Jan 13, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Timothy 1

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) 

The kingdom of God is matter of power BECAUSE power belongs to our God- this power makes Him able to guard or keep what we have entrusted to Him until that Day- and He has given us His power through His Spirit!

This power will make us able to testify about the Lord Jesus Christ. It will make us able to speak clearly the Words of Life to those we love, even to those who are able to make us suffer.

This power will give us the ability to keep and guard the good deposit of teaching that the apostles gave us- which is a way of living, a way of holiness, a way of worship.

not timid, but confident

not in ourselves but in the Spirit

ready to join Paul in suffering for the gospel

knowing the sufficiency of God’s grace

knowing the One we trust

sure that He is able

Jan 12, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service 2 Corinthians 6

“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)

How can we receive God’s grace in vain?

By not realizing that in God is the helper in salvation, and that we need to act to receive.

Paul quotes Isaiah 49 here to teach us the unchangeable truth that this glorious age of grace that we live in now- this age where Gentiles as well as Jews are able to come to Christ Jesus, call on His Name and be saved - is a Day where we act and God helps.

It is true that God acted first, by sending his Son who is the Servant described in Isaiah 49, to redeem not only the Jews, but to be a light to the Gentiles causing His salvation to reach the ends of the earth. What Paul is declaring is that this great and glorious act of God has ushered in a new age of grace where salvation is dependent upon human action.

If we don’t call on the name of the Lord to be saved, we won’t be saved.

Seems simple really, seems very orthodox for any other belief brings us into the murky waters of universalism - that the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord brings salvation to all without any action of their part.

The Lord Jesus came preaching “repent for the kingdom of heaven is near” and repentance is an action that is necessary for the kingdom of God to come to me, for me to enter the kingdom of God.

Our action, God’s help is how salvation is described in 2 Corinthians 6 and in Isaiah 49.

How quickly we forget this and desire His grace without our action.

He stands at the door of our hearts right now- that is grace!

When I get up and open the door- that’s my action!

He comes in and eats with me – that is salvation!

All three together describe earnest repentance (Rev 3:19,20)

Jan 12, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Ephesians 3

 “For this reason I kneel before the Father,”

Ephesians 3:14 (NIV)

Will you take a moment and pray the prayer of vs 14 thru 21 for someone you love today?

This is a prayer for power- a request for God to give us power!

A prayer to give us power thru the ministry of His Holy Spirit!

Power to strengthen us so that Christ may dwell in our hearts thru faith.

Power to grasp – to get a hold of - the great love of Christ for us.

We pray this prayer believing that this God of great power is at work within us, and that He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask.

Will we ask?

Jan 11, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service 1 Samuel 7

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV) 

One of the hymns Parkdale loves to sing is called “Come thou Fount of every blessing”, and yet the beginning of the second verse contains a puzzling phrase “here I raise my Ebenezer here by Thy great help I’ve come”. 1 Samuel 7 gives us the truth behind this statement, for it shows us the origin of the concept. It describes how God helped the Israelites by subduing the enemy and restoring towns to the Israelites. Now it is important that this help followed 2 significant acts of faith on Israel’s part, for verses 3-6 describe true repentance and a restoration of true worship, and verses 7-9 describe their cry to their God for help. They didn’t turn back to their false Gods when danger approached, they cried out to their true God. Nothing like a real and present danger to reveal the true nature of our hearts, and the true object of our worship! They had truly turned to God, they proved it by their acts of repentance and by their prayers for help, and so God helped them. Now Samuel wanted them to remember that God helped them this far, and so he raised a stone and named it Ebenezer (stone of help), a stone that they would see in their normal travels, that would remind them that God has helped them this far, and encourage their hearts to trust Him for future help.

Friend- can you look back on your life and see where God has helped you?

Build a reminder- not a shrine- but a memory stone of some kind,

tell your spouse, tell your kids, tell yourself, build a memory

that will encourage you to believe that He is willing to help you now.

For if He brought us this far, can we not believe that he will carry us to the end?

He will! Ask Him for the help you need today.

Jan 11, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Corinthians 13

 “He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.  For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power.”

1 Corinthians 13:3b,4a (NIV)

Is Christ powerful within me?

The apostle Paul challenges us to take this test of faith.

In this chapter Paul is speaking to us about personal sin – this isn’t about weariness or lack of energy- but about the ability of the Lord Jesus Christ to get rid of my sin. I think of Romans 7:25 - “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”, a statement of praise after a description of a Christian’s long struggle with sin.

Is Christ powerful within me? Can I praise Him for His deliverance?

We need to meet Him at His place of weakness with our point of weakness.

We need to take our sin to the cross- and there we will find that the power that brought Him to life, will bring life into us. Is the kingdom of God a matter of talk with us- or is it a matter of power? Have we experienced the power of the risen Christ, as He breaks the power of sin in our lives?

May we pass this test!

Jan 10, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service 1 Samuel 14

“… Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.”…

1 Samuel 14:45 (NIV)

Will we this day- this week – this month – or even this year, display the faith that Jonathan displayed at the pass of Micmash. Will we place ourselves in a place where God will help us?

Jonathan left the camp (the place of comfort and safety) to engage the enemy. (vs1-3)

Jonathan took the risk “perhaps the LORD will act” was enough for him and his servant. (vs4-7)

Jonathan discerned the LORD’s will by the words of his enemies. (vs8-12)

Jonathon acted immediately- climbed the cliff and engaged the enemy, killing 20 men.

God struck the entire army with panic! (vs 15)

Truly the men had it right! God helped Jonathan.

Jonathan did it and God helped him.

We are not surrounded by physical enemies, but we are surrounded by spiritual enemies.

We are not sons of an earthly king, but we are children of the heavenly King.

Do we have the desire to see our King’s kingdom advance in our families and communities?

Do we have the desire to drive our enemies from this land?

If we sit in the camp and pray for God to do something- we will have missed the lesson.

Our Lord told us “GO … and I will be with you”

May we exercise the faith of Jonathan in 2018!

Jan 10, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Isaiah 40

 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV)

Isaiah 40 is one of the best examples of the adage that the Bible reveals as much about humans as it does about God. Humans are sinners vs2, humans are like grass vs6-8, humans assembled in nations are less than nothing vs15-17, the best of humans are nothing vs23,24, and we love to complain vs27,  BUT God punishes sin vs2, God is coming to us in our sin vs3-5, God’s Words last forever vs8, God comes with power in gentleness vs10,11, God created all things and knows all things vs12-14, God keeps the stars in place by His power vs26, God never gets tired, never misunderstands vs28, and He is speaking to you in your situation right now vs1.

The amazing thing about Isaiah 40 is that it declares that God will give us puny weak humans strength and power- not to all of us- only to those who hope in the LORD, who wait on the LORD.

Friend – where are you in this matter of power today?

Will you this day put your hope in the LORD coming to you with the strength and power you need?

Will you this day prepare the way for the LORD, by breaking down the barriers between you and Him?

Jan 9, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 121

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:2 (NIV) 

Song of ascents indeed! If the words of this little psalm won’t turn your thoughts heavenward in worship - I doubt that any words will.

He won’t let your foot slip

is the promise of eternal life, for we will not go down into the pit, and it is a promise for this life, for He will keep us from paths that lead to destruction.

he who watches over you will not slumber

is the promise of His undivided attention, human protectors need sleep, our God neither needs nor, nor wants sleep when it comes to watching over us.

the Lord is your shade at your right hand

describes the closeness of His watch, He is not far away,  He is beside us, more than that He protects our working hand, the power hand, the hand that we rely on for our life work.

The Lord will keep you from all harm

describes the purpose of His watch, not morbid curiosity, nor idle presence – but nothing comes to us, without going through Him first! Even the things that seem harmful, have His good purpose as a filter, and are used by Him for our good.

both now and forevermore

speaks to His eternal, everlasting presence of protection, His active working in our lives for our good. Surely he is our help!

Truly it is amazing that the Maker of heaven and earth would help us!

Even more amazing is that we do not lift our eyes up and seek help for our Helper!

Jan 9, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Nehemiah 6

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV)

Power is defined as the “ability to do something”.

Many of us are unable to accomplish things that we begin, which means we lack power.  

In Nehemiah 6 we read that God helped His people finish the wall in 52 days, and that the surrounding people knew it could only happen in that time frame because God helped them make it happen. God’s power given to His people, gave them the ability to finish the work God had called them to. The psalmist writes - unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain, unless the LORD watches the city…We don’t have the power to accomplish anything that lasts, but God has the power to help us accomplish meaningful deeds in His service.

Where are we in the matter of power today?

There are many things that sap our strength and take away our ability to accomplish things we set out to do. As I write this note I am recovering from a cold that has drained my energy. That is a fairly minor thing compared to loss of a loved one, or a bout of depression, or chemo treatments, or financial disaster. Whatever it is that is draining us today, will we take a moment and ask the God of power to give us the ability to accomplish that which he has given to us to do today? And will we praise the God of power who is able to accomplish EVERYTHING He sets out to do?

Jan 8, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 5

“Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.”

Psalm 5:2 (NIV) 

Do we need our God’s help today?

Will we ask Him for His help today?

What stops us from asking for help from our God?

Asking for His help is an act of worship (vs 3 thru 7)

Asking for His help is taking refuge in Him, putting yourself under His protection (vs 8 thru 11)

What stops us?

Lack of need, or forgetfulness, or self reliance, or lack of faith?

This psalm describes the act of asking for help as an act of faith.

Believing that God blesses the righteous and surrounds them with His favour as a shield.

Believing that the LORD hears our voice in the morning.

The Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Creator of each of us longs to shield us, as a hen shields her chicks, but will we have the faith, and the humility to ask for His help?

Let us this day ask the LORD for His help.

Jan 8, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service 1 Chronicles 29

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV)

The kingdom of God is a matter of power BECAUSE all power belongs to our God.

This is opposite to the way the world works.

David was a powerful king in his day, and 1 Chronicles 29 records that he gathered his powerful leaders together to give of their riches for the future construction of the temple of God. David’s wealth and David’s leaders and their wealth made him powerful. So it is with every human ruler- the parts and pieces of their kingdom is what brings the ruler power. David’s dedication prayer for these gifts recorded in verses 10 thru 13, reveal that David understood that God’s kingdom does not work that way. That God’s kingdom derives its power from God, and that God willing gives wealth and honour and strength to those He loves.

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power

    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;

    you are exalted as head over all.”