the nations and will “rule them with a rod of iron.” In chapter 12 and v. 5 the “manchild” was brought forth Who “was to rule the nations with a rod of iron.” And again in chapter 19 and verse 15, where we focused our attention last week, it is said of Christ that He will “smite the nations” with with the sharp sword out of His mouth and “rule them with a rod of iron.”

All of these references were to the future when written, and there is no indication throughout history from then ’til now that His rule has been exercised in the anticipated fashion. In other words, they must look forward to His millennial reign. That reign we cannot now discuss in detail, but in general it involves a thousand years of ideal government under the direct administration of Christ Himself, and will be a time of peace, prosperity and glory such as this world has never known since Adam committed his great transgression. The inference, from the passages noted above, is that some nations will survive after Christ’s return and be governed not by choice, but by the benevolent but inflexible rule of the Son of God, hence the significance of the “rod of iron.”

Under Christ’s government there will be not only an ideal administration, but an ideal environment as well. Many old testament passages spell it all out for us, but neither time nor purpose will allow us to consider them here. What is of significance for our purpose is simply to note that for one thousand years the world near and far will experience the glory of God “up close and personal,” as they say—whether they like it or not! It will be the ideal environment in every sense of the word. Satan will be bound (v.2) and all wickedness subdued. All nature will be man’s ally and friend.

Now, the amazing disclosure here is that at the end of that millennium Satan will be loosed and given, as it were, his second chance. Observe first that his heart is unchanged. He goes out “to deceive the nations,” as he deceived Adam in the beginning, and will find a ready following. He mounts an army to assault “the camp of the saints” that numbers “as the sand of the sea!” Multitudes, after generations under the manifest care of the Savior, are ready to join forces against Him. It will be a short war; “fire [will come] down from heaven and devour them.”

But what is the lesson for us? There are those who argue, some professing Christians among them, that man is a victim of his environment. Given an ideal environment, we could eliminate crime and corruption. Others argue, our present government a case in point, that with a proper education the human condition will improve, e.g. While history itself should be enough to prove otherwise, such is not the case. Men insist that humanity is perfectible, if we can just find the key. This solemn chapter is the final proof that such is not the case.

Man in his present state is incurably evil. A powerful verse illustrates the point: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil [Eccl. 8:11, my italics].” This consummation of the millennial reign of Christ will be the final proof. If men are to be changed, it is only by death and resurrection through faith in Christ. If you have never trusted Him, the time to do so is now.

And, if you are a Christian and would see your children in heaven, you must preach the gospel to them, live it before them and pray relentlessly for their salvation. Better schools, a better neighborhood, a better government, bigger, better and costlier toys will not make them good. Only Christ can do that. Evangelize while you can!

This is the fundamental lesson of our “nugget” for today.*

For a real change of heart,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 19 - 2011.02.05

2011-02-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

THE WORD OF HIS POWER

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” —Rev. 19:11-15

There are two white horses and their riders in the book of Revelation. This one, clearly, is Christ. The other, who appears early, in chapter 6, is debated by some, but in my opinion is representative of the spirit of antichrist which, though already in the world (see I John 4:3,) will come into full power during the tribulation period. That rider carries a bow, but no arrows. He has no real authority .

This rider is named: “His name is called The Word of God,” and that identifies Him for us. John had before written, as you will recall, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…all things were made by Him…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth [see John 1:1-14].”

The Word of God is a Person, not a book. We are in the habit of saying the bible is the word of God. Strictly speaking, that is not true. Christ is the Word of God, and the bible directs us to Him. If the written word does not bring us to the Living Word, it avails us nothing. You could read the bible daily all your life, and if you are never brought into a relationship with the One of whom it speaks, you will be more bankrupt than had you never read it at all.

There is no power in the written word beyond its power to introduce us to Christ. However, in the Living Word there is infinite power. Consider, for example, John’s declaration in his gospel, “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” Then look at this vast, incredibly complex and marvelous creation, and consider: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast [Psalm 33:6-9].” Thus does the Psalmist describe the creative power of the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He simply spoke creation into existence! The writer to the Hebrews in the New Testament takes us a step further. Of Christ he says He “upholds all things by the word of His power.” It is the authority of Christ, the living Word of God that keeps the creation intact. He is the cohesive power of the universe.

All of this to lay a foundation for the nugget at hand. Observe the peculiar figure in v. 15, “And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword…” This is not the first occurrence of this figure in the book. At the outset John was given a vision of Christ exalted and in his description of what he saw he said, “…and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword [Rev. 1:16].” We are reminded at once of the verse in the epistle to the Hebrews which reads, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do [Heb. 4:12-13].” Many commentators will refer this to the scriptures, but the pronouns used make it unmistakably clear that it is a Person under consideration.

We are interested in the One Who has and is a “two edged sword.” We have above described His creative edge. Our nugget refers to its destructive edge, with which at the end of the age He will “smite the nations” that have rebelled against Him. The same Word that brought the creation into existence and upholds it by His power is just as capable of destroying it if and when He chooses. This awesome Word is a friend to those who believe on His Name. He will be a terrifying foe to those who rebel against Him.

Which edge of the sword are you facing?

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. —Psalm 46:6

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 18 - 2011.01.29

2011-01-29T09:53:00.000-05:00

“GONE WITH THE WIND”

“For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.” —Rev. 18:17a

Our nugget for today is drawn from the account of the destruction of Babylon. Babylon is an intriguing and somewhat mystifying (to me) concept in scripture. In Old Testament history it is certainly a great city-state that fostered one of the great empires of the ancient world. In Old Testament prophecy it appears at times to be a coalition of nations, for in Isaiah 13 the prophecy of judgment rises from tangible Babylon (v.1) to to the judgment of the “nations” in that cryptic hour, “The Day of the Lord,” (v.6,) wherein He says, “I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible [Isa. 13:1]).” When Isaiah continues his prophetic account of the judgment of the king of Babylon in chapter 14, he cites “Lucifer” as the king (v.12ff), and again cryptically involves “the whole earth” and “all nations” in his sweep (v.11). Babylon, it may be suggested, seems to be emblematic of the worldly ambitions of men and nations apart from respect for God and His word. Prosperity and pleasure are its governing ambitions.

In the chapter from which our nugget is taken, the judgment is again ascribed to a “city,” but if we keep in mind the larger view, there is a lesson here brought into focus which is found often in other parts of scripture. It is the lesson of the folly of living for “the best the world has to offer.” It is simply this, as Solomon mused in his study of life “under the sun” in Ecclesiastes; in a word, all is “vanity.”

The wealth of Babylon, whether one views it as the GNP of a single entity, a world cultural and economic center to emerge (re-emerge) in the last days, or as that of the collective material world economy, is as elusive as a morning fog. In a single day recently I noted two striking items in the new. The Titanic, the invincible “greatest passenger vessel of all time” in the day of her launching not only rests as a shattered hulk and tragic tomb on the ocean floor, but some microscopic creatures are gradually eating away her remains. Scientists are worried that one day even the wreckage will be no more. The second item was with reference to a once popular “Hollywood sex symbol,” now in her nineties, who has just had a leg amputated in an effort to prolong her fading life. Material wealth, power, beauty and fame are all subject to the same relentless process of “change and decay.”

Life—real life—is not measured by how much we have, but how much we will have left when we enter eternity. The Savior said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.[Luke 2:15-21]”

The stuff of Babylon is elusive and deceitful. It cannot guarantee happiness, it will not endure, and “in one hour” God can turn it all to dust again. And, if it does not leave us, we will soon leave it!

In the days of Joshua there was a man named Achan who brought trouble on Israel when his greed prompted him to disobey the word of God and, like Adam in the beginning, to embrace “forbidden fruit.” When Joshua confronted him and demanded a confession, Achan replied, “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it [Joshua 7:21].” When his coveted treasure was discovered, he, his family and all his enterprise was taken away and destroyed. In “one hour” his coveted “riches” had come to nought!

“Babylon,” whether literal or figurative, will fall. Don’t make your life investment in an assured loss.

“Only one life; ‘twill soon be past.

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

For a wise investment strategy,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 17 - 2011.01.22

2011-01-22T22:45:00.002-05:00

BE THOU FAITHFUL

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” — Rev. 17:12-14

I make no pretense of understanding the fine details of this remarkable book of Revelation. However, there is much in the book that is easily understood and that should instruct us as believers now on the basis of that which is to come. One thing is remarkably clear, and a confirmation of other passages in both testaments. That is, that the world in general, until the end of the age, will resist the truth of the Word of God, not only on an individual plane, but at the political level as well. This alone should leave us with no surprise when we see our nation, founded on scriptural principles by men who, if not all born again believers, were nonetheless men who respected the Word of God, now repudiating that word. Today, as far as science, education and politics are concerned, the Bible is irrelevant. As a society we “walk on in darkness,” and that darkness is deepening. That is true not only for our nation, but for the once “christianized” world in general. This is in keeping with the trend predicted in this book, and as also prophesied by the apostle Paul in his epistle to Timothy, “…evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived [II Tim. 3:13].”

Here we are informed that at the end of the age a world ruler will emerge to whom a coalition of nations will cede their authority and power, and who will “make war with the Lamb.” The only way they can make war with Christ is by attacking His church. What is now being done more or less subtly will at last be undertaken overtly and cruelly, as was the case in the beginning under the old Roman empire. While all this is interesting, and many today are declaring that “the end is near” because of the course the world is taking, what is of particular interest to us in this meditation is the spiritual lessons our passage yields.

The first emphasis is on the position and power of Christ, to whom the title is given, “Lord of lords and King of kings.” It is an interesting title, occurring only six times in scripture. In the book of Ezra, king Artaxerxes assumed it for himself (Ezra 7:12). In the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel, rather strikingly, it is applied to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, but with the modifier, a king of kings, whereas in I Timothy 6:15 the Holy Spirit ascribes it to Christ as “the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

“Lord of lords” is applied in scripture only to God in the Old Testament (Deut. 10:17, Ps. 136:3) and only to Christ in the New Testament, (I Tim. 6:15, Rev. 17:14 and 19:16). The clear inference is confirmed in our nugget for today. “The Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” In other words, the believer need have no fear when viewing the downward trend of this present evil world. God has seen it from the beginning, Christ is the Lord of all and He will overcome them.

The second spiritual lesson emerges in the brief description of the followers of Christ: “They that are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” That is the proper definition of a true believe in any age, whether during the tribulation or in the present. “Chosen:” “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;” “Called:” “…that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light [I Pet. 2:9].” “Faithful:” “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful [I Cor. 4:2].” These are the distinctives of true believers then, and so they are today. No matter what direction the world may take, nor what kind of campaign it may make against the truth, it behooves us be faithful to the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (see Phil. 3:14).

Let the following passage be our lodestar as we see the age following the trend God has prophesied:

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, ; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” [I Tim. 6:12-16, my italics]

Anchored for the storm,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 16 - 2011.01.15

2011-01-15T23:39:00.001-05:00

DON’T BE ASHAMED!

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” — Rev. 16:15

In every age of history, however degenerate God has had had a remnant. Our text indicates that even during the tribulation period that will be true. There will be some who will be awakened by His judgments, while others rail against Him (v.11). And, whether under pressure, as then, or in times of comparative ease, as now, the children of God will always be tempted to turn aside from “the good and the right way,” some to avoid the pressure and others to pursue the world’s pleasures.

And in every hour of history, even the darkest, God’s grace and His gracious concern for His own is evident. Here, in the midst of an account of His wrath and the rebellion of His adversaries, God manifests that grace again with this short sentence of warning to those who will hear His voice, pronouncing His blessing upon whoever is willing to listen. First there is a warning: “Behold,I come as a thief.” One careful student of the word has noted that the church will not be on earth at that time, because we are assured in I Thessalonians that the day of the Lord, under consideration in this chapter, will not overtake us as a thief; “Ye are all children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of the darkness [I Thess. 5:4,5].”

It is interesting however to note that the same warning issued for tribulation saints is proclaimed to the church in this dispensation, for in v. 6 of the passage noted above the scripture says, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” This echoes the exhortation of the Savior, “Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” And again, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh [Mt. 4:42, 5:13].” As I am in the habit of saying, ‘If God says a thing once, you need to remember it; if He says it twice, you need to never forget it!’

The blessing of God, now as then, rests upon those who “keep [their] garments, lest [they] walk naked…” The garments are a figure of speech for the believer’s conduct. As believers our “garment” is Christ Himself. Paul writes to the Galatians, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ [Gal. 3:26-27].” Christ is our righteousness, and when we have “put on Christ,” His character will be manifest in our conduct. Thus the apostle Paul speaking in the same vain says, “…knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof [Rom. 13:11-14, my italics].”

For the church, while we are here, we are specifically instructed,

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him [Col. 3:12-17].”

The children of God, in any era in history, are invested with the righteousness of Christ, and so to manifest Him to the watching or warring world. Our failure to do so will result in spiritual “nakedness,” and shame, individually or corporately, should He appear without warning. Thus the apostle John adds his voice, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “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 [II John 2:28-29].”

The hour is late, but stay awake and fully dressed, for “Ye know not what hour your Lord doth come!”

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 15 - 2011.01.08

2011-01-08T15:17:00.000-05:00

“WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE?”

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” — Rev. 15:3-4

Our “nugget” for today is a song, of which there are several in this remarkable book. There is the song sung by the four beasts and the twenty four elders, “Worthy Is the Lamb” [Rev. 5:9]. Then there is the unidentified song of the 144,000 redeemed, known only to them [Rev. 14:3]. This song is sung by those identified as overcomers out of the tribulation, who did not succumb to the deception or demands of the antichrist. It is a reminder that when all the songs of this world have been silenced under the wrath of God, heaven will ring with songs of praise on the part of those who are escorted into the glory of His presence. Music, real music that is, was invented by God and intended for His praise.

This song combines the Song of Moses— a victory song, and the song of the Lamb. The one, which is recorded for us in the Old Testament, extols His power; the other, the text of which remains to be revealed, undoubtedly extols His grace. Together these songs anticipate the day when God will reconcile both Jew and Gentile to Himself in “one body by the cross” (See Eph. 2:14-22!), and celebrate His conquest over all His enemies.

Consider, in part, the Song of Moses:

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.” (Exodus 15:1-7)

Initially a victory song sung by Moses to celebrate the overthrow of Pharaoh, it is a template for God’s final conquest of those who are determined to oppose Him to the end of the age. The deliverance of the overcomers from the clutches of the antichrist is the antitype of which the conquest of the Egyptians was but a sample of God’s indomitable power. “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty!”

The Song of the Lamb is yet to be published, but it, too, will celebrate God’s victory over His enemies. The story is told of a certain aspirant for a throne who vowed that when he became king he would destroy all his enemies. When his throne was finally established, some complained that he had not fulfilled that vow. “Oh,” he said; “I have turned them all into my friends!” So are many of God’s “enemies” conquered by His love and grace, and become worshippers before His throne.

The song of the Lamb undoubtedly centers in that grace of God which is summarized in a great passage in the epistle to the Romans: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [Rom. 5:8-11 italics mine].”

Those who are not on God’s side, though they may not be openly hostile, are yet His enemies, just as in temporal war noncombatant civilians are a part of “the enemy.” Those who reject God’s grace and salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, whether their rejection be through hostility or indifference, are on the wrong side, and subject to His wrath. All will one day worship Him: “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?” But, some will worship by force, while others, like these overcomers, will worship by faith. Which side are you on?

In praise of His power and grace,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 14 - 2011.01.01

2011-01-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

TITLE

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” — Rev. 14:6-7

In this prophetic scenario, the church is gone and the age of grace is over. The world is held in the grip of Satan’s governors and is facing the impending wrath of God. Yet in that late, dark hour God still extends His mercy to a rebellious world. An angel takes up where the church left off, inviting sinners to escape “the wrath to come.” And, that invitation is extended “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue”—as far as God intended for the gospel of His grace, but the demand is greater.

In this dispensation God is chiefly represented to us in terms of His loving Fatherhood; then it will be in terms of His position as Creator and Judge; His power and His justice. The emphasis of the gospel of the grace of God is on the love of God (Jn. 3:16, e.g.). During the tribulation period, when God’s day of grace has ended and His wrath is about to be poured out, the emphasis is on fear of God. That is the difference between the everlasting gospel and the gospel of grace. Yet, grace stands in the shadows even then, for the cry goes out, carried not by the church, but by the angel “in the midst of heaven” urging sinners to recognize the awful danger and the power of His wrath, and to pay the price, whatever it might be, to escape His everlasting judgment.

God’s love has its limits; it is restricted by His holiness, Who is “of purer eyes than can look upon sin.” In that late hour, those who have been indifferent to His love are solicited to fear Him. The world is reminded, in Old Testament terms, that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom [Prov. 9:10 + see Psalm 111:10; Prov. 10:27; 14:27 and study Prov. 1:23-33!].”

It behooves us as believers to note that love and fear are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are concomitant; they belong together. The Spirit of God commands, “”O love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer [Ps. 31:23].” Yet in another place He exhorts, “O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him [Ps. 34:9], having declared just before, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. A concept of divine love that turns God into a “big daddy” figure is a distortion of truth. He does not cease to be the Mighty God, and we do well to respect His majesty.

As this “nugget” goes out on this New Year’s day, may we make a fresh commitment to revere and love Him more than ever before. And may He be pleased to give us the grace to keep that resolution. To be sure, the “new year” means little to the God who is the author of time, Who knows the end from the beginning, and to Whom one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day (II Pet. 3:8). We, however, are bound by time and mark hours, days, weeks, months and years, and it is a good thing to mark a milepost now and then and pause to reflect on the past and contemplate the future.

So I say again, let us determine to love Him more and to approach Him with reverential fear and give Him glory, lest we find ourselves inadvertently “castaways” (I Cor. 9:27). His power and glory are great beyond definition, who “made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Privileged to hear and respond to the gospel of His grace, and confident because of our relationship through Him Who died for us and rose again, let us through whatever the days ahead may hold, “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” until He calls us into the glory of His presence and love is subordinated to fear.

“…That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God…” — Col.1:10

For a prosperous new year,

"Pastor" Frasier

Christmas Interlude - 2010.12.25

2010-12-25T20:39:00.000-05:00

“…when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Galatians 4:4-5

Someone has effectively paraphrased this text, “When the time was right…” When the time was right from the divine perspective, centuries, indeed millennia of waiting, anticipation and wondering were rewarded by the incarnation of the Son of God. When the time was right, He came to redeem.

Before He left with His mission accomplished He promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself…” And when the time is right, He will come again to receive His own into their everlasting habitation. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our conﬁdence stedfast unto the end" (1 Cor 15:58; Heb 3:14)

That is what Christmas is all about.

__________________

Dear Friends:

An annual greeting in the Savior’s name! For me it has been a pretty routine year. I am still working part time in the produce department of a local supermarket two or three days a week on average and 4-5 hours at a stretch. It gets me out and gives me needed exercise. My health remains good, given the number of years this body has served me. The family is well at present, with Dave and Linda living about twenty minutes from me and Sue and Doug in Littleton, MA. And, I hear from son-in-law Ange in France regularly, as well. The Lord is good. It was my privilege to fill the pulpit again for a friend in Clermont, FL for three prayer meetings and two Sundays, October 19-November 4. Then over Thanksgiving, I travelled with David and Linda to spend the holiday from Wednesday through Sunday with Sue and Doug. We had a fine trip in good weather and it was a great joy to be with the whole family again. They came over last Saturday to be with me through Christmas, and will leave Sunday morning to return home. We were having a snowstorm here as I wrote this letter and ultimately we got about two feet! So, we are having a “white Christmas.” We get “lake effect” snow from Lake Erie, and can get a lot of it in storms that occur before the lake freezes over. Now I trust your Christmas holiday has been filled with the joy of the Lord, and that the new year will be blessed with His tender mercies.

Sincerely in Christ,

“Pastor” Frasier

Revelation 13 - 2010.12.18

2010-12-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

READY? OR NOT!

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” —Rev.13:11-17

The chapter from which our “nugget” for today is taken, considered by some to be one of the most difficult in all the Book of Revelation to interpret, predicts the emergence at the end of the age of universal world government under the joint control of two personalities called “the beast” and “the false prophet.” Behind that government is the invisible “power behind the throne,” the dragon (v.2) which is Satan (Rev.12:9).

These two nefarious personalities will combine their talents to exercise absolute control over the political and spiritual life of all mankind. The objective will be to obtain for Satan the authority and worship that belong to the Creator alone, which he coveted before the world began (see Isa. 14:12-14) and which he attempted to obtain by the seduction of Adam in the Garden of Eden.

The leverage in this last campaign will be twofold. First, a remarkable idol will be manufactured, “the image of the beast (v.14),” which will be invested with life and the power to speak (v.15). A decree will be issued, “worship this image, or pay with your life.” As improbable as this may seem, it happened once before on a smaller and less remarkable scale, when king Nebuchadnezzar made “an image of gold” and commanded that “all people, nations and languages” should “fall down and worship the image that Nebuchadnezzar…had set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace [Cf Dan. 3:1-7ff].” Worship or die!

The second demand will be in the political/economic realm. A requirement will be imposed upon all, at at every level and in every category of society that they receive a mark of identification with the satanic ruler either in hand or forehead, in order to buy or sell (v. 17). This mark will imply allegiance to the government and its self exalting head, and without it no commerce can be engaged. Without it one will be unable to buy groceries or other necessities of life, travel any significant distance nor obtain medical assistance, for example. To refuse it will be to sign one’s death warrant by starvation and disease.

If you read commentaries written more than fifty years ago, there will be no conjecture how this decree could be executed or enforced, but today with the UPC, credit cards, and computer chips implanted in our pets carrying their identification and medical history, the awesome possibility of some form of universal control is no longer science fiction. The first universal credit card was introduced in the 1950’s, and that technology alone has mushroomed since. What if you could not buy or sell without one?! And what if the only one you could use was issued by the government and subject to its conditions? And what if it was literally “under your skin?” Friend, that day is coming.

Now in the “what if” department, what if you were confronted with the dictum, “accept the mark and bow the knee to the image of the beast, or die.” Would you submit for survival’s sake, or suffer for Christ’s sake? Most Christians whose doctrinal views include the “pre-tribulational rapture” of the church will not think it important to face the question, because we are sure we will not be here in that awful day. For us, we think, it is a non-issue.

However, there is a contemporary parallel. What are we willing to suffer for Christ’s sake? The Lord Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels [Luke 9:23-26].” And there was a time earlier in the history of the church when those who declared for Christ did so literally at the risk of their lives. That is still true in some parts of the world today.

It would be well for us to ask ourselves from time to time, “What is the real nature of my worship of Christ? What is really more important to me: my self-gratification, or His glory?” And who knows whether, even before the rapture, the cost of being a real Christian may rise dramatically! Would we be willing to pay the price? How we are living for Him today will give a clue!

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 12 - 2010.12.11

2010-12-11T20:34:00.001-05:00

OVERCOMERS

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” —Rev. 12:10-11

The Spirit of God informs the believer that we are facing a spiritual battle, “Not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,” or, as another translation renders it, “in the heavenlies.” The head of this campaign is identified in v. 9 as “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan.” Many professing Christians, I fear, give little thought to this adversary, and some regard him as a fiction. Scripture clearly identifies both the commander and the campaign, warns us of the struggle and designates our equipment for victory in the inevitable battle, assuring us that “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds [II Cor. 10:4].” God has equipped us for victory.

The struggle faced by believers on earth is a reflection of a great spiritual conflict in heaven (Cf. Rev. 12:7), in the account of which the resources for the believer’s victory are outlined. This disclosure constitutes our nugget for today. Three basic elements are delineated.

The first is the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus Christ is foundational to our victory over sin and death, both in general and in the particular conflicts we encounter after conversion. It delivers us from the judgment of God and from the subsequent harassments of Satan. When God announced His judgment of Egypt in the death of the firstborn, in the book of Exodus, He instructed the Israelites to slay a lamb for every household and to strike the blood upon the doorway of their houses to mark them as His own. Then He gave them the remarkable promise, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you [Ex. 12:13].” Israel emerged from the plague unscathed, not by might nor by merit but, by simple faith in “the blood of the lamb.” So it is with the New Testament believer; distinguished by the blood of “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,” we triumph not by any stratagem of ours, but by the sacrifice of the Son of God. The songwriter was right; “There is wonderful power in the blood.”

For this conflict, however, there is more. “And by the word of their testimony.” That word is the believer’s agreement with, conformity to and employment of the Word of God. Instructing the Ephesians in this solemn matter, the apostle Paul describes the Christian’s armor for the conflict, which includes only one offensive weapon: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [Eph. 6:17].” Believers who neglect the scriptures are defeated already, and are no threat to Satan’s purposes. They have little or no significant testimony for Christ. They may, by grace, be saved, but are bound to be “ashamed before Him” when He comes.

And there is yet a third element here. “They loved not their lives unto death.” They are not necessarily literally slain for His cause, but their relationship to Him is such that if His will requires it, they are ready. This equates with a theme often heard in preaching campaigns years ago, but not so often now, “full surrender.” Most of us are, sadly, not only unprepared to die for Him, but little inclined to live for Him. “All that is in the world” allures us far more than the cause of Christ, and the progress of the gospel suffers for it.

Those whose relationship to Christ incorporates a functioning faith in His blood, a vibrant biblically based testimony for Christ and who love Him more than life itself are identified as “overcomers.” Recall the use of that term in the letters to the seven churches at the beginning of this book. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God [2:7].” “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death [2:11].” “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it [2:17].” “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations… [2:26].” “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life… [3:5].” “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out…and I will write upon him my new name [3:12].” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne [3:21].” Clearly, to be an overcomer can be costly but, it pays eternal dividends!

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” —Rev. 21:7

Food for thought,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 11 - 2010.12.04

2010-12-04T23:11:00.001-05:00

ONE DOOR, AND ONLY ONE

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” —Rev. 11:15-18

The sounding of the seventh trumpet anticipates the regency of the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Christ. When His redemptive work was finished He “…sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified [Heb. 10:12-14].” From that day till the day prophesied in our “nugget,” history has been preparing the world for His millennial reign. “The day of His appearing will come at last.”

In anticipation of that great day, the senate of heaven engages in an act of worship, giving thanks to “the Lord God almighty,” the Lord of heaven and earth, for the exhibition of His power and the exercise of His authority. What is now anticipated by faith will soon be confirmed by sight. For now “we see not yet all things put under Him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man [Heb. 2:8b-9].”

For now that “glory and honor” which affirms His right to reign as Lord of all is hidden from the sight of those who are clouded by unbelief, but it gives assurance of the great day coming to those who by the eye of faith anticipate the time of His coronation described in our nugget for today. And, as it generates worship by the twenty four elders in heaven, so should it do now in the part of every redeemed soul on earth.

Several things follow which confirm great truths that are prominent in the scriptures. For example, the incorrigibility of the willfully unregenerate, the eternal reward of the redeemed and the final judgment of the unrepentant.

“”The nations were angry,” and God’s wrath is come and “the time of the dead, that they should be judged…” When that day arrives, the sin hardened majority of mankind will receive the tragic and terrible reward of unbelief, corporately and individually, and carry their outrage into the hell initially prepared for the devil and his angels. Even death itself will provide no refuge from the final judgment. The Savior said, “God sent not His Sin into the world to

condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God [John 3:17-18].” Here is the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind; not that man sinned, but that a remedy having been provided for that original transgression and its awful consequences, men should continue in sin rebellious and unrepentant until the end.

Today even some professing Christians seem to entertain the vain hope that God will make some kind of exception for some, if not all, of those who have rejected the Savior. Not so, our text affirms, and in so doing confirms the declaration of the Son of God, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me [John 14:6]”

Happily (for those not yet converted,) the day anticipated in our text has not yet arrived, and our day remains a “day of salvation,” offering hope to all the lost who will “repent and believe the gospel.” For those who will, there is a glorious alternative. The King will “give reward to [His] servants the prophets, and to [His] saints, and to them that fear [His] name, small and great.”

There are none so insignificant that He will not reward their faith, and no one so great as not to need and benefit by it. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” To continue in stubborn unbelief is to invite everlasting destruction, and that without excuse.

For the believer, serve the King until He comes, so that you may rejoice with Him when He comes!

For Him Who is “the Truth”,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 10 - 2010.11.27

2010-11-27T21:17:00.002-05:00

FINISHED

“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” — Rev. 10:5-6

God finishes what He starts. With respect to His grand work of creation we read, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made [Gen. 1:31; 2:1-3].” When He finished the work, He rested.

When God, the Son came into the world to rescue the sin fractured creation, He finished what He started. In His great prayer to the Father He declared, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Thus from the sacrificial altar of the cross He cried, “It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. [John 17:4].”

Concerning the consummation of the Divine plan of the ages, Daniel the prophet said, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy [Dan. 9:24, my italics].” And the apostle Paul echoes, “For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth [Rom. 9:28]. To this we might add the prophetic words of the Lord Jesus, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened [Mt. 24:21-22].” In other words, God will not only finish His work of redemption and judgment, but He will finish it in timely fashion, affording deliverance for those who have trusted the Savior and everlasting destruction for those who reject Him. Then, and not until then, when the “mystery of God” is finished, God will rest again.

Two things emerge from this in my mind. First, if you are a believer, but sometimes bewildered and perplexed by the course of the age and tempted to doubt, fear not. “Be…confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ [Phjil. 1:6].” He will finish His work in you even as He finished His work for you. All the redeemed are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls [I Pet. 1:5-9].” He will finish the work!

Second, we must aspire to finish our work for Him. God has a purpose for every believer in the body of Christ, and our daily plea should be, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do.?” In general, we are to “shine as lights,” even as the apostle counseled the Philippian believers, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life [Phil. 2:12-16a].”

By His grace and for His glory may we able able to say in that day, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing [II Tim. 4:7-8].”

For His glory and our eternal good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 9 - 2010.11.20

2010-11-20T21:24:00.000-05:00

HARDENED IN SIN

“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” — Rev. 9:20-21

In the gospel of Luke the Savior gives the account of “The rich man and (the beggar) Lazarus.” The rich man, you may recall, ended up in hell (not because he was rich, but because he was a self centered unbeliever,) and in hell, among other things he became a would-be evangelist. Communing with Abraham and assured that there was no relief and no reprieve for him, he cried, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” “Nay, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent. And [Abraham] said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they he be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31)

That this judgment is correct has been proved ever since “One rose from the dead.” Confronted with the testimony of the risen Christ the vast majority of mankind continue to reject the gospel and its awesome testimony. The principle is that the heart of man is conditioned from within, and not from without. That principle applies with reference to our “nugget” for today, which anticipates the condition of the human heart till the very end of the age.

We are often tempted to think that if men will not repent when confronted with the testimony of the unconditional love of God, they may be more responsive if confronted with His judgments. Though now and then there may be exceptions, this passage proves, in general, the opposite.

Here, in context, we are given prophetic insight into the tribulation period. The sixth of the seven angels sounds his trumpet of judgment and a holocaust is unleashed which results in the annihilation of one third of the world’s population at that time. Think of it! One in every three persons on the face of the whole earth will die in a brief space of time. If it happened today, according to “the world population clock,” two billion three hundred million souls would die! Surely that will send the world to its knees!

In fact, the stunning reaction is just the opposite. Just two categories are outlined for us, but they are enough to reveal how the human heart is confirmed in sin.

The first is the persistence of pagan religion. “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk [v.20]. The living Lord, risen from the dead after having borne our sins in His own body on the cross is consistently rejected in favor of idols associated with the occult and the demonic. We are seeing those trends in our own culture today as Bible based Christianity is rejected by many in favor of religious fantasy, if not overt idolatry.

The second, and parallel category is moral degeneracy. Despite staggering circumstances, there is no moral re-direction in our society as a whole. Murder, sorcery (drug use), fornication (which is the Bible’s general term for sexual corruption,) and thievery will continue to be dominant in the world until the curtain rings down on this dispensation and Christ returns to take center stage.

What does it mean for you and me? For one thing, it means that Christians who entertain the vain hope that spiritual and moral reformation can come to any society through its political process are deluded and either ignorant of the scriptures or not convinced of their veracity.

Second, we should take note that “now is the day of salvation.” If we would see our friends, loved ones, neighbors escape the endless torments of hell, now is now is the time to warn them, and we are the ones who should carry the message to them—from the word of God. While we have the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit present to invest them with power, there is hope for the lost. After the rapture of the church there will be little hope, and those who may be persuaded will have to make their decision under terrible circumstances. Surely, “now is the accepted time.”

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 8 - 2010.11.13

2010-11-13T08:40:00.000-05:00

FRAGRANCE or FIRE?

“And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense,which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” —Rev. 8:3-5

One of the fascinating things in scripture is the revelation of God’s power to use the same instrument to accomplish blessing on the one hand, or judgment on the other. The “two edged sword” of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is a prime example. One edge of the sword is surgical, so to speak, suited to cutting away the cancer of sin and introducing the convicted sinner to the healing power of Christ. But that same word will be the instrument of judgment when men who have ignored or rejected it stand before Christ in the last day.

Much in nature illustrates the same principle. Fire can melt ore and make for the removal of impurities, refining gold and silver, for example, or it can destroy and consume. Water is the same; it is essential to life, but when it comes as a flood, it can destroy life, and everything in its path. Many other examples could be cited, but these serve to illustrate the point. In the text before us there is a striking illustration in the censer in the hand of the angel in v. 3.

A quick review in the Old Testament book of Leviticus will disclose the divinely ordained use of the censer in worship. Aaron was instructed to use it in conjunction with the sin offering on the Day of Atonement: “And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not [Lev. 16:12-13].” Thus engaged, the censer was an instrument of worship and of life.

In our text for today, it is in this sense that the censer is employed at first, when it ignited the incense and gave a divinely ordained fragrance and significance to the prayers of the saints. It was an agent of worship and blessing in the presence of God. But immediately the same instrument becomes an accessory to the outpouring of God’s wrath upon a prayerless and godless world. Filled with fire from the golden altar which is before the throne of God and cast into the earth, it initiates “voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake,” preface to the awful judgments of the “seven trumpets” of the tribulation period.

A series of convulsions follow, employing the forces of nature on earth and elements in the heavens to bring chaos to the planet and incredible misery to its inhabitants. The Lord Jesus anticipated these things when He said, “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved…[Mat. 24:21-22].”

Man ignores the fact, too often also ignored by many a professing Christian, that the God who made the world and its environs has unlimited control over it. A man who identifies himself as a Christian told me today how it took millions of years to carve the canyon at Watkins Glen in Vermont. That kind of thinking comes from faith—faith in the philosophical scientists who, having rejected the idea of an omnipotent God as creator of all, cannot explain earth phenomena without interposing vast reaches of time, vague and unverifiable, to “explain” the undiscoverable. The simple fact is that should He choose to do so, the God of creation could carve Watkins Glen—or the Grand Canyon, for that matter, with His little finger in less time than it has taken to write this sentence. The instruments of His power are “two edged,” and men will experience either their deliverance or their destruction depending on what they have done with the Gospel of His dear Son.

Add your prayers to those of these tribulation saints whose worship will rise as a fragrance to God. Not prayers limited to pleas for physical welfare and temporal concerns, but prayers that incorporate worship and rise for His glory.

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Apologizes

2010-11-08T22:46:00.002-05:00

I want to apologize for not having post the last few newsletters from Pastor Frasier.

I have gotten overly consumed in my own world and have neglected to post what has been sent my way.

My plan is to post the past newsletters and and get caught up todate tonight.

Sorry for letting you and your readers down Pastor.

Godspeed,

Wesley

Revelation 7 -2010.10.30

2010-10-30T23:08:00.000-04:00

THEREFORE…

“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” — Rev. 7:13-15

In a certain place the Lord Jesus told the story of two debtors, in which He asked an interesting question.

“There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged [Luke 7:41-43].”

Meditating upon the seventh chapter of Revelation from which our text for today has been chosen, this passage came to mind. Our “nugget” relates to “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,” standing before the throne of God and of the Lamb of God, “clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (v.9), who are engaged in an unending service of praise to God.

A hasty reading of the passage might leave one thinking these are “the redeemed of all ages,” won to Christ through the missionary efforts of the church fulfilling the “great Commission.” In fact, that is not the case. The church has been sluggish in its pursuit of its God-given task, slipshod and half hearted in its testimony before the watching world and miserly in its service and worship before God.

These, in fact, are “tribulation saints,” converted to Christ after the rapture of the church. They were not privileged to escape the tribulation, as we so earnestly hope to be, but were brought through it. In and through their suffering they were truly sanctified—”washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Now they are solaced in His presence and “serve [God] day and night in His temple.” Theirs is not a weekend ministry, it is continual and unwearied. His praise is their supreme motive and highest joy. They understand the magnitude of their deliverance and are moved to everlasting gratitude, not in word only.

When I reflect on this, I am ashamed at the superficiality of my worship and service for Christ. In terms of physical suffering, their deliverance is far greater than mine. Perhaps that is the reason why they seem to “love Him more.” But in terms of spiritual reality our deliverance is the same. In a great passage the Psalmist caught the significance and prayed, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy Name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell [Ps. 86:11-13, italics mine].”

Because we are comfortable in this world, surrounded by creature comforts and having access to ‘all its pleasures,’ our minds and our hearts are distracted from the true business of the redeemed, the cause of Christ suffers and the Commission remains unfulfilled.

Recently I happened on a reporter interviewing one of the world’s wealthiest women about her philanthropy. In the course of the interview he remarked on the fact that she was simply attired and not “wearing jewelry and cosmetics.” She replied, “I am not really interesting in things; I am interested in people.” The thought crossed my mind, with tears, that should be the testimony of every true believer—but it isn’t.

Though we have suffered little, we have been forgiven much. Oh that we might love Him more!

Take the world, but give me Jesus, All its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever, Through eternal years the same.

(chorus)
Oh, the height and depth of mercy! Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption, Pledge of endless life above!
—Fanny Crosby

Saved by His matchless grace,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 6 - 2010.10.23

2010-10-23T23:05:00.000-04:00

NO PLACE TO HIDE?

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” — Rev. 6:15-17

The Revelation anticipates “the wrath to come” (see I Thess. 1:10) and the initiation of that wrath, in its earth history at the end of the age is introduced in this sixth chapter of the book under the opening of the sixth seal. It is the infliction of God’s temporal judgments on a rebellious planet bringing “…great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [Matt. 24:21-22].” All of earth’s natural disasters (except the flood of Noah) pale to insignificance by comparison. Three awesome things are to be noted here.

First, there will be no exception. Neither power, prestige, prosperity or position will insulate men from the coming judgment, nor will any “class” distinction. The world that rejects the Savior will be leveled in the day of His fierce anger. In a striking parallel passage, written prophetically long before our “nugget,” He declared:

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. (Isa. 13:9-13)

Second, is the surprising evidence that the damned will recognize at once the source of the judgment that befalls them. “Him that sitteth on the throne…the wrath of the Lamb.” Is it not amazing that those who have had no recognition of the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God,” will instinctively recognize Him in that awful hour? Men may ignore Him, deny Him, “dismiss” Him, but they cannot effectively exclude Him from their final hour.

And that leads to the third sobering thought implied in this short passage. There will be no place to hide. In the day of His wrath, being buried by an earthquake will be deemed better than facing His judgment, and the dens and the rocks of the mountains will be as transparent as window glass and provide less security! None will be able to stand before Him.

The lesson is obvious: the time to hide is now, and the place to hide from the wrath of the Lamb is in the shelter of the blessed “Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world [John 1:29].”

How well did the poet put it:

Oh, safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly,
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine would I be,
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.
—W.O.Cushing

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

For eternal welfare,

"Pastor" Frasier

Revelation 5 - 2010.10.16

2010-10-16T23:12:00.002-04:00

WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” — Rev. 5:9-10

Our selected text for last week celebrates the glory of God the Father as creator and ruler of all. This verse, for this week, celebrates the glory of the Son of God as Redeemer. “Thou art worthy” is the identical cry to both, and surely hints at the co-equality of the Father and the Son. The Son shares the glory of the Father as creator, because of His cooperation in creation: “All things were made by Him: and without Him was not anything made that was made [Jn. 1:3].” The Father shares the glory of the Son in redemption, because “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world [I Jn. 4:14].”

John, author of the gospel, the epistle and this book of the Revelation, transported in spirit to heaven to behold these things, “wept much” (tears in heaven!) “because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon (v.3).” Finally, the Lion-Lamb, the God-man emerges as the only One qualified to open the book and initiate the advancement of the final stages of God’s redemptive enterprise. How well spoke the Savior when He said, “without Me ye can do nothing [Jn. 15:5].” (Pastors and churches, take note!) He has no peers.

What qualifies Him is His work as redeemer, and though there is so much else here worthy of consideration, we must focus on this, without which man would have no future and no hope and scorning of which leaves men no alternative but to experience the wrath of God and eternal punishment. Let us consider then:

The price of redemption. “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us by Thy blood…” We are so familiar with it that I fear its magnitude eludes us. The only One in the entire universe below or heaven above who is identified as “worthy,” other than God the Father, “humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” by an incredible process and at an incomprehensible price, to effect our salvation. Nothing more fully measures the devastation of sin; sin we so often take so lightly, and the world has nearly purged from its vocabulary. And nothing more fully measures the love of God that we also incline to take for granted, who have been “washed from our sins in His own blood [Rev. 1:5].”

Then there is the power of redemption: “Thou…hast redeemed us to God.” We who were once “dead in trespasses and sins,” and “having no hope, and without God in the world” are “made near by the blood of Christ.” Sin left us on the precipice of the lowest hell; He has lifted us to the highest heights to stand before and enjoy the fellowship of our glorious Creator, unafraid and unashamed. And this with not a finger raised on our part to merit it! “Jesus paid it all!”

Again, there is reference to the province of redemption: “Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation.” No prejudice on His part excludes anyone from all the benefits of this glorious deliverance. Those who are excluded are those who exclude themselves by spurning God’s love and grace, discrediting His word, preferring “the pleasures of sin for a moment” to the glory that follows the reproach of Christ.

Finally there is a hint of the prospect of redemption for those who become followers of the Lamb. By His grace alone we are now “kings and priests” in our relation to God, combining in one the two greatest offices which were forever separate in the old economy. As kings we will be involved in His administrative work, and as priests take the lead in His worship in the ages to come. What Adam lost has been restored, and we shall reign with Him on a redeemed earth through the millennium to come, in a world free from sin, sickness, suffering, sorrow—and death.

With all this, the representatives in glory, the twenty four elders and the four mystical beasts in an ecstasy of praise “sung a new song,” a song never heard and never equalled here on earth; a song of praise to “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!!” It should set our hearts singing His praises now!

For His glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier