Nov 3, 2017- 2nd Service Suggested Reading Acts 15

After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the LORD, who does these things.

Acts 15:16, 17 (NIV)

There is only One Rebuilder - the rest of us are privileged to assist the One True Rebuilder - we are only assistants! James quotes the prophet Hosea as he speaks up for those of us in Parkdale and the Quinte area. He tells the council that the prophets spoke of a rebuilding of David’s tent by God Himself, for the purpose of bringing the rest of the world to God. That would be us- the Gentiles separated from the people of God, separated from God, brought near through our Lord Jesus Christ who is building His church with grace and power. We are part of the rebuilding of the tent of David, part of the building of the kingdom of God, ruled by the Root and Offspring of David. Let us never forget that although we are small and insignificant we are part of the Kingdom of God, and that as we work to build Parkdale we work alongside local churches all over our community and all over the world. May we have the attitude of James and the rest the council who chose not to make it difficult for others turning towards God, to become part of the Lord’s church.

Nov 3, 2017- 1st Service Suggested Reading Ephesians 3

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 3:10 (NIV)

How many of us know/believe that Parkdale makes known the manifold wisdom of God to heavenly rulers and authorities in heaven? Sometimes local church feels like a bit of a joke, it feels unorganized even substandard, completely dependent upon the whims of volunteers. Paul will have none of that talk because God has revealed to him the true nature of the local church. God’s purpose is that when these heavenly rulers (oh so much more powerful than us) look at us joined in fellowship together before Christ our Lord, they see God’s wisdom in all of its facets displayed. Christ is God’s wisdom, those of us in Christ are God’s wisdom for the spiritual world. No area of our life depends more upon our perspective than church. If we look at it from the world’s perspective- weak and foolish. If we look at it from our perspective – it needs a fresh work of God. If we look at it from the rulers and authorities in heaven’s perspective- the manifold wisdom of God. If we look at it from God’s perspective- the apple of His eye, His beloved, the ones He died for- the ones who make know His wisdom. 

Heavenly Father, may you grant each of us the grace to see Parkdale with your eyes.

Nov 2, 2017- 2nd Service Suggested Reading Isaiah 58

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:12 (NIV)

What will our people be called? Will the people of Parkdale in 2017 be called Repairers and Restorers of God’s city? What an honour, what a privilege it is to be allowed to do God’s work on this little part of God’s city called Parkdale! Will we do it? Will we do the work that is required to have this title given to us? Our LORD declares thru Isaiah that the work goes beyond prayer, and goes beyond fasting. That the required work is true justice and righteousness expressed in how we treat those we have power over, how we help those who others have power over, how we help them with own food, our own clothes, our own homes, our own selves. This is upside down to the methods of the world. Governments take from some people and give to others. Repairers and Restorers of God’s city take from themselves and give to others. This is counterintuitive- we think; “if we are going to build Parkdale, we need to collect money not give it away.” BUT let us remember – Parkdale is part of God’s city and it will be rebuilt God’s way not our way. To put our methods in the place of God’s methods is to stand in God’s place.

Nov 2, 2017- 1st Service Suggested Reading Isaiah 64

For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

Isaiah 64:3 (NIV)

This short chapter is a prayer filled with longing. A prayer by a person who has known the blessing of God in their life. A person who knew what it was to worship the One True God. A person whose worship life is now a ruin, black with ash. The longing of the heart is that God would move in power from heaven down to earth, to move the mountain, to change reality here on earth. In spite of our sin and filthiness – and because of His unfailing faithfulness to His people. Friend have you ever been in this place of prayer? This prayer is placed in the mouths of the Jewish people while in captivity in Babylon- but the prophetic aspect of the prayer and the timeless truths contained, mean that this prayer is for today. Are you even today in a hopeless situation? Take hope in the truth that His power moves to us in unexpected ways. We may think we know exactly what He should do to deliver us BUT He does it in unexpected ways. We may think it is impossible to see the situation redeemed, BUT He makes happen in ways we never expected nor imagined. The prayer from the heart is always answered! PRAY and WAIT!

Nov 1, 2017- 2nd Service Suggested Reading Isaiah 9

The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.

Isaiah 9:10 (NIV)

A statement of pride and arrogance beyond measure!

Well you don’t have to be like that you say! I just want to do my best for the LORD. I just want God’s city to be as large and prosperous as Toronto. All I am doing is using wisdom God gave me to build my business, or our government, or our education system. O friend we need to be so careful when it comes to God’s city. It is God’s city and it will be rebuilt God’s way not our way. To put our methods in the place of God’s methods is to stand in God’s place. That’s pride and that is arrogance.

God’s way of building local church is the way of humility;

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.”

God’s way of building local church is the way of peace;
“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end”

God’s way of building local church is the way of servanthood;
“He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom”

If we really want to see God’s community (our local church) be rebuilt and restored to salt and light in Quinte, we must start on our knees with ourselves.

“But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.”

Nov 1, 2017- 1st Service Suggested Reading Proverbs 8

Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

Proverbs 8:30,31 (NIV)

Is wisdom really a person? Is wisdom really a woman? Personification is a fascinating literary technique - where human attributes are given to an abstract quality. The lady wisdom calls to all of us, she wants to bless us all by serving us if we would only put her to work in our lives. She was created by God before He created anything else, and He used her to create everything else. Most amazingly of all is that she is a happy lady – because of His Presence, His world, and His humans. The message in Proverbs 8 is clear- when you find me you find life OR when you fail to find me you find death. The act of finding wisdom flips the literary technique on its head – the attributes of an abstract quality are now given to a human. AS we seek wisdom which only comes from God, as we find wisdom (He gives it to all who ask without finding fault) we become a happy person- because of His Presence, His world and His humans. Now that would be a blessed way to spend today!

Oct 31, 2017- 2nd Service Suggested Reading Psalm 46

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Psalm 46:4 (NIV)

What a wonderful description of the city of God. God will dwell with humans on the face of the earth! Do you doubt this friend? Read Genesis 1&2, read Exodus 40, read 2 Chronicles 7, read John 14, read Romans 8, read 1 Corinthians 3, and then read Revelation 21&22, and rejoice that God’s desire is to be with His people, in His people around His people, blessing them with all of His goodness in Himself and in His creation. God created what is out of what was not, He created the visible to reveal the glory of the invisible God - His character and His goodness, so that all of creation might glorify His Name! In the place that God dwells, there is a river, a wonderful river, a river that is grace, a river filled with the water of life.

You can’t stop a river, you can pool it with a dam, but you can’t stop it. So it is with God’s grace- you can’t stop it, it will overflow, it just keeps coming and coming and coming. Don’t miss the truth in these scriptures that God’s grace comes to us in river power thru His city, His church. You can find sprinkles of grace by yourself, but the river of grace comes from His dwelling place with humans- in this age of grace that city of God is the local church!

O Father draw us to your church that the river may flow!