March 30, 2018 - Suggested Reading Mark 12 – for Mar 30th’s Good Friday service message on Nehemiah 9:26 at 10am

“He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ”

Mark 12:6 (NIV)

This parable was told by the One who came from heaven to the ones who would kill Him, before the events occurred. This parable by itself reveals a God of compassion, grace, patience and love, a God who knew before He sent His only beloved Son to Jerusalem – exactly what would happen to his Son. Friend, on this Good Friday - the day we remember the death of God’s only beloved Son- may we read this parable and stop to let it sink in. The death of Christ Jesus was no accident, it was not unexpected, nor was it a plan foisted on an unsuspecting group of humans. Their track record spoke for itself, they would kill anyone who came from God, for they continually resisted God’s Word. God the Creator of all that is, the One God above all gods used the evil inclinations and the entrenched wickedness of His rebellious people to provide the deliverance His penitent people had been calling out to Him for. He knew He could count on them - on their murderous impulses against anyone who spoke Truth from Him to them. He knew He could count on His Son whom He loved, to glorify His Father by drinking from the cup prepared for Him, and to deliver all who trust in Christ from sin and death, and from our enemy.

It is said that the reason history repeats itself is because we don’t learn from history.

I wonder can God count on me today to drink from the cup He has for me?

It depends on who are we counting on today-

Ourselves? Or Christ?   

March 30, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1 Corinthians 15 – for Apr 1st’s Easter message on 1 Corinthians 7:14 in the 1st service

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is
not in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Stand Firm!

Imagine if you took these Words literally- that is without any thought to spiritual things, or the verses that proceed. Be a little confusing – for we are told to stand firm, not to let anyone move us and yet at the same time we are to give ourselves fully to work and labour. Pretty hard to do when you are determined not to move!

But let us look at these Words thru a spiritual lens, and we quickly see that verse 1 & 2 of this chapter explain that stand is what we do with the Gospel message - that is - stand means to stake your life on the Gospel, to change your life counting on the Gospel being true. Furthermore, that firm refers to our grip on the Word of the Gospel that was preached to us- which does not mean gripping your bible tightly, but rather refers to our grip on the message of the gospel with our mind, heart and soul. We loosen our grip by not reading the Word, by not believing the Word we read and by not putting the Word into action in our lives.

Paul is encouraging us to stand firm on the Gospel message, labouring and working for Christ as Christ works in us. The explanation of the encouragement and the encouragement itself are separated by 55 verses - and these 55 verses are all about the importance of believing in the resurrection of the dead. Not in believing about the great resurrection of all humans, wicked and holy, but in the resurrection of those who are united with Christ, when Christ returns.

Friend – on this Easter weekend, as we read the Words about the resurrection of Christ, as we sing songs about the resurrection of Christ, as we watch a drama about the resurrection of Christ- get ahold of them – grip these Words firmly in your mind, heart and soul and stand firm in your faith- don’t let anything move you from your belief in the Gospel.

Stand Firm!

March 29, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2 Chronicles 24 – for Mar 30th’s Good Friday service message on Nehemiah 9:26 at 10am

“Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.”

2 Chronicles 24:19 (NIV)

This account of Joash is a sad reminder of the truth recorded in Ecclesiastes 7:8 “the end of a matter is better than its beginning”, for Joash started so well as king and ended so poorly. He ends his reign by killing Zechariah, the son of the priest Jehoida who had made him king, who had chosen his wives for him, and who with wisdom had guided his reign that began at 7 years old. In the saddest irony of all Joash killed Zechariah in the courtyard of the temple, the very temple that Joash had established his good reputation by restoring. Our Lord adds the detail in Luke 11:51 that Zechariah was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. It is clear from this account that Joash had made up his mind to turn away from the LORD, and that he would not listen to the prophets the LORD sent to warn him, so God put His Spirit on the son of the man who had been like a father to Joash, to speak one last Word of warning to this king. Joash’s response is one final rejection of God - he gives orders to kill God’s last messenger and they stone him to death in the temple court. At least the Sanhedrin has the sense to remove Stephen from the city before stoning him (Acts 7), perhaps they thought they learned something from this account of king Joash.

The bible not only shows us the persistent patience of God - it shows us who humans are.

This chapter exposes the extent of dark potential in humans who are determined not to listen to God. May we have ears to listen all the way to the end.

March 29, 2018 - Suggested Reading Romans 6 – for Apr 1st’s Easter message on 1 Corinthians 7:14 in the 1st service

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—.”

Romans 6:6 (NIV) 

At Parkdale, we have had a wonderful illustration of the truth contained in Romans 6 on our stage since the first Sunday of Lent. This little cross with slips of paper containing sins that individuals wrote down and fastened to the cross illustrates for all of us, the truth that if we are united with Christ, then our old self died with Him on that cross. If we want to be free from the sin that plagues us, from the chains that bind us, all we need to do is take them to the Lord at the cross, and seek His forgiveness, and we will be washed and our righteousness restored. You may think- that’s great but then I have to get up and live my life, and that is where the issue is - in the living of my life. Dear child of God read Romans 6 and let the truth of the resurrection soak into your bones. If we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with Him. This refers to more than life after death for the subject here is death while we are living. This means life with Christ now while we are living. Count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. We are free - free not to sin - free to live for God, bringing Him glory and having His Spirit change us into His image little by little each day as we bring our sins to the cross.

Live FREE today!

March 28, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1 Kings 18 – for Mar 30th’s Good Friday service message on Nehemiah 9:26 at 10AM

“Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred of the LORD’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water.”

1 Kings 18:13 (NIV) 

We can see from this account in 1 Kings 18 that God’s people love life, and will not spend their lives foolishly, but will risk their lives as God requires.

Elijah will soon flee from Jezebel, but in this instance God has told him to show himself to Ahab, and so he approaches Obadiah to arrange a meeting. Obadiah is not anxious to die foolishly, so he gets a promise from Elijah that he will present himself to Ahab, before Obadiah will carry out his task. In this back and forth we are told for the second time that Jezebel has been killing the
prophets of the LORD.

 Elijah typified the purpose of a prophet, for his mission was to turn the hearts of the people back to their God. This is the purpose of every true prophet of God- they speak the Words of God to God’s people, for the purpose of heart change. Desiring that the people will turn from their false worship, their wickedness and serve the LORD God and the LORD God only. Jezebel is acting on behalf of Satan by killing the prophets of the LORD, and replacing them with prophets of Baal.

Satan failed here, but his plan didn’t change for he repeated it with Christ and then with
Christ’s apostles. 

Same plan, same enemy and praise God the same result for Satan- FAILURE!

March 28, 2018 - Suggested Reading Acts 24 – for Apr 1st’s Easter message on 1 Corinthians 7:14 in the 1st Service

“unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.”

Acts 24:21 (NIV) 

The hope of the resurrection of the dead is a big part of Paul’s gospel, and he used it to divide the Sanhedrin for his benefit, for the Pharisees believe in the resurrection of the dead and the Sadducees don’t. Felix the Roman governor knew all about the “Way” and all about the Jewish faith and the politics of the Sanhedrin, and he was not disposed to grant the Jewish leaders freedom to harm Paul. However he makes the deadly mistake that many many people make – they are OK with the idea of a resurrection but not willing to deal with the consequences of a Risen Saviour.

If Christ Jesus is alive, then faith in Christ Jesus requires righteousness, self control and an expectation of personal judgement. This type of talk scared Felix for it meant a change in his life Today. How many thousands and millions of people “believe” in the resurrection of the dead but refuse to deal with the reality of a Risen Lord and Saviour? 

Martha believed in the great resurrection and was challenged by Jesus to believe in HIM.

Oh friend if God will bring your body back from the grave- will He not require an accounting
from you? 

Face it now, plead for mercy from the Risen One, the Lord Jesus, become ready today for that great Resurrection Day.

March 27, 2018 - Suggested Reading Genesis 4 – for Mar 30th’s Good Friday Service message on Nehemiah 9:26 at 10am

“The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me
from the ground.”

Genesis 4:10 (NIV)

We may wonder why?

Why would Cain kill his brother?

Why would Cain care that Abel received God’s favour while Cain didn’t?

Why wouldn’t Cain approach God on God’s terms, if he wanted God’s favour?

Why would God allow the ungodly brother to kill the godly?

We may wonder but we aren’t given the answers.

We may wonder how?

How did Cain know that Abel’s sacrifice was received?

How did God speak to Cain?

How did God mark Cain?

How is allowing Cain to kill Abel a winning strategy for God’s kingdom?

We may wonder but all we are given is HOW Cain killed Abel.

It is enough for us to know that the ungodly hate the godly.

It should be enough for us not to be surprised at the hostility towards Christians in Canada and around the world.

It should be enough for us to understand what the Lord meant when in Matthew 10:21 where He said “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.”

March 27, 2018 - Suggested Reading Deuteronomy 32 – for Apr 1st’s Easter message on 1 Corinthians 7:14 in the 1st Service

 “See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal,

    and no one can deliver out of my hand.”

Deuteronomy 32:39 (NIV)

These last Words of the LORD thru His servant Moses speak to us of the greatness of His God.

I wonder is the God of Moses our God?

The God of Moses is the Rock whose works are perfect, and all His ways are just.

Is this God of Moses our God?

The God of Moses is the faithful God who does no wrong - upright and just is He.

Is this God of Moses our God?

The God of Moses will vindicate his people, when He sees their strength is gone.

Is this God of Moses our God?

The God of Moses is God over death and life- He puts to death and brings to life.

Is this God of Moses our God?

The God of Moses makes atonement for His land and people.

Is this the God we trust? Is this the God we know?

Does this God know us?

March 26, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2 Corinthians 3 - for March 25th message on Nehemiah 9:32-38 in 2nd Service

“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV) 

Are we competent as ministers of a new covenant.

Many people don’t like the word competent, for it requires a judgement, and it involves a comparison of work. As long as I try my best we say- that is the most important thing. 

It is a good thing we have sports, for it is the last place in our peaceful little shire that we hobbits have to remind us of the truth that competence matters more than trying our best.

You may say well John I am not a minister - and my response is that you most certainly are.

You minister the new covenant to yourself and you minister the new covenant to your loved ones and friends. So the question stands are you competent?

This verse contains the test of competency if you are willing to compare your work to the verse.

Are you all about the letter? - rules rules rules

Or are you all about the Spirit? submission surrender worship

The great truth in this verse is that God is the One who makes us competent

Submit to Him

Surrender to Him

Live a life of worship to Him

Forget the lie of "as long as you tried your best"

Become COMPETENT

March 26, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1 Peter 3 - for March 25th message on 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 in the 1st Service

“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives.”

1 Peter 3:1 (NIV) 

It seems strange that anyone can witness without words.

Yet that is exactly what God says thru Peter to family women who have unsaved husbands.

Submission seems to be a bad word to most Canadian women in 2018. 

The infamous answer to Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 5 “Wives submit to your husbands as unto the Lord” that goes like this- "I might submit to my husband if he acted more like the Lord"- has no traction in a situation where the husband is a non-Christian.

The situation Peter is describing is a tough situation for a Christian lady to be in and yet his direction to work on the inner self - the unfading beauty of gentle quiet spirit - reminds us of Christ’s teaching about the inner righteousness that is greater than the righteousness of the Pharisees. It is more natural for us to work on outward appearance, and yet there is more blessing for us to work on our inner self. It seems to me from a husband’s perspective that great faith is required for a lady to live this out. For there would be tremendous fear involved in the type of submission being described in this passage.

March 24, 2018 - Suggested Reading Matthew 26 - for March 25th message on Nehemiah 9:32-38 in 2nd Service

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:28 (NIV)

As we approach Good Friday, we should remember what made this new covenant possible. For it seems so easy for those of us who are hidden in Christ to mistake “free” grace with “cheap” grace. There was nothing cheap about bringing you and me into the everlasting covenant of love with the Creator of the world. It cost our Lord His body and His blood. As we read this passage we realize the significance of Christ presenting His body in place of the Passover lamb. Preparations for the Passover meal have been completed, and Matthew records that Judas and the priests have been making preparations also, for the true Passover Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ. The record of what happened in Egypt shows us that they were not allowed to drink the blood of the lamb, but the blood was placed on their door frame to protect them, and the messy ceremony at Mount Sinai shows us that is necessary for us to be sprinkled (covered) by blood for a covenant to be made real. That covenant was about the outside, the new covenant is about the inside - so our Lord told His disciples, this is my blood of the covenant, drink of it, all of you.

Spiritual union with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not cheap - But FREE!

Praise God for His Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Drink of it, all of you!”

March 24, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1 Thessalonians 4 - for March 25th message on 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 in 1st Service

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;”

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV) 

It's crazy how attracted I am to this person!

I wonder what God wants me to do?

For a person to ask this question of themselves sets them apart from the vast majority.

The definition of sanctified is “set apart”.

A person who is concerned about whether or not they please God - is set apart.

Knowing God’s will is the beginning of lining our life up with God, and Paul wants to make sure that Christians know very clearly that God’s will for them is to avoid sexual immorality.

Avoiding sexual immorality involves;

 learning to control my body in a holy and honourable way

not allowing passionate lust to control me

not taking advantage or wronging a brother or sister

 Many Christians reject any teaching about sexual immorality to their own harm.

For God called us to a holy life, not an impure life.

March 23, 2018 - Suggested Reading Daniel 9 - for March 25th message on Nehemiah 9:32-38 in 2nd Service

“Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your
great mercy.”

Daniel 9:18 (NIV) 

Daniel’s great prayer of intercession for Jerusalem begins with “LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,”. These Words are very similar to the Words that Nehemiah starts his prayer with. The only sure ground to approach God, is the ground of His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commands. Yet even on this sure ground Daniel ends His prayer on surer ground yet- and that is on the basis of God’s character! It is not Daniel’s righteousness that will move God to answer. It is God’s character- His mercy, and His Name that moves God to action. Our Lord told His disciples to ask in His Name. At Parkdale we are careful to end our prayers in Jesus Name- and I wonder- do we know what we are doing, and why we are doing it.

It is because Christ Jesus is righteous.

It is because the Name of Jesus is the Name of God.

It is because our lives are hidden in Christ.

He is the only reason God will answer our prayers. 

March 23, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1 Corinthians 9 - for March 25th message on 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 in the 1st Service

“Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas”

1 Corinthians 9:5 (NIV)

The apostle Paul achieved much for God’s kingdom.

He was a man completely sold out to Christ and the advancement of His kingdom, his energies, thoughts and efforts were 100% focused on Christ and Christ’s church, he gave his life in obedience to Christ and for Christ’s glory.

We talk about What Would Jesus Do- as a way of focusing us on living every part of our lives in a Christ honouring way - yet Jesus did not marry, nor have children- our Lord was 100% focused on His heavenly Father and His church, He gave His life in obedience to His Father and for His church.

How many Christians today would choose the life Paul chose to live out of his own free will?

Could this be why the church of our Lord Jesus Christ is so lukewarm in our age?

People say to me “The hearts of many will grow cold” as an explanation of why Christians in the Quinte are lackluster. They use that phrase as a way of explanation – that the lackluster Christian living around us is a fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy of the last days.

Paul believed that he was in the last days- and he gave 100%.

If we truly believe that we are in the last days should we not follow his example?

No wonder Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:7 that he wished that all were as he was.

The % we are sold out to Christ and His church is directly proportionally to the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the Quinte area.

March 22, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 89

 “I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail.”

Psalm 89:28 (NIV)

Did you see our Saviour in this psalm?

You say this psalm is all about God’s promise to David - see verse 3 and verse 49.

Do you see Him in the promise to David?

Do you see Him in the Words that can be about no other than Christ?

Like verse 26 and 27?

Do you see yourself in this psalm?

You say - how can I for I am no descendant of David.

Look again at verse 30 thru 37 and notice that the sons who disobey are punished with the rod. Only true sons are punished, for false sons are cast away.

Those who have by faith- been joined to Christ Jesus, are now in the ranks of the descendants of David, and are the true sons of David.

This everlasting covenant of love between God the Father and His Son includes all those who call on the Name of the Lord and are saved.

This covenant of love is our only basis of hope, it is the grounds of Nehemiah’s prayer, and it is the grounds of Ethan’s prayer in this psalm, and it should be the grounds of each prayer of ours.

my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ my righteousness

March 22, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Luke 20

“Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.”

Luke 20:34 (NIV)

Our Lord is amazing - He handles these traps in Luke 20 like a hot knife cutting thru butter.

He takes the Sadducees’ false construct and reveals their lack of understanding of the very nature of a relationship with the living God. When it comes to the resurrection of the dead, please do not take the Sadducees’ approach. They tried to take teaching from the bible and run it as far down the road as they could, thinking it proved their point when all it did was prove their lack of understanding of Scripture and of God. However, we owe them a debt for the answers they
received from the Lord bring life to us.

The Lord has taught us here that marriage was created by God for this age.

By age He means the time period in the world before Christ returns for the salvation of those who are His, and the destruction of the ungodly. That would include all the people from Adam and Eve until the second coming of Christ, and includes, the so-called stone age, tool age, bronze age, iron age, manufacturing age, the information age and whatever other age we have yet to go through as humans.

Marriage was created for human society until the time Christ comes back to save us by changing us into beings who will never die. This change is described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-56

So let us embrace, honour and celebrate God’s plan for humans until He returns
for those who are His.

May we be found ready.

March 21, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Nehemiah 1

“Then I said: LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,”

Nehemiah 1:6 (NIV)

The whole story of Nehemiah, his work, and his life started right here with these words in a prayer. This gives us Nehemiah’s view of God, and it gives us his basis for expecting God to help him as he approached the king. Interestingly enough there is no description of Nehemiah’s obedience, or pledge by Nehemiah to obey. Nehemiah prays back God’s Words in verse 8 & 9 - God’s promise to restore -spoken to Moses on the basis of the people’s repentance, but there is no mention of Nehemiah’s godly life, which gave him grounds to claim God’s promise to restore -is it assumed? God only keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him (keep His commands) If we gloss over this truth- and pretend that God keeps His covenant of love with those who hate Him and disobey His commands - we miss the Gospel. The Gospel is that Jesus our Lord loved His Father and kept all of His commands, died in our place and rose from the grave (on the basis of God’s covenant of love) to ascend to the right hand of God. So that all who believe in Him would be brought into spiritual union with Him through the Holy Spirit and would then benefit from our Lord’s obedience. He is our life- He is our obedience - He is our love.
May we fix our eyes on Him today! 

March 21, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Malachi 2

 “Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of
your youth.”

Malachi 2:15 (NIV) 

Malachi 2 has some sobering Words for a family man.

God holds the husband responsible for the marriage.

Its part of the greater body of biblical teaching on the spiritual headship of males.

Most of us love to be the head when things are going well- take the credit.

But most of us also when things go bad – love to spread the blame.

God doesn’t spread the blame- He points at the man of the relationship.

Verse 13 and 14 describe God not answering a husband’s prayer because he is not treating his wife properly.

Verse 16 Calls the actions of a husband divorcing his wife in hatred “violence against her.”

Verse 15 speaks wonderful truths about God’s two-fold purpose for a husband.

Faithfulness to the wife we married when we were young and godly offspring.

It is an observable truth for anyone who cares to observe what is obvious, that children are the most affected by divorce.

We as family men can pretend that this passage is too obscure to understand, or we can ask the refiner’s fire of the Malachi 3 to purify our hearts towards our wife and our children.

I choose the latter.

March 20, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Deuteronomy 7

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) 

Two dear ladies of Parkdale left their husbands and went to be with our Lord early this year. We miss both Alice and Joyce as a church family, but their husband's Norm and Mel miss their wives more then we can ever know. What a wonderful example to all of us of 2 ladies who kept their covenant of love with their husbands! The best among us keep their covenant of love for their entire married lives, which is their generation. Yet many marriages break apart because it takes both people in the marriage to keep a covenant of love together.

Moses declares that the LORD is God and is not like us- He not only can keep His covenant of love with one generation, He will keep it with a thousand generations.

This chapter reminds the Israelites that the covenant of love is supposed to work both ways- that they are to obey what is commanded (love from us to God) and God will in return love them. It is a little sad reading this chapter and knowing the rest of the story, knowing that these people will generation after generation turn from God, and incur His wrath. At the same time, it is an amazing testament to our God’s character, to make this covenant of love, knowing they would fail, and planning all along to fulfill both sides of this covenant.

SO not only will the LORD our God keep His side of the covenant of love for a thousand generations - He will also keep our side of the covenant!

What an awesome God- what a wonderful Saviour!

May we love(obey) Him with all we have today out of hearts full of thanks.

March 20, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Psalm 128

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”

Psalm 128:3 (NIV) 

For a family man who fears the LORD, Psalm 128 brings praise and thanksgiving out of his heart.

It is not for all of us to be family men.

Hey more than half of us are women.

And according to 1 Corinthians 7 some men aren’t meant to be family men.

And it is true that tragedy, disaster and sickness prevent men from having families.

But for a family man who fears the LORD, this psalm speaks volumes about God’s goodness to him.

And for a family man who is now a grandfather, a triple blessing has been received!

March 19, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Romans 9

“What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?”

Romans 9:22 (NIV)

Romans 9 records that Paul has great sorrow in his heart over the state of the Jewish people. His attitude should be every Christian’s attitude, though it seems that our Christian ancestry is filled with examples of hatred towards the Jews. It is crazy that the very people (Christian Gentiles) who have benefited the most by the Jewish rejection of their Messiah should have any hatred for the Jews. If they had not rejected Christ, we Gentiles would not have had the opportunity to be declared righteous by believing the promise of God revealed in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. But Christians throughout the ages have ‘pretended’ to honour the Lord by despising the Jews. I say ‘pretended’- for the attitude of despising Jews is behaviour more befitting children of satan then behaviour befitting the children of the God who deals with the Jews with great patience, for His glory.

Will I be like my ancestors today?

Or will I draw near to Christ and be like my heavenly Father today?

March 19, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service 2 Timothy 2

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

Each Tuesday at Parkdale a dedicated group of workers gather to run our AWANA program. This is an amazing ministry to train up our children, that takes its name from verse 15 of this chapter. Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. The dedication demonstrated by parents and other adults to train these children in the Word comes from a desire to see our children become strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

But this letter was written to a young man, a pastor, and I wonder if we as adults are willing

to join Paul in suffering like a good soldier of Christ.

What about enduring anything for the sake of the elect?

What about avoiding godless chatter?

What about gently instructing opponents?

What about not having anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments?

What about fleeing the evil desires of youth?

Not fleeing to nowhere but fleeing by pursuing the life God has for each of us.

Will we call on the Lord for this life?

Will the words of our lips be lined up with our heart?

March 17, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Acts 7

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”

Acts 7:51 (NIV) 

Acts 7 seems like a history lesson until we reach vs 51- Stephen’s tone changes dramatically. The accusation is that the Sanhedrin are just like their ancestors, that they killed the Righteous One. Grace and truth reside together in this accusation, for the obvious truth needed to be said, and the grace is the provision of another opportunity the Lord provided these rebels who killed His beloved Son, another opportunity to respond to the truth.

I understand this gracious opportunity as the answer of God to the prayer of His Son on the cross; “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

These men spurn their opportunity, they resist the Holy Spirit speaking to them through the Scriptures and through Stephen’s lips. They give themselves over to anger and murder Stephen.

Just like their ancestors!

This is a turning point in the life of the young church, as they are forced to leave Jerusalem, and it is a further step towards the destruction of the Jewish system centered on the temple.

But there is a young man named Saul who is part of the group helping to kill Stephen, who will break with his ancestors, who will be brought to his knees and turn his head towards the Lord and never be stiff-necked towards God again.

Will I be like my ancestors today?

Or will I draw near to Christ and be like my heavenly Father today?

March 17, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service 1 Timothy 6

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness”

1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

To truly flee from sin, we must pursue what is good.

We don’t run away into nothing, rather we are to pursue the life God has for us.

Christianity is not a message of “just stop it”, rather it is the message of “just start living”.

Just start living the life God has provided for us in Christ.

Just start living in righteousness - the righteousness described by Christ in His Sermon.

Just start living a godly life - doing what God would do if he were in your shoes

Just start living your life by faith - looking for opportunities to grow your faith.

Just start living a life of love- practical love that puts other’s needs in front of mine.

Just start living the life that lasts – prepare yourself to never give up no matter what

Just start living a life of gentleness – YES we can become gentle – for our Saviour is gentle

This life is waiting for us- if we would pursue it.

March 16, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Matthew 23

“So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered
the prophets.”

Matthew 23:31 (NIV) 

Our Lord came full of grace and truth, and it was an act of grace by Him to give these leaders of Jerusalem the truth. People who think the Lord Jesus never spoke a cross word must deliberately avoid reading Matthew 23. He starts by warning us not to conduct themselves like these leaders and then by warning us not to elevate men into God’s position in our lives as Teacher and Father (obey and follow God not men) Jesus then thru a series of woes clearly illustrates the utter emptiness of the outward “godliness” of the Jewish leaders that seems so quickly to become the way of life for “churched” people in our land. When we read the gospels and think to ourselves that if we had been alive when Jesus ministered on earth that we would not have cried out for Jesus to be crucified, we make the mistake that Jesus points out in verse 30 and are testifying against ourselves. Most of us aren’t even Jews, and so our ancestors were even worse when it comes to their attitude towards the One True God. We have human ancestors and we will follow in their steps of rejecting God unless we have done something about our inside, our soul. He longs to gather us to Him, but we are not willing. Oh friend, may we be willing today, to come to Him to get the inside of our cup washed white as snow.

March 16, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Romans 1

“In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

Romans 1:27 (NIV)

Romans 1 is a very sobering passage.

These verses reveal a God who punishes those who refuse to worship the One True God by giving us over to ourselves.

the wrath of God is being revealed

God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity

God gave them over to shameful lust

God gave them over to a depraved mind

 When we are left to ourselves, and to our hearts, sexual immorality abounds.

Its natural to each of us - that is natural in the sense of sin nature - to desire what harms us.

Even though we know that these actions bring death, we continue in them and approve of others who practice them.

Oh God, please be gracious to me, create in me a heart that glorifies your Name, a heart that desires what you desire. Save me from myself. Thank you my Father for your grace in my life- thank you for the Presence of your Holy Spirit.

March 15, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Jeremiah 33

“This is what the LORD says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.”

Jeremiah 33:20-21 (NIV)

The bitterness of sudden destruction.

The warnings went on for years, many prophets and many forms of warnings, but all sent from one LORD to save His people from destruction. They wouldn’t listen, they rejected the Word of the LORD over and over again. Then destruction happened. Jerusalem was destroyed, the unthinkable was forced upon them, and they had to face the reality of the Words of the LORD.

They wouldn’t humble themselves, so He broke them, He humbled them, He forced their faces into the dust, He brought destruction unto their families and their community.

And yet this is the LORD we are speaking of- the LORD the LORD who maintains love to thousands, who forgives wickedness rebellion and sin and yet still punishes – and so the LORD speaks Words of hope to His destroyed people through His prophet Jeremiah. In this 33rd chapter of Jeremiah we read that the solid ground on which true hope rests for a child of God, is not best wishes, nor inexorable fate for they are powerless. NO - true hope for a child of God rests on the covenant of love that God has made with David, fulfilled for us in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. True hope for us rests on the truth that we are powerless to break His covenant with day and night – and therefore we can not break His covenant through Christ to us, that we received through our body and the blood of our Saviour.

Our hope is in Him!

March 15, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Proverbs 5

“At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.”

Proverbs 5:11 (NIV) 

In light of our over-sensitivity to gender equality in Canada in 2018, we should state that although Proverbs 5 contains the prayer of a righteous husband, the wisdom here is for both genders, male or female. It is written from a man’s point of view, with a man’s propensity for visual attraction, but the idea that Proverbs 5 blames the woman for the man’s sin is ludicrous. This chapter lays the blame at the man’s feet.

he doesn’t listen to wisdom, for he prefers to hear lips that drip honey

he turns aside from wisdom, and he walks by her door (the opposite of fleeing)

he loses his honour and dignity to someone who is cruel

he loses his wealth to strangers

he gets in trouble with the assembly of God’s people

But worst of all he pays a price in his own body-  his flesh and body are spent.

Wisdom says; “whoever sins sexually sins against their own body”

March 14, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Proverbs 29

“Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.”

Proverbs 29:1 (NIV)

I have a memory of getting in trouble on a school bus ride as a grade 2 student for yelling out- “Happy Birthday stiff neck” in response to our bus driver asking us to sing Happy Birthday to my older sister Ginny. I deserved the trouble I received for I was acting out of envy towards my sister who was the bus driver’s favourite student, (she was a good girl) – and the stiff neck comment was brutal - for my sister was being treated for scoliosis by wearing a full brace that cupped her chin and held her neck in one position.

God is not calling us “stiff necked” to harm us – He is pointing out that we have our neck fixed in such a position so as to prevent our head from turning towards Him and following after His commands. It is not a metal brace that stops our necks from turning- it is a brace of stubbornness and rebellion, that stops our head from turning to our Saviour.

Our compassionate and gracious God who is slow to anger delivers many personal rebukes, until one day we will be destroyed without remedy.

But friend – that day is not today- or you would not be reading this.

There is still time for us to apply the remedy found in Scripture.

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, turn to him and be saved from destruction.

March 14, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Psalm 38

“Come quickly to help me, my LORD and my Savior.”

Psalm 38:22 (NIV) 

The heartfelt prayer of a penitent sinner.

Some people scoff at the teaching of 1 Corinthians 6 that when we sin sexually, we sin against our own body. David’s prayer in Psalm 38 describes very clearly the physical results of unconfessed sin. He doesn’t specifically state that the unconfessed sin was sexual, but we do know from Scripture that David was known to have sinned sexually.

David chronicles the effects on his body, it makes me groan inwardly just reading it.

Let us notice that his remedy is to confess his sin. (vs18)

This is the remedy for all of God’s children. 

We are right in thinking that confession will not fix our issue, but friend realize that confession is the first step towards having God bring healing into our life and relationships. Without confession we wait in vain for healing.

David confessed, he then mentions his relationship issues, and asks God to come quickly to help.

This is the heartfelt prayer of every penitent sinner.

We confess our sin, we ask Him for healing and we wait for God to heal, in the true sense of the Word wait- the expectant hope that the God who forgives is the God who heals.

March 13, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Exodus 34

“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV)

Our view of God, our perception of who He truly is has profound implications on how we live our Christian lives. We see this so clearly in the parable of the bags of gold (talents) recorded in Matthew 25. The wicked lazy servant believed God was a ”hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed” so he hid what God gave him and wasted his Christian life. Moses knew that traumatic events - especially sin and the effects of sin on those we love- can distort our view of God, and so after Moses dealt with the golden calf disaster, he asked God to show Moses God’s glory- Moses needed a true view of God. God graciously covered Moses in a cleft in a rock and proclaimed His glory- He described Himself in Words. God’s Word is the only place we can get a true view of God, and there is no better place in Scripture than this record in Exodus 34 of what God said to Moses. You will see a portion of this declaration of God’s glory in many prayers and psalms in the Scriptures, including the prayer of Nehemiah 9, and the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, personified these Words.

May we read it, memorize it, speak it, and above all pray it- often!

March 13, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Genesis 39

“She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”

Genesis 39:12 (NIV) 

If Joseph lived in 2018 in North America, he could have been part of the #metoo movement. It is amazing how human nature stays the same throughout the ages. We pretend that we are so much more advanced then our “primitive” ancestors - NO not at all – for we discover in this account of a time in Egypt 3,300 years ago that their society had the same issue, though in this case it was a woman of power over a male servant, who did not receive justice but was severely punished for resisting her advances.

He ran, he didn’t stay and reason, he ran.

                         Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:18 to FLEE from sexual immorality.

Don’t hang around, don’t reason, don’t try to argue, don’t rationalize - just run.

The movie Forest Gump has “Run Forest Run” as a theme throughout the entire movie.

Following this advice saves him and saves others.

God is calling to us - Run _________ Run!

It is the only way to escape sexual immorality.

March 12, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Revelation 15

“ and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:…”

Revelation 15:3a (NIV)

Moses sang this song and sings this song.

The Lamb who is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ sang this song and sings this song.

Thousands/ hundreds of thousands/ millions/ hundreds of millions of Christians who have trusted God and followed Him through everything to the end, sang this song and sing this song.

What about it?

Can we sing this song to our great God today?

Can we sing it with integrity?

March 12, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service 1 John 3

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.”

1 John 3:7 (NIV) 

Don’t let Satan blow it out

I’m going to let it shine

Don’t let Satan blow it out

I’m going to let it shine,

let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

A child’s song is what we children need!

Satan would love to lead God’s children astray.

He would love to have us believe that sin in my life is ok.

What an encouragement to know that because we have been born again as children of God,

we will not continue to sin, and we CANNOT go on sinning.

God did His part, His Spirit is within us, we have been born again.

Let’s do our part - Love each other with actions and in truth. 

March 10, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Acts 13

“Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”

Acts 13:39 (NIV) 

Are you interested in the Gospel – the Good News?

What drew my attention to this long chapter in Acts is the chance to listen to Paul as he brings the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ to Jews. 

We don’t have to guess at the apostle’s approach, or technique for here is Luke’s account in verse 16 thru 41 of what he heard Paul proclaim.

The Good News starts with the history of God and His people - Surely God has been faithful!

The Good News is that the Savior Jesus is who God promised to David.

We can be sure that this Good News is true because;

Scripture was fulfilled in the manner of His death

The promise of resurrection was fulfilled in Jesus.

The promise of forgiveness of sins was fulfilled in Jesus.

The Good News according to Paul was that God has proved Himself faithful to His people the Jews by sending Jesus.

So friend how is this new promise working out for us?

You know, the one in verse 39, about being set free from every sin.

Surely God is faithful.

March 10, 2018 - Suggested Reading 1st Service Hebrews 10

 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 (NIV)

We love to compare the merits of the Old Covenant and the merits of the New Covenant we have in Christ. When we read words like - the law is only a shadow of things to come… 

- we nod our heads yes and look forward to a longer discussion of what we have been given in Christ as compared to the Law, and it is wonderful, God’s grace in Christ Jesus is absolutely amazing!

we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ

by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those being made holy

where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sins is no longer necessary

These wonderful truths can be used by Satan to deceive us into thinking that our actions in this life no longer matter - and so the apostle adds a warning, 

using the same comparative logic that greater grace given means greater punishment for those of us who keep deliberately sinning, after professing faith in Christ Jesus.

I think we make a mistake by rationalizing this text away, far better for us to accept its warning and then determine to be among those who persevere in Christ, rather than one of those who shrink away and are destroyed.

March 9, 2018 - Suggested Reading 2nd Service Psalm 145

“The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.”

Psalm 145:17 (NIV) 

Good to all

The eyes of all look

Trustworthy in all He promises

Righteous in all His ways

The use of the word all makes it so inclusive, and it ends with a call to every creature.

This psalm brings worship right out of our hearts!

Will we allow it to do its work in us today?

Read it out loud.

Then fulfil the last verse by speaking words of praise to our LORD, for specific acts of goodness, and acts of righteousness that He has performed for you.

Oh friend – if we would make this psalm part of our lives now, we will be able to trust Him, when those other times happen.