Dec 23, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Zechariah 3

“‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.”

Zechariah 3:8 (NIV)

This little chapter takes us into the heavenly realms and into the mystery of our ancient enemy accusing us before our God day and night (Rev 12:10). The person being accused is the high priest in Jerusalem at the time of the return from the exile, which means that he is the representative of all God’s people. He needs the LORD to take his side against our accuser, he needs his sin taken away, and he needs a clean turban on his head – for in order to make intercession for the people, he must be Holy to the LORD (Ex 39:30). We are told that this man Joshua and his associates are symbolic of the Branch to come. This is referring to the Messiah, to the Holy One of Israel, to the Anointed One, to Jesus son of Mary who came to save his people from their sin. And in a single day, the day our Saviour died, the LORD removed the sin of the land.

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him.

Our Prophet, our Priest, our King!

Dec 23, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Daniel 9

“while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.”

Daniel 9:21 (NIV) 

This chapter can provoke heated discussions (arguments) among Christians because of the different interpretations of verses 24 thru 27. If we only read Daniel 9 for the sake of the last 4 verses we can miss the “Christmas” connections in this passage. This Gabriel who appeared to Daniel is the same angel who appeared to Zechariah to tell him that he would be a dad in his old age, and who struck Zechariah mute for his questions. This same angel appeared to Mary to tell her that she would be a virgin mom in her young age. Not only is this the same angel, but his message is about the same Saviour. Gabriel is sent to answer Daniel’s prayer for restoration of Israel, for forgiveness for the people, and foretells the coming of the Anointed One who will do the restoring. Luke records this Gabriel appearing to Zechariah and Mary to announce the coming of this Anointed One. Christmas is a celebration of the arrival of the Anointed One (Messiah), and as Gabriel told Daniel, He was put to death and we are now in the time period waiting for Him to appear in power. This passage when read with the account of Christ’s birth in mind is a powerful reminder that God holds the times and rulers in His hands. May we have the same passion that Daniel did in our prayers for God to listen!
To forgive! To hear! To act!

Come Lord Jesus Come.

Dec 22, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Isaiah 7

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”
(which means “God with us”)”

Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)

Matthew’s “editorial comment” on the contents of the communication between the angel and Joseph takes us back to Isaiah 7. I wonder if you believe that the bible is inspired by God Himself, that God wrote these words down for us, using the writers as pens for His Words? I believe that, and that belief causes me to see this “editorial comment” as revelation by God’s Spirit as to the nature of the prophecy of Isaiah, given to King Ahaz 700 years before Mary’s pregnancy. The prophecy was given to King Ahaz, as a sign to encourage Ahaz to trust God. The prophecy seemed to be fulfilled by the activities recorded in Isaiah 8, and yet there was more to this prophecy than just the local fulfillment. There was a greater fulfillment to come- the birth of the Messiah, the King who would deliver His people from their sin. Ahaz didn’t believe, he didn’t trust God despite the local fulfillment of the sign (which by itself is amazing that in 700 BC Isaiah could name the gender of a baby not yet conceived). What about us? Do we believe? Will we trust God today with everything- big or small? For we have been given a sign, a sign of God’s love, God’s care and God’s grace for us!

Dec 22, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Psalm 2

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:”

Matthew 1:1 (NIV) 

Messiah is the English transliteration of the Hebrew word masiah.

Christ is the English transliteration of the Greek word christos.

The NIV has decided to translate the Greek word Christos with the English word Messiah.

Can get a little confusing but both these words mean anointed or anointed one. The bible teaches us that God is the God of heaven and the God of earth. He lives away up there, and yet He is near to us. He anoints (he forms them in their mother’s womb, and raises them up in their society, and gives them everything they need to accomplish their role) individuals to carry out His good purposes for humans on earth. Psalm 2 is one of the clearest passages on this truth about God’s involvement in human activities. He is enthroned in heaven and yet has installed His king on Zion. Be wise this Christmas and serve this King, serve this King with fear, and celebrate His rule. Bow at the feet of Jesus Christ – right now and worship Him, kiss His feet, and line your life up with His commands.

Dec 21, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 139

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

Psalm 139:13 (NIV) 

Just read the psalm and let its truth soak into every pore, let its spirit of praise wash over your head and bring sorely needed refreshment, let the gracious specific personal attention of your LORD -over every detail of your life- sooth your anxious thoughts and calm your troubled spirit, and then and only then in truth and in Spirit ask Him to lead you in the way everlasting, and praise the God of the womb.

Dec 21, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Samuel 11&12

“Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.”

2 Samuel 12:24 (NIV)

Matthew’s genealogy doesn’t name Bathsheba, but calls her “Uriah’s wife” which separates her from the other 3 ladies in this account. It has to be intentional which raise the question “why?”. It might be because Bathsheba is the only one of the 4 women in the genealogy, who did not undertake a specific courageous action.  Tamar acted courageously in entrapping her father-in-law, Rahab acted courageously in hiding the spies, Ruth acted courageously in her actions towards Naomi and Boaz. However we must notice that calling her Uriah’s wife immediately fixes our minds on the sin that occurred, (not Bathsheba’s sin, for she is powerless in the Samuel account, but David’s sin) and therefore we come face to face with GRACE. Other names on this list are names of evil wicked unbelieving men, but none of the names connect to God’s GRACE like Uriah’s wife! In that sense this notation is the clearest indicator of what this list represents. This list resounds with the sound of GRACE, every name, every person, every story, over each specific situation is God’s GRACE. God’s unmerited favour. May we learn from David’s example as he wept for his infant son. “Perhaps God will be gracious” is what David told his servants. Perhaps indeed! When we see GRACE in action, we should cry out for more! This list is GRACE in action. May we weep for more!

Dec 20, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Numbers 12

 “he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.”

Numbers 12:6 (NIV)

God speaks thru prophets. He speaks to them a message for His people and they speak His message to His people. Serious business – with dire consequences for those who claim to speak for God, but speak out of their imaginations. We generally think of prophets as people who foretell the future, which is only part of their work. The bulk of what the prophets spoke and wrote are written that we might trust God, believe His Word is true and live our lives accordingly. The Scriptures contain some of the Words that God gave some of His prophets – all the words we need for salvation, but not all the Words He gave His prophets. Exodus records that His people begged for God to speak to a prophet, who would then speak to them, they were terrified of God speaking to them directly. It seems in this day and age that many want direct revelation from God, instead of reading the Words He has given us in the bible for Life. God treated Moses differently then all of His prophets, for He spoke to Moses face to face. The LORD spoke to all of His other prophets, Old or New Testament thru visions and dreams. As I read this chapter and ponder how God spoke to various people throughout the ages, my mind goes to our Lord- it is clear that He had a direct line to the Father, the Father heard Him, answered Him, and the Lord heard the Father and obeyed Him. But what did face to face mean in Moses day? From what I see in Scripture our Lord came from heaven (face to face) lived, prophesied, died and rose from the grave without any face to face (except the Mount of Transfiguration), BUT then ascended on high – back to face to face.

May we listen to Him- God’s last Word to all of us.

Dec 20, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Ruth 4

“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.”

Ruth 4:13 (NIV) 

Ruth is the 3rd woman named in Matthew’s genealogy of our Lord, and once again she is a woman of action, or rather a woman whose righteous actions continued the line of Judah from whom the Messiah would come. If we only read Ruth 4 it seems as if Boaz is doing the heavy lifting in the story, but those who have read the beginning of this little book, know that Ruth is the hardworking one. She left her family and made Naomi’s family her family, she left her gods, and made Naomi’s God her God. She came to a foreign land and gleaned as a beggar in the field. A widow, a foreigner, no money, powerless, defenseless and yet she took action, she listened to her mother-in-law, and she took a risk, she was forward, even brazen and God rewarded her action by redeeming her thru Boaz, and then God enabled her to conceive and thru her continued the line of Judah. Her little boy was King David’s grampa! We sometimes make the mistake of thinking because it happened in the bible- it had to happen. That’s not a correct line of thought. God would have continued the line of Judah with or without Ruth, but He did it thru Ruth, thru a powerless woman, who made one faith decision after another. Who took one action and then another. She by her actions brought us our Saviour.  We are going to see Ruth in the next age, in the City of our God, and we are going to worship with her the Messiah that came thru her. 

Dec 19, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Genesis 41

 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

Genesis 41:15 (NIV)

This dream is all about food! Not sugar plums, but grain.

Notice that the dream was given to an “unbeliever”, and that the dream warned of impending disaster.

Notice that the interpreter was a man named Joseph, a man whose brothers called “that dreamer”
(Ge 37:19)

Notice that Joseph points to God as the One who knows the answers to dreams. Surely God is the God of dreams!

It is fascinating to consider that our dream world – a very mysterious world to us- is the domain of our God. He is truly God and is God over all things including our dreams. 

The purpose of this dream is revealed in the chapters that follow, which describe the salvation of Abraham’s descendants from starvation. In chapter 48 we read that Judah, his son Perez, and his sons Hezron and Hamul were among Jacob’s descendants that were saved by Joseph, thus continuing the line of Judah from whom the Ruler would come. Joseph was made the regent of Egypt, because God gave the Pharaoh a dream, and gave Joseph the answer, which gave the world hope. Hope that God would keep His promise to Abraham, hope that God would bless the world through the offspring of Abraham. The hope of the Messiah.

Dec 19, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Genesis 38

“Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron”

Matthew 1:3 (NIV)

Tamar is the 1st of 3 women named in our Lord’s genealogy, a 4th woman is mentioned but not named. The account of Tamar and the line of Judah continuing into the future is one of several  accounts in the bible that record women backfilling for men not willing to live righteously. 

Judah followed Esau’s sin of marrying an ungodly woman, who produced 3 sons for him. Er was wicked, God put him to death. Onan wouldn’t honour God by producing offspring for his father’s line thru Er’s widow, so God put him to death. Judah loved his 3rd son more than he honoured God, so he sent Tamar back to her parent’s home. If a woman hadn’t acted, the line of Judah would have ended. But as Judah said; “she is more righteous than I” and when you read what she was willing to do in order to see Judah’s line continue into the future, you just have to respect her.

Scandalous? Yes. 

Brazen? Yes. 

Humiliating? Yes.

Demeaning? Yes.

Righteous? Absolutely!

Will we see all of the people from Matthew’s genealogy in heaven? Not likely. But I am expecting to see Tamar. And when I do, I want to say thank you to this lady, who despite being in a powerless position- took action that continued Judah’s line into the future, that brought us David and then brought us Jesus the Messiah who is the power of God for salvation. 

Thank you God - for the women who step up, when the men flake out.

Dec 18, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Genesis 20

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:20 (NIV)

This week, our suggested readings connect into God speaking to humans thru dreams. Perhaps you are like me, and your most vivid dreams are connected to food that is hard to digest, and so you take people who talk about God speaking to them in dreams as a little out there. We need to shake off our scepticism and get with God’s program, for the Bible records God speaking to many people in dreams, and Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 includes dreaming dreams as part of this age of grace that Christ began for us. Here in this account in Genesis 20, God intervenes in an “unbeliever’s” life in a dream to save this “unbeliever” from certain judgment and destruction. It is a neat kind of dream - for Abimelek has a conversation with God in his dream. I am thinking that a conversation with God would be a little scary- and Abimelek is afraid, he does fear God, and he lines his behaviour up with God’s request. This chapter appears immediately before Sarah gives birth to Isaac, and seems to have been placed here to ensure that the reader understands that Sarah’s baby came from Abraham and not from a foreign king who took her into his home. Yet as I read it I cannot help but think of the mission stories coming out of the Middle East of Jesus appearing in “unbelievers” dreams and directing people to speak to believers about salvation. One of Parkdale’s missionaries Craig Rogalsky was part of one of these stories. What a gracious wonderful God, who speaks to unbelievers in dreams, who saves them from certain judgment and destruction!

http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2012/June/Dreams-Visions-Moving-Muslims-to-Christ

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/jesus-appearing-to-muslim-refugees-in-their-dreams-leading-them-to-embrace-him-despite-great-risks/105359.htm

Dec 18, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Genesis 15

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:”

Matthew 1:1 (NIV) 

This week, our suggested readings connect into the genealogy of Matthew’s gospel. His gospel starts with this genealogy and there is a tendency to yawn as we read the names- but this is an amazing list to study. We notice that Matthew links Jesus the Messiah (Christ) to Abraham as well as David, which takes us back into Genesis 15 and the absolutely amazing record of the Creator of the universe making a promise to a man, an irrevocable promise- as God’s fire passed thru the carcasses. This type of oath simply means; may what happened to these animals happen to Me if I don’t fulfill My promise to you. The 3-fold promise of Genesis 15 was that God would give Abram a biological son, that Abram’s offspring shall be as numerous as the stars in the sky and that this land would become Abram’s possession. When Abram asked how can I know that I will possess this land? God swore by Himself (Hebrews 6:13-15) that these promises would come true. Matthew says that 42 generations passed between Abraham and the birth of the Messiah – some 2,000 years from the date of the promise to the birth of the Son thru whom the promise would be fulfilled. Oh friend – that we would believe the promises of this great and awesome God who loves us and gave us His Son, that we might be part of the offspring of Abram, and possess the promise!

Dec 16, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Timothy 4

 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:”

2 Timothy 4:1 (NIV)

It is no light thing to be given a charge by an apostle in front of God and Christ Jesus to “preach the word”. This charge is a charge to a young pastor by the apostle Paul and therefore is understood to be a charge to all pastors over all the generations. It appears on my ordination certificate from the Fellowship that hangs over my desk, and it is a sobering thing to accept the charge, and then read the rest of the chapter that describes the ministry of the apostle Paul and what he endured as a result of his desire to please His Lord, for he had his eye fixed on his Lord. 

 Discharge the duties of your ministry for I have fought the good fight and finished the race.

 I have not finished the race yet – yet I am convinced that if I keep my eye on the only Judge of my life, that I will stay on the correct course.

Pastors and teachers are only some of the gifts that the Lord has given His church, and they are the smallest in number in the church. What about you friend- what gift did the Lord Jesus give you for the benefit of the people at Parkdale? Will you accept the spirit of this charge from the apostle? Will you pour yourself out as a drink offering on Christ’s church called Parkdale. Looking not for a reward from the people, but for the reward from the Lord on the Day He appears and judges His church.

Dec 15, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Corinthians 5

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)

A description of a Christian that brings us hope;

an earthly tent and a heavenly building

groaning – wanting to be clothed in our heavenly dwelling

a mortal desiring to be swallowed up by life

fashioned for this life by God

the Spirit given as a guarantee of this life to come

living this mortal life by faith

preferring to be away from here and with God

having the goal to please Him wherever we are

appointed to appear before the judgment seat of Christ

Many people watch us as we go thru this life, many people judge our actions and words, but friend for a Christian there is only one Judge to consider. We are on a stage, a stage we call a journey, our life- in front of one Person – God Himself. 

Who will I aim to please today? Whose praise will I seek?

Dec 14, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service John 2

“But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.”

John 2:24 (NIV)

All people includes His mother. Most of us would entrust ourselves to our mom,

but not our Lord – and so He asks her “WHY” when she asks Him to provide wine at a wedding.

He knows all people- He knows what is in each person.

What is in each person?

A deceitful heart.

Belief itself can be deceitful. They believed in His name but He still knew what was in them- and it gave Him pause. I don’t know what is in a person, I don’t have any special ability to see inner motivations, or the deep part of any person that I know including my spouse. BUT I do try to emulate my Lord in having the wisdom not to entrust myself to any human. 

Humans have a lot of influence on us- moms are at the top of the list alongside dads, but friends, colleagues, coworkers, mentors, pastors, teachers, professors, teammates, spouses and children are all influential in our lives. This is good, and it is the way God designed humans. But don’t entrust yourself to them- entrust yourself to God and God alone.

God is the only One who is pure all the way through.

Dec 13, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Jeremiah 17

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

This verse above all other verses describes in the clearest terms our wretched human condition! Those who think that it only describes the unsaved heart, should pay attention to the fact that Jeremiah 17 is written to God’s people. Verse 10 tells us that the LORD searches our hearts and pays us back according to what we do- which is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 

Why do I do the things I do for God?

My heart tells me it is all for Him- but when resentment and anger creep into my ministry, 

I should realize that my heart has deceived me.

My heart tells me it is all for Him- but when fear and anxiety grip me, 

I should realize my heart has deceived me.

My heart tells me it is all for Him- but when disillusionment strikes me,

I should realize my heart has deceived me. 

My heart is my greatest enemy- for self-deception kills me.

Praise God, the One who examines my heart.

Praise God, the One who changes my heart.

Praise God, the One who purifies my heart.

Dec 12, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 94

“The LORD knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.”

Psalm 94:11 (NIV) 

The theology of Psalm 94 is similar to that of Job 5, in that it is a cry to God to deal with people on the earth according to their behaviour. Rise up, Judge of the earth- pay back to the proud what they deserve. The issue seems to be how these proud treat God’s people- which should catch our attention, for that is the issue in 1 Corinthians 3. Christians can be very hard on Christians. Do we know that we are dealing with God, when we attack a brother or sister? Do we stop to think that when we attack a brother or sister we invite God to punish us? Do we have the theology or view of God that the psalmist has? A God who knows all of our plans to exalt ourselves over others- all of our plans to build myself up at the expense of a brother or sister- and knows that they are futile- for He is Judge! 

He does hear!

He does see!

He does punish!

He does know!

Oh, be careful little mind what you plan.

Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

For the Father up above is looking down in love …

Dec 11, 2017 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Job 5

“He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away.”

Job 5:13 (NIV) 

My commentary tells me that this is the only verse from Job that is used in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 3:19), and what amazes me is that Eliphaz’s words are used. A colleague of mine used to say to me “Job’s friends had good theology, but their application was wrong” as a warning to me to apply Scripture properly. Eliphaz is the first to speak after Job cursed the day of his birth, and Eliphaz wishes Job to consider that God deals with people on the face of the earth according to their behaviour. He sets the lowly on high, He thwarts the plans of the crafty, He saves the needy, He will rescue you, He will protect you, He will protect your property, He will give you lots of children, and He catches the wise in their craftiness. This is true theology- Paul quotes it to warn us as Christians that trying to be “wiser” than our fellow believers is a sure way to invite God’s hand to act against us in our lives today. Paul wants us to know that if we follow human schemes and human wisdom in our dealings with each other in our church, our schemes will come to nothing. The kingdom of God is upside down to the world. Become fools in order to become wise! Dear Lord Jesus – may we be fools for you, fools for your people and fools for your kingdom. May we welcome others being exalted above us, and may we never seek to exalt ourselves by tearing brothers and sister down. Forgive us Lord.

Dec 8, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service 1 Timothy 3

“if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

1 Timothy 3:15 (NIV)

Paul has a high view of church – he sees it as the place where the living God dwells, the place that holds truth up. Paul has a high view of those who will be leaders in the house of the living God. His list of qualifications for an elder reflects his view of the church. 

A noble task for those who are above reproach;

Which means

faithful to his wife, 

temperate,

self-controlled, 

respectable, 

hospitable, 

able to teach, 

not given to drunkenness, 

not violent but gentle, 

not quarrelsome, 

not a lover of money.

Did you notice that the money issue made it on Paul’s list? This is not a matter to ignore or pretend away- the love of money has no place in the household of the living God!

Will you pray for our elders on a regular basis?

So much in our church depends on them being above reproach.

Dec 8, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Revelation 21

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

Revelation 21:22 (NIV) 

No sun, no moon, no night, no darkness, no temple.

All because our God will dwell on earth with us without any sin present.

I long for this day- I long to see it- I long to be free of death, free of sin, free to see God in all His glory. I can’t imagine what it will be like because sin is all around me, and the effects of sin are in every aspect of my life. I can’t imagine what it will be like because I experience the goodness of God now in my life despite the sin, and His goodness overwhelms me now, what will it be like when I experience His unveiled glory? That is what a temple does- it veils His glory, it makes it possible for a Holy Holy Holy God to dwell among sinful people. But when sin is removed the need for a temple is removed. I want to be there, I want to be in that Holy City, and I am so thankful that my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Friend have you met the Lamb?

Have you called out on the Lord to save you?

Have you given your life to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?

Dec 7, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service John 2

“To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

John 2:16  (NIV)

Giving money is an act of worship.

Making money off of God’s people in the place where God’s people gather to worship brings punishment from our Lord. This type of activity is obviously unacceptable to our Lord. 

Do we dare say that He was angry? 

The issue is that we turn His house – His temple- His church into a market.

This type of behaviour is what prompted Martin Luther to put up his notice on Halloween – right before the “best” money making days for the Roman Catholic Church. We have just celebrated the 500th anniversary of that event- and yet I wonder- are we really free from this type of wicked behaviour in 2017 in our churches?

Achan’s sin was connected to wealth, Ananias and Sapphira’s sin was connected to wealth, our Lord whipped people (that would hurt) who put money ahead of God’s people and Nehemiah 5 records that his type of behaviour got Nehemiah worked up as well. 

Don’t be found by our Lord making money off God’s people in the place God’
people gather to worship. 

Be found by the Lord giving money to the place God’s people gather to worship,
as an act of our worship.

Dec 7, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service John 4

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.”

John 4:21 (NIV)

We live in this time, that our Lord was speaking about. We are in the age of grace where we don’t have to travel to a mountain to worship God. We don’t have to enter a city to experience the benefits of the Presence of the LORD Almighty. We can worship Him in the Spirit and in truth. This is the age of grace the age of the Spirit’s Presence inside of all who have called on the Name of the Lord to be saved. So this begs a question; 

Do we worship?  

Do we worship in a church service once a week? 

Do we worship daily as we draw near to Him wherever we are?

Friend, will you worship the Messiah today? Will you tell your soul to bless the LORD?

Dec 6, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 36

“I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Psalm 36:1 (NIV)

What a wonderful psalm and yet at the same time what a sad psalm!

The LORD’s love and righteousness are everywhere- no person is outside of the reach of God’s love and righteousness- and YET those people who have no fear of God before their eyes miss the benefits of God. 

Do we want to taste the goodness of His unfailing love?

Do we want to take refuge in the shadow of His wings?

Do we want to feast on the abundance of His house?

Do we want to drink from His river of delights?

Then we must learn how to put the FEAR of GOD before our eyes!

Dec 6, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Jeremiah 51

“Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields!

The LORD has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon. The LORD will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple.”

Jeremiah 51:11 (NIV)

What a blessing God gave Jeremiah in the last words He gave Jeremiah the prophet to speak.

Jeremiah wept as he spoke God’s Words of judgment over God’s people. He foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. But these last Words did not make him weep- they are about the people who carried out the destruction of the temple, they are to be carried into the land of Babylon and read aloud and then cast into the Euphrates. It was God who judged His people, it was God who raised up Babylon for His purpose, and it is God who will take vengeance on the nation of Babylon who destroyed His temple.

God’s people love the temple-they love the place where God dwells with His people.

God loves it more- He loves the place where He dwells with His people, the place of confession, the place of worship, the place of blessing and grace- He loves it so much that He will utterly destroy the people who destroy it. In our age of grace local churches are the temple of God, the place where His glory dwells among men. We feel sad when we see churches fade into nothing – God remembers who caused it and destroys them. I don’t want to be that person.

Dec 5, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Acts 5

“Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

Acts 5:11 (NIV)

God in His grace gave us Acts 5 to correct any of us who think there are no lessons for the church in the account of Achan recorded in Joshua. Christians in all churches everywhere should be afraid to lie to the Holy Spirit, we should be afraid that we will be caught in the trap of Ananias and Sapphira. Peter describes this trap as having our heart filled by Satan. 

This question must be asked those who say that this couple were not Christians; “Why would the church be afraid if these people were not part of the church?” I know that none of us like to be afraid, but it is clear from this chapter that this fear had wonderful fruit. 

Let us have more fear of God – not less! 

Let us seek today to be filled and guided by the Spirit of truth.

Dec 5, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Psalm 26

“LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.”

Psalm 26:8 (NIV)

You cannot separate God from His glory.

Where God is – there His glory is too.

Notice that David won’t assemble with the deceitful, the hypocrites, the evildoers or the wicked. Instead, David washes his hands, hangs around the altar, praises God, and testifies about God’s work. There is a description of church! The great congregation of God! 

The house of God!

Not the building but the people.

Not the altar but the LORD.

Not my love but Your unfailing love.

Not my faithfulness but Your faithfulness.

LORD I love Parkdale where You live, the place where Your glory dwells.

Dec 4, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Joshua 7

“Pardon your servant, LORD. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?”

Joshua 7:8 (NIV)

Joshua the man of courage speaks straight talk to God!

respectful BUT straight-

the people of God are in a defeated position and Joshua wants to know why the LORD allowed this and what the LORD will do about it. The LORD tells him to get up and do something about it- get rid of the sin in the camp. Joshua 7 is a sobering account for all those who want to see God’s kingdom advance in their family and their community. The message of Joshua 7 is that our sin stops God’s kingdom from advancing. It is not a lack of power on God’s part. It is a lack of consecration on our part. So friend- do we want to see victory? Do we want to see the gospel advance with power in our families and communities? Let's get up off our knees and get rid of the greed that grips us- Achan wanted what he wanted- didn’t matter it wasn’t his.

God will do his part- let us do our part.

Dec 4, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Leviticus 26

“I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you.”

The LORD is a God who dwells among His people.

Leviticus 26:11 (NIV)

Fruitfulness, peace, safety, freedom and children (lots of them) are the result of this dwelling.

True worship, true rest, reverence of His sanctuary and obedience are the requirements.

The description of what the LORD will do to His people who do not fulfill the requirements of His dwelling among them is dreadful. He will bring about the opposite of the blessing promised. This passage teaches us very clearly and in very succinct language, that the Lord’s dwelling is a very serious thing, it is no light matter to have the Creator of the world, the Holy Holy Holy God living among you in a tabernacle. How much more serious a matter is it to have the Creator of the world, the Holy Holy Holy God living inside our bodies? We get to the end of the chapter and we realize that God remembering His covenant is our only hope. 

May we be wise enough to take the warning for us from this passage. 

May we confess our sins and rest in our Lord Jesus who is the mediator of a new covenant

Dec 1, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Colossians 4

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too,…”

Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

These verses are Parkdale’s theme verses for the 2018 ministry year. We seem to be poised at the edge of tremendous opportunity to see God’s kingdom grow in this city called Belleville. 

What do we need in order to see God’s good plans for Parkdale become reality? 

Do we need people to serve? 

Do we need people to give? 

Absolutely we need both those things! 

But over and before and through all of 2018 we need prayer. 

We need people who are devoted to prayer, watchful prayer, thankful prayer. 

We need the people of Parkdale to pray to God, asking Him to open a door for the gospel to go out in the Prince Charles neighbourhood. 

We need to pray that those who are GOING from Parkdale to speak into people’s lives in that community – speak clearly, wisely, full of grace with a pinch of salt.

We NEED God to do His work, in us and in them.

Our Lord asks us to pray. Our apostle asks us to pray.
How about we decide today to “devote ourselves to prayer” in 2018.

Dec 1, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Peter 3

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

2 Peter 3:11-12 (NIV)

You can tell what a person believes by how a person lives.

The doctrine of the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ in power with fire is a primary doctrine of all Christians. The Lord and His apostles taught us that He is coming back. It is the next item on the eschatological calendar. Christians disagree about the details or secondary doctrines of this coming, (ie rapture or no rapture) but all agree that to be a Christian means I must believe that He will come again, in power and judgment, to usher in the new age.

Do we believe this, or rather does our life reflect this belief? 

Are we living holy and godly lives? Do we really need to get into the Greek words behind holy and godly to understand the plain meaning of the English? 

If our lives are not marked by obedience to the Lord.

If our lives are not marked by surrender to the Spirit.

If our lives are not marked by separation from the world.

Then on what basis do we call ourselves Christian?

And on what basis do we declare ourselves ready for the Day?

He is patiently waiting for us to repent- so let us repent - let our lives reflect our belief in the imminent powerful return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Nov 30, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Luke 21

“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man”

Luke 21:36 (NIV)

Pray that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.
I want to be able to stand before the Son of Man when He comes in power and in great glory. I know that I do not have the ability to imagine what this experience is going to be like or what emotions I will experience. I have always understood John’s reaction to the appearance of the glorified Lord, recorded in Revelation 1 as emblematic of all humans, and therefore I understand the word “stand” in this verse to represent the outcome of facing my Judge. We memorize the Lord’s prayer knowing that the Lord KNOWS the best prayers for us. We study the Lord’s prayer and learn what we need for the Christian life from His sample prayers. We learn from this “Lord’s prayer” that we require supernatural help from God, to be able to survive facing our Lord as Judge. The biblical word for this supernatural help is GRACE, the grace that changes our hearts, that brings us to our knees, the grace that impresses upon our hearts our need to be in prayer.
Pray that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.

Nov 30, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Thessalonians 1

“This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.”

2 Thessalonians 1:7 (NIV) 

The holy fire has been kindled - the prophecies recorded in Dt 32:22 and Luke 12:49 have been fulfilled - the holy fire has been started and is raging now waiting for the Day that our Lord comes to earth with His powerful angels. When He comes again, it will be in judgment, to punish those who don’t know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. This punishment is everlasting. I can’t imagine being shut out from God’s Presence FOREVER. I can’t imagine destruction that lasts FOREVER. A forest fire on earth, births new life. A fire in a stove brings heat and prepares food. A brush fire produces ash which can be used for fertilizer and soap. A fire in a blast furnace produces purity. So it is with this holy fire, EVERLASTING destruction, on a scale we have never seen, and yet it produces purity, it redeems the earth, it makes the earth into a place that God will come to be “glorified in his holy people.” Oh, friend - be among those who believe in the Bible's testimony about Jesus Christ. He is the only way to life EVERLASTING.

Nov 29, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Mark 14

“Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?”

Mark 14:37 (NIV)

ONE HOUR? 

How many of us could pray for one hour?

Peter and the apostles couldn’t, even with our Lord present with them, expressing sorrow and beseeching them to pray. I have been in prayer meetings that flew by, the hour was up before you knew it. Each person praying from their heart, the hearts of others joined in union, what a sense of accomplishment when those prayer times ended. But to pray for an hour by ourselves is a hard thing to do. A friend of mine who drives many miles every year calls his vehicle “his prayer closet”. The head of a foreign mission organization was known to get up from the table make a cup of tea all the while in prayer with others.

How many of us could pray for one hour today?

How many of us will pray for one hour today?

Our Lord asks us to- for our sake- not His.

Nov 29, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Luke 12

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!”

Luke 12:49-50 (NIV)

Our Lord is speaking here of His mission on earth, His trip to the cross to die in our place for our sin. He calls it His baptism - and we Baptists all understand what He means – for we understand immersion baptism as a symbol of our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection - and as a public declaration of our unity with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. Note that these verses are 2 parallel statements, which means that fire and baptism describe the same event. How could we know without our Lord telling us? How could anyone possibly know that a fire was lit when Christ died on the cross- a fire that will devour sin from the earth. Will we this day go to the cross, and surrender to our Lord and have His holy fire burn the sin from our lives? Or will we resist the Spirit’s call and be devoured on the Day of Christ’s appearance?

Nov 28, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 127

“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”

Psalm 127:1 (NIV) 

A family psalm! 

Yes, it is a psalm of ascent- its purpose is to prepare us to enter into the Holy City, the Holy Temple, to meet God Himself. What better way for a mother or a father, a grandfather or a grandmother to approach the Lord in worship then to remind themselves that the individuals in our families need more than us, more than our help to thrive, to succeed- that this Lord we worship is willing to build and to guard our families! Family is a lot of work, and the sleep that God grants us is a blessing, as much as the children He gives us are a reward. I have repeated this prayer to our God many times, in faith believing His Word that each of our children are a blessing from Him. The lesson of this psalm is that all of our hard efforts will be for nothing (vain), unless we involve the LORD. Not that we have no work to do- but that His is the most important work! Let us approach the throne of grace today- asking our gracious Lord to build our families, and to guard each individual life. Let us surrender our family to Him as an act of worship.

Nov 28, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Psalm 50

“Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him and around him a tempest rages,”

Psalm 50:6 (NIV)

The appearance of God in this psalm is tied to His judgment of His people. Specifically, His people who are wicked, who hate His words, who join in with thieves, and adulterers, who speak lies and evil, who harm their brothers and sisters- God was silent, but will be no longer. God’s silence is always misunderstood by us as approval, but now the wicked will experience the full weight of God’s disapproval. This is a sobering psalm for all of God’s people to read. The apostle Paul speaks of the fire that tests our work- this event will not be like school where you get to rewrite the exam. Ask the Holy Spirit to change you, ask Him to rewrite the story of your life now! One life to live - long or short Lord I want to live it for you - in a way that pleases you. He summons the heavens above and the earth- quite a summons! Why will He summon all of creation? So that He may judge His people. May we be ready!

Nov 27, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Exodus 23

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”

Exodus 23:20 (NIV)

Angel/terror/hornet – 3 beings or 1 being? An angel to guard (defence), a terror to confuse and scatter, a hornet to drive out. No matter how we answer the question we can clearly see that God is supernaturally helping His people through the work of His angels. In this passage aimed at possessing the life God had planned for the Israelites, we understand that the Israelites needed supernatural help possessing God’s wonderful plans for them. Specifically - an angel to guard against attack, an angel to confound the enemy’s defence, and an angel to clear the enemy out. As we think about our plans for this week, may we remember to ask our God for supernatural help, that we may withstand the enemy’s attacks, that we may proclaim the gospel boldly, that we might see the gospel take root and displace unbelief in our families and communities.

Nov 27, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Deuteronomy 32

“For a fire will be kindled by my wrath, one that burns down to the realm of the dead below. It will devour the earth and its harvests

and set afire the foundations of the mountains.”

Deuteronomy 32:22 (NIV)

If as we read this verse we consider what scientists teach today about the molten lava under us- and take this verse as a having a physical meaning- we will marvel at the geological knowledge of Moses the servant of LORD.

If as we read this verse we consider the rest of the Bible's teaching about God’s holy fire – and take this verse as having spiritual meaning- we will shudder at the revelation of the power of the wrath of God.

If as we read this verse we take this verse as having both spiritual and physical meaning we will enter into how the New Testament teaches the subject of the fire of the wrath of the Lord Almighty, and we will worship Him in reverence and awe!

Nov 24, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service 1 Peter 2

“But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”

1 Peter 2:20 (NIV)

This is instruction for slaves from a man who knew what a beating felt like. I have been beaten a few times as a schoolboy, lost some fights, even been surrounded by a group knocked to the ground and kicked into a ditch. But never as a man, and never by someone in authority over me. But Peter has been beaten as a man and by people in authority over him, and yet his view expressed in 1 Peter 2 is barely acceptable in our society today. His view is that every authority is God given, and that we submit for the sake of our Lord. He doesn’t point us to himself- he points us to Christ who is our example. It is wonderful to be able to point out that the authorities we live under in Ontario have abolished slavery due to the influence of the gospel (especially Galatians 3:28) on our laws and society and therefore if you are subject to violence by someone in authority over you, I urge you to report them to the authorities in Ontario and they will protect you and free you. The changes I have seen in Ontario in my 50 years tell me that we are running away from the gospel’s influence rapidly, and that tells me slavery will become a part of our land as it is in cultures all around the world today. When our authorities turn on Christians like they do in other parts of the world, will we look to Christ, suffer for His sake, and be commended by Him?

Nov 24, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Ephesians 2

“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)

Read it once, then read it again and the wonderful truth of Ephesians 2 permeates your mind and soul and your spirit worships our wonderful God and our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each one of us who have been saved by the grace of God thru faith in His Son have received blessings upon blessings. Paul ends this wonderful chapter about who we are in Christ by pointing us to the great metaphor of the church which is a “building”. The cornerstone is Christ Jesus, the foundation is the apostles and prophets and all of us rise above this solid foundation. Note that the metaphor is applied not only to the universal church (all Christians over all time) but also to the local church at Ephesus. This means that Parkdale can be described as a building, a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. We used to call the room we worship in a sanctuary thinking we were reflecting this truth. But we have come to realize that the structure is made up of people, not bricks and mortar. Friend let us join in the work at Parkdale of building a temple in which God lives by His Spirit.

Nov 23, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Acts 5

"His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”

Acts 5:40,41 (NIV) 

The apostles are amazing;

the whole story of Ananias and Sapphira established the apostles as holy men, men who represent God so closely that lying to them is lying to God. The fear that seized the Christians in the church at Jerusalem seemed to be good, even fruitful fear, and when you add this holy fear to the mindboggling miracles that were occurring thru the apostles ministry – the church’s influence in Jerusalem strengthened to the point where the leaders of the temple arrested the apostles threw them in jail and woke up the next day to find that the apostles were no longer in jail, so they “asked” them to appear before the court- wanted to kill them but settled for a flogging??? This is when Acts 5 gets truly amazing- the apostles rejoiced over the flogging, not because they enjoyed it, but because they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Jesus. And so I wonder- will I rejoice like the apostles rejoiced when I suffer at the hands of the authorities in Ontario? We have Christ’s teaching, His example and we have the apostles examples - I pray that will be enough for me.

Nov 23, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Matthew 20

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Matthew 20:16 (NIV)

The patience, the grace and the teaching skills of our Lord Jesus Christ are so obvious in this chapter. He tells a parable of workers (all Christians) in the master’s vineyard (kingdom of God) each worker entered into an agreement with the master (do you remember that agreement- when you gave your life to Him in exchange for eternal life?). The point of the parable is that when it comes to working in the kingdom of God, we all receive equal pay – which because of our sin nature we think is unfair! Our Lord then tells us the terrible costly nature of His work in the kingdom. We notice immediately with story of James and John that the disciples do not understand what the LORD is saying. So the Lord gently reminds them again. I don’t think we are any better than the disciples, I think we all struggle with the truth that we are all co-workers with Christ, and even if we acknowledge the truth we struggle with the ramifications. SO – Are you feeling discouraged about these late to the church people who seem to have all the joy and none of the work- especially in light of all the work you have done in the kingdom over all these years?

Then let us pray the prayer of the blind men; “Lord we want to see”. Oh Lord open our eyes that we might see the wonderful gift of life and the wonderful gift of being able to work alongside you in your kingdom. Amen

Nov 22, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Luke 6

“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”

Luke 6:26 (NIV)

None of us want people to bad mouth us. I don’t want people talking down about me and yet our Lord teaches us in this passage that we are BLESSED when we are hated, excluded, and insulted. He tells us that we are under a curse (WOE) when everyone speaks well of us, and that if everyone speaks well of us then we must be false teachers. The great irony of our day and age in Ontario is that those who are supposedly leading the great fight against hatred, exclusion and insult in our society are eager participants in hate, exclusion and insults towards Christians in particular and people of faith in general. What would Jesus say to us if He was living in Ontario in 2017: “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”

Nov 22, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Ezekiel 17

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.”

Ezekiel 17:22 (NIV) 

Not only is the LORD the Creator and Sustainer of all life on earth- according to Ezekiel 17 our God is Sovereign in the affairs of all the nations of the earth. The LORD speaks thru His prophet Ezekiel a word of judgement against a king of Judah who would not obey the LORD’s Word thru Jeremiah and pray for the prosperity of Babylon where God had ordained His people to thrive during the exile. This judgement comes in a horticultural metaphor of a shoot and a transplanting and tremendous growth, and then a withering and the plucking up of the plant. The first part of Ezekiel 17 is history to us- it has happened exactly as the LORD spoke it - and so the prophecy of verse 22 and 23 bring great hope. These verses point to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and the strength of the arm and the hand of the Sovereign LORD who will make His kingdom grow and thrive. Surely our Lord spoke out of Ezekiel 17 when He taught about the kingdom of God recorded in Mark 4:30-32!

Nov 21, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Isaiah 49

“This is what the LORD says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Isaiah 49:7 (NIV)

I cannot read this chapter without being overwhelmed with gratitude for the LORD’s determination to achieve great glory for Himself thru the work of His Servant. It was too small a thing for the Lord Jesus Christ to bring back the tribes of Judah, NO WAY! The Lord Jesus Christ is going to bring back all of the tribes of the world to a rightful worship of their Creator. THANK YOU GOD!!

But notice that verse 7 outlines how this work will be achieved- thru the abasement of the Servant- He will be despised and abhorred. This treatment of the Lord Jesus Christ- this rejection of their Messiah by the Jewish people is what opened the door of the kingdom of God to an alien and an outcast like me. There will be great reversal, we see that kings will praise Him- but not because of what the kings and princes do, but because a Sovereign LORD is faithful to His Servant and makes the reversal happen. Friend, are you despised, even abhorred, because of your service in the kingdom of God? Then friend be encouraged by the truth in this verse and trust in your faithful LORD to reverse the situation, and even - if your faith is great enough - to trust Him to redeem those who despise you.

Nov 21, 2017- Suggested Reading 1st Service Psalm 104

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth:”

Psalm 104:14 (NIV)

What a delightful song of praise to the LORD our God!

who has not only created the earth but sustains the earth, 

who not only sustains the earth but sustains the animals, 

who not only sustains the animals but sustains humans,

who not only sustains all life but stands in judgment over all life.

This psalm declares the interaction of our God, the Creator with every aspect of the created world, it declares the created purpose of the sun and moon.

As we look towards our 1st service this Sunday – we notice that this psalm declares what Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 3:6. 

Humans plant but it is the LORD our God who makes things grow! Worship Him! Trust Him! - as we plant the seeds of His Word in our hearts and in others.

Praise the LORD, oh my soul.

Praise the LORD