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Volume 67 Number 8 Lubbock, Texas 79493 Copyright $12.00 Per Year August 1999 |
Jesus Showed Himself Alive Reconciled to God Feeding Lambs and Sheep A Providential Miracle in the Nineteen Hundreds The Throne of Grace Brides and Weddings Tour Through The Bible Take Time For God and Family Obituaries
CONCLUDED
The fifth appearance. "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you," [John 20:19]. "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came." [John 20:24]. This is His fifth appearance, but it is the first to the apostles as a body. "Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen." [Mark 16:14].
The disciples had met in the evening with mixed emotions. They were struggling with doubt, joy, hope, and fear. Peter came and told them that Jesus had appeared unto him, and the doubt of His resurrection was gone, however, many doubts might remain concerning the facts related with His resurrection, but the fact of His resurrection itself was established.
While they pondered Peter's news, a hurried knocking at the door found an excited Cleopas and his friend from Emmaus who related their marvelous walk and supper with Jesus. As they listened to the account of these brethren, there suddenly appeared to their astonishment the person of Jesus Himself, who greeted them with a salutation of love, "Peace be unto you."
Jesus' entrance seems to have been supernatural. It is expressly said, "the doors were closed for fear of the Jews," and of course bolted and barred. Yet, in spite of this Jesus, suddenly appeared in the midst of them, implying that the doors were not opened. Luke also states that "they were affrighted, supposing
that they saw a spirit."
Now, as they already knew that Jesus was risen from the dead, there must have been something phantom-like in His entrance, which would not have been the case had He come in at the door like Cleopas and his friend had just done. The fact that Cleopas and his friend did not know Him as they walked the road to Emmaus, and then after He was made known to them He vanished out of their sight, shows that there was something peculiar in His appearance to the human sight.
Also, after this the fact is further corroborated by the fact that He is always said to have "appeared," and "to have showed Himself," to His disciples as if the visibility and the ordinary properties of a body were assumed by Him at will. This mode of appearance was different after His resurrection than before His resurrection. The resurrection body of our Lord must have possessed material properties very different from its former condition. It seemed that it was naturally invisible and intangible, although material, and became visible at His volition.
His risen body was probably invisible, capable of passing from place to place without feeling the restrictions of doors, walls, or any material barrier as with our present bodies. Yet a body of flesh, blood, and bones in a real true sense.
If our analysis has any merit we have some light thrown on the physical nature of the resurrection body, the "spiritual body," of which the apostle Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 15:44, "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body." It will be a material body, and yet with the properties of the body of Jesus already spoken of above. While it will be material, it will not be subject to the laws of matter as it is now, but will be like the body of Jesus, that was visible or invisible at His pleasure, and able to pass from place to place without limitation, such as now chains us to the surface of the earth and the limitations of this atmosphere.
Sinners always shiver with fear and dread when they see a heavenly being, there are a number of these listed in the scriptures; as Eliphaz [Job 42: 7-9] and Belshazzer [Daniel chapters 5,7,8], Moses [Exodus 3:6], Gideon [Judges 6:21:24], the Roman guards at the tomb of Jesus, and here at the present scene to mention a few. This is because of a feeling of guilt, a consciousness of sin, and an anticipation of punishment which would be well deserved.
Thus it was with the disciples when they suddenly saw before them what seemed to them as a spirit, which so strangely and silently appeared in their midst and frightened them. The words of Jesus were the exact words they needed to smother their fears and give them peace; "Peace be unto you."
"And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet," [Luke 24:38-40]. Mark states that "He upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen," [Mark 16: 14]. Luke adds, "And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it and did eat before them." [Luke 24:41-43].
Jesus gave them full evidence to confirm their faith. They were to be the authorized witnesses of His resurrection and needed full confirmation of it themselves. This He gave them by appearing to their sight, to their touch for they handled Him, and to their hearing for they heard His words. Thomas wasn't there, perhaps we will have more to say about this at another time. "Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." From this we can gather several facts. First, that the same body which went into the grave shall come out of it at the resurrection. Were it otherwise, it would not be a resurrection, a rising again, for this implies that what rises is that which had been laid down. It would be a creation and not a rising again.
Second, the resurrection body shall not have the same restrictions to matter and space as our present bodies have already spoken of.
Third, that recognition will be possible in heaven. Jesus reasoned to the fact that they could recognize Him as the same being who died on the cross. If then He could be recognized in His resurrection body, we may infer that this recognition will be possible with others. [Moses and Elijah for example], and therefore that we could know our friends in heaven. However, we need to keep in mind that heavenly relationship will not be the same as earthly relationship.
It is to be noted that Jesus upbraided His disciples for not believing the sisters account of His resurrection, which means He found fault with them for their unbelief and censured them. The report given by them is the account that we all are to believe. No one witnessed His resurrection and the account given the sisters by the angels is the only account that we are given of His resurrection.
Also, Jesus had told them that He would raise from the dead, "He is not here; for he is risen as he said,"
Also see how odious the sin of unbelief is unto our Lord. How disgusting it is to lightly disregard the experience others have had with the Lord. We should listen attentively to their experiences for it is the desire of brethren to share those things with others and to tell what great things God has done for them in their time of need, also these experiences often serve to encourage and bolster our faith.
Our faith in prayer is greatly enhanced by the answered prayers of others. I feel that our failure to follow the primitive practice of meeting and sharing our experiences of grace with each other is a great loss to the church.
These are the first five appearances of Jesus after His rising from the dead, all between the dawn and the evening of the first day. He made five more appearances during the forty days before His ascension.
May God Bless Us All.
"And all these things are of God," All new things are of God as we read in verse 17 of II Cor. 5th chapter. "All things are becoming new." "Who hath reconciled- us to himself by Jesus Christ." "Because we thus judge, if one died for all then were all dead."
We judge that all Jesus died for were all dead and all He died for were reconciled to God or to Himself. All that Jesus died for were His sheep or people. "The good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." John 10:11. "And I lay down my life for the sheep." V. 15. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish." 28., "And that He died for all, [His sheep] that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again."
Sinners were reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Paul said, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed, unto us the word of reconciliation." The word reconciliation and the ministry of reconciliation mean the same thing.
The gospel ministry proclaims that sinners were reconciled by the death of His Son. The preaching of the gospel is to reconcile those previously reconciled to God by the death of His Son and saved by His life to God doctrinally and practically as taught in V. 20. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
The Banner of Love, May 1, 1934
What can preachers do? The quality of preaching the Word of God with depth sufficient to reach the "cases" and "needs" of each individual member as well as the entire church body, collectively, is an unqualified necessity for church stability and growth. With several exceptions, it is evident that some ministers have not qualified themselves in the study and with the understanding of God's word sufficient to meet the spiritual needs of both lambs and sheep. Some, like me, are mere "water surfers", skimmers, skiers, or surface snorkelers rather than deep-sea divers in the word of God.
Each minister is to devote ample time to reading, studying, searching, meditating, and praying constantly to attain the highest mark possible within the scope of his gift, else, he will not achieve much more than to take the path of least resistance and be satisfied with the status quo. The continued path of pastor/preacher complacency, over time will, as he functions in the office as the church's teacher and overseer, be instrumental in molding the personality of the church body, as a whole, to be satisfied with indifference and luke warmness. [See Rev. 3:16]. Left in this condition past the period of God's long-suffering will. He removes His candlestick, the church dies, and becomes, at the most, a mere monument with nothing left but memories and tombstones.
In the midst of His disciples, Jesus took up a little child in His arms, blessed him, and said, "suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." [Luke 18:15 -17]. Some say that little children will be the church of "tomorrow," but Jesus said they are "of the church today." He didn't say, "..of such will be, but "..of such IS" It has been my observation that a church today without little lambs in it, and continuing so, will cease to exist in the tomorrows when the last sheep dies.
Little children are as necessary and important to the church today, as are their parents. The pastor/teacher must be instructing and encouraging every member-parent, both "to teach" and "how to teach" their children at home while yet in their youth. This teaching concerns the word of God and each child's responsibility to live a godly life, to keep God's commandments, to grasp an early understanding of the principles of God's sovereign grace to be baptized in His established kingdom on earth, to be humble and faithful in the church and the cause of Christ, and to commune with the saints of the Lord's table.
Consistent family worship-time in the home with each family member in earnest attendance, praying, reading, studying the word of God, and singing psalms of praise and honor to God sets the stage for encouragement to attend the Church of God when the saints are assembled together for to worship in spirit and truth. Also, in this home setting, godly principles should be established by which all of life is to be guided, nourished, and lived. This is God's design and purpose for the home. Churches are no stronger than the members of the homes, but make up the body of the church..
Children should be instructed and guided by parents to commit Scripture to memory. In this manner and while in their youth, they hide the word of God in their heart that they might not sin against Him. [Psalms 119:11]. The word of God, then becomes a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path for their lifetime and for all of life's endeavors. [Psalms 119:105]. When proper and adequate spiritual interest is created in the home, the child's desire to be found in the house of God will be manifest by their physical presence and attentive listening.
So often, we, as adults, underestimate the ability of children to understand God-given and God-directed sermons. God is as able to open the ears of small children as He is able to enlighten the understanding of adults. A few years back, I was preaching on the four chapters of Jonah one Sunday morning. During the lunch hour, four year old, Trevor Norton had the other small children of the congregation sitting on the front pews, and he was on the bottom step of the pulpit energetically and emphatically repeating some of the very things he had heard spoken in the morning service. This was a delight to all the adult observers.
A child's interest must be created before active, attentive listening will be their reception to God's word. When the interest is not stirred in the home, preaching at the house of God becomes not much more than mere mental discontent, listlessness, boredom, and drudgery. People respond according to the nourished interest underlying a given subject. Sitting in a college calculus class would be boring and exhausting to me, because I haven't been instructed in the basics necessary to understand the principles of that advanced math.
Likewise, children who are not instructed in the basics of God's word in the home will have little or no interest and certainly a diminimus of understanding from the pulpit preaching although they occupy the pew. As an example, a child's interest is formulated in baseball's major leagues by previously involving him in its little and minor leagues. The formulation of interest in the principles of God's word and its teachings to our youth is no different.
Just as a plane's passengers are told to buckle their seat belts for a safer landing, parents and pastors must exercise a cooperative effort and responsibility in the teaching of their children for the perseverance of their sanctified godly and church-consecrated life. Primary responsibility rests with the parents of children. The pastor/teachers have their responsibilities to take heed therefore unto themselves, and in all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. [Acts 20:28].
It seems appropriate to close this dissertation with Psalms 27:4-6, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secrets of His tabernacle shall He hide me; he shall set me up on a rock. And now shall mine head he lifted up above mine enemies round about me; therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. "May God grant grace that this will be our continued prayer and our perpetual activity.
May God bless us all in His Holy service.
Elder Berwyn F. Hand
There was a time in the late sixties that I was called to the pastorship [under-shepherd] of the El Paso, Texas Church and what a wonderful group of Christians the Lord had added there. They were a lovely flock, and still are, as to that. After being taught in sound doctrine, the Lord led our mind to practical godliness, which is as important to a true worshipper as the doctrine in order to worship the true and living God in truth and spirit. They go side by side, that fellowship and joy may abound.
And in true practice, we find brotherly love, kindness, meekness, forgiveness, good works, and charity, to name a few things that go with church membership.
We were gathering in an old barracks building, which somewhat favored a barn. And between meeting days, sand came in so bad from the West Texas sand storms that we used push brooms and shovels to clean it up. At any rate, the door and window casings were so rotten they would not hold a six-penny nail to tack plastic over them to keep the West Texas sand out.
With a lot of prayers, we sold it and bought two lots in a better part of town, and laid the foundation, and an angel, I call him, showed up. He asked to build the church. He said an anonymous donor would like to build it. Of course, we were all thankful, and in ninety days, on Easter Sunday, 1987, we held our first service there. What a glorious time, I would say.
The cost was above eighty thousand dollars. It is the most beautiful church house inside and out you will ever behold. The anonymous donor is still anonymous. The Spirit of our Master has sent His Comforter to us ever since.
This is being published for our God's glory and honor and to His praise at the suggestion of a dear Christian friend. We ask for the forgiveness of our friends, the church and our Master for our hiding the blessing and great miracle all these many years.
In Hebrews Chapter 4, and verse 16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The first thing I want to point out, is that this is the last verse in the fourth chapter of Hebrews. He says, "Let us therefore come." In the third chapter, he deals with a people that was abiding in unbelief that departed from the living God. He says that they saw my works and tempted me for forty years, and I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. So, I sware in my wrath. They shall not enter into my rest.
Oh, what a sad condition that children of God can get their selves into such a fix, that they cannot enter into God's rest, because of unbelief.
In the first verse of chapter four, he tells us that he has promised us a rest and we ought to fear lest we should come short of it. Then, in verse three, he says, For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said. As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. This rest is to those that believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Then in verse nine: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. The rest in this verse denotes a repose of christianity as to rest in confidence or assurance. We can have full assurance and confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Then in verse 10: For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. What he is saying, is that he that has that full assurance of faith and that his confidence is in Christ has entered into the very abode of God, and that his own labors have ceased just as God ceased from his work on the seventh day.
Then in verse 14, he says Seeing then that we have, or that we possess such a great or mighty high priest, one that is passed into the heavens, one that has finished his work, one that has sat down at the right hand of God, one that makes intercessions and pleads our case to God. He is the Son of God. He is our Saviour, He is our Deliverer.
Then in verse 15 he says, He is one that is touched with the feelings of our infirmities because he was in all points tempted like as we are, that is He was tested, examined and proved and yet, He was without sin. Oh! what Grace this is, to believe in a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. The one that laid down his life, that we
might live for evermore.
This now, brings us back to where we started. Let us therefore, come boldly unto the Throne of Grace. Do you not love the word, us, in this text? Let us, that makes me feel that I am, and that you are a partaker of this wonderful Grace, that this invitation is to us, that we are invited to come to the Throne of God. This Throne is God's Throne. It is a place of power, a place that we can obtain mercy, a place that we can find grace. It is a place that we will not get what we rightfully deserve, but we will receive manifold blessings from God. Blessings that we do not deserve. Let us therefore, come boldly, let us come with confidence and full assurance trusting in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that not only is he able to help in time of need, but that he will help in time of need.
Have you ever needed to obtain mercy and find grace? Are you tired of fighting life's battles alone? Have you got to the point in your life that you realize that you just can't handle life's problems on your own, that you just can't go through another day without help. Oh! my friends, there is mercy to obtain and Grace to find at the Throne of Grace.
It does not matter how small or how great that problem may seem, God is able to help in time of need. Whatever may be your case today; it may be grief, sickness, family problems, depression, pain, or it may be sin dwelling in your life.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace. Let us lay it at the feet of Jesus Christ. There is a rest for us. There is a peace that passeth all understanding. Our rest is not in what we can achieve of ourselves, but our rest can only be found at God's Throne, and that is found in Jesus Christ. AMEN.
The Primitive Baptist Position concerning the Institution of Marriage, is based upon The Holy Scriptures, as compared Institution wise, to the N. T. Church. The parallels and harmonic unity between the First and Oldest Institution on Earth is that of Marriage, and such is patterned after the same structure, rules and regulations as the Church.
Songs of Sol. 6:9--"My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her." Now contrast this with the apostate marriages of prophecy of the N .T. [false] churches in Isaiah 4:1 - "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparels; only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach."
There is just one true N. T. Church Marriage. She has identifying marks, while the false churches fail in this test. Matt. 19:5 - "And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh?"
Jesus has just referred them back to Gen. 2:24. Paul quotes this in Eph. 5:31; 1st Cor. 6:16.. Matt. 19:6 - "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." his is the N. T. Rule of Marriage and such is equated with the same Rules for the N. T. Church.
Major Conclusion: This writing is not really about the Natural God-Given Institution of Marriage, but really, that of the N. T. Church Kingdom - the Organic, Organized, Militant Visible Order. The rules for marriage do parallel harmoniously in unity with that of becoming a member of the Lord's N. T. Church, by pressing into such, and striving to enter in at the strait gate and narrow way. Matt. 7:13-14. See, she is but One. Read Eph. 5:22-33, as this frame work is clearly proven. Being married to the First Love is the theme of The Church, not only in a Natural Marriage, but in joining the Church through the Door of Jesus Christ where the First Ordinance of Water Baptism is located and then never straying from your "First Love." Eph. 5:32- "This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church." In Eph 5:22 down to verse 31, Paul has set forth the criteria of a Perfect Natural Marriage. Further, Heb. 13:4 - "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled." Such constitutes a True Marriage, which is a "long-term" relationship. Now my major thrust in this writing is to finely-tune the difference in a Godly Marriage and that of the embryonic beginnings of the Marriage which concerns the "Wedding," and is the initial commitment of the relationship. This "Wedding Ceremony will be remembered on a "long-term" basis, and should be reviewed periodically.
Joining the N. T. Church is as a "Bride adorned for her Husband." Definitions are warranted here. Bride - veiled, betrothed, espoused, adorned, with Life and Grace - Wedding - Bride- Honeymoon - Immediate and Short-term. Wife - To wrought or work - Action - Marriage, wife, Working entity - Long-Term. Read Prov. 31:10-31.
The Holy Bible is replete with many occasions of Wedding, Brides, Marriages and Wives.
John 3:29 - The Apostle John writes concerning John the Baptist - "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled." The basic beginning of the N. T. Church was with the forerunner, John the Baptist, who was the "Friend of" the groom and performed the "Wedding Ceremony" which was literally illustrated in the Jordan River by baptizing Jesus Christ in Water - Matt. 3:13 - 17. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit were present, which is necessary for a Wedding Ceremony to be scripturally valid, Typed to Water Baptism, initially.
These "Wedding Vows" should be repeated often. How often? Every "Lord's Day" in the Sunday Worship Service, in the presence of the Witnesses of the Assembled Saints. Prophecy of this was foretold by divine inspiration by - Isaiah 62:4 - "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate; but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah; for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married." Hephzibah means "delight," and Beulah means "marriage."
The fulfillment of this prophecy is found in the literally death of Christ at the Crucifixion. At that point, for three days and three nights, the Bride was a Widow - Forsaken and Desolate - This will never happen again. There will never be another "Marriage," nor "divorce" because the Husband will never die again. Rev. 1:18
An example of this "Wedding Ceremony" is found in the parable Jesus told in Matt. 22:1-14. He tells of a certain king, which made a marriage for his son. He says the "Kingdom of Heaven" is like unto such. The Church-Kingdom is qualified as a Marriage Wedding Ceremony by Jesus Himself. This also is a clear teaching of the N. T. Church transition from the Jews to the Gentiles. Read this account right now, and also notice the guest that came without a wedding garment. He is observed and identified Only by the King. The Servant nor anyone else had, or could, detect such, for sure.
Jesus then told the servants to cast him out. This teaches clear church discipline. The "ouster darkness weeping and gnashing of teeth" is simply where everyone is, when they are not in the Assembly of the Saints. We are always in one place or the other. Either confronted by the wickedness of an ungodly world, or in the Assembly on Sunday Morning, the Wedding Ceremony. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaking to His 12 Disciples, admonishes them to Ask, Seek, and Knock. Matt. 7:7. Notice Jesus Himself came to "Seek and to Save" Luke 19:10. Also please be aware that Jesus did not come to "try to save." Songs of Sol 5:2-6 - clearly teaches the lesson to the Bride, not to delay, when the Groom [Jesus Christ] knocks on your door. Read it. This is about Him coming to the individual. Rev. 3:20 is about Him knocking on a "Lukewarm Church Door." Jesus speaks clearly in Luke 12:36 - "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." When a little trembling child of grace first feels the impression and burden within their hearts to join the church, don't delay, is the lesson in the affirmative.
The last major example, really is the First. The Wedding Feast at Cana at Galilee, comes to light in much detail in John 2:1-11. This really is a full story and lesson within itself, but is still within the frame-work of this writing. I will not detail every minute' detail, but will point-out the major premise, and that of Jesus turning water into wine. The "Water" is the Word, in print or being preached, whereas, the "Wine," which was previously only water, is when the Holy Spirit the Comforter, The Holy Ghost, the very Voice of the Son of God, the Bridegroom's Voice, speaks silently, even as the "still small voice" of 1st Kings 19:12. This water that was drawn from the different sized Water Pots [The Ministers], was the portion that was turned to Wine, such becoming, not the "Word Only" [2nd Tim 4:2] but now in "Wine" The Gospel 1st Thess. 1:5. The Word Only will teach, instruct, and give you the "Letter," but
it takes the Voice of Jesus Christ to lift this Word up to a higher level, and make it the Gospel.
1st Thess 1:5 - "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in such assurance."
Finally, it must be pointed out, that the "Word Only" will never become the Gospel unless Jesus Christ is present at the Wedding Feast. John 2:2. chronicles this fact of absolute necessity. "And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." If the Lord Jesus Christ does not come, as the Comforter, the Holy Ghost to each Sunday Morning's Assembly of Saints at the Worship Service, there will be No Gospel preached. Maybe a good lecture of the Word only at best. The Groom must always be present for there to be a wedding.
Also, each time the Gospel is preached, it is a "Miracle", not by the preacher, but by the Same Jesus, who performed His first literal miracle at this Wedding at Cana, by turning the Water of the Word into the Wine of the Gospel. John 2:11. Just as wine is exhilarating, the Gospel will also cause tears of joy and shouts of praise.
2nd Cor. 3:6 - "..Not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." V. 17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
That's the difference in a Wedding and a Marriage. A Marriage - Church Member is continuous, but the Wedding is the Assembly of the Saints on The Lord's Day. That is a "Honeymoon Time." That is a time of remembrance, and such attentiveness is only upon the Groom by the Bride.
Some couples re-enact their Wedding and re-affirm their Vows on their 25th or 50th Anniversary Dates, but the Disciple-Church-member should do this every Lord's Day in the Assembly.
It is not always easy to give advice. Who made us an expert on life? To even make friendly, constructive suggestions can many times be perceived wrongly.
We all can give advice better to our neighbor, than we take ourselves it ourselves. It is so much easier to resolve issues in other people’s lives, than to resolve our own problems and shortcomings.
It is especially tough to try to give advice to our ministers. Especially when we try to start quoting scripture to them. They always know more of it than the rest of us, and can quote more of it back.
Ministers, with their knowledge and given "expertise" on biblical history, counseling, understanding of moral positioning, and general "ministering" duties, are many times intimidating to the layman.
But ministers need guidance, counseling and advice like all of us — and they especially need encouragement. But ministers, like all of us, need encouragement from time to time to "get back to the basics".
As a teenager, like all teenagers, I was pretty much an expert on numerous issues. I never hesitated to give my father advice. It wasn’t always good advice, but as a teenager, I was not as intimidated by my dad being a minister, as I was of other "non-dad" ministers. I never quoted much scripture, because I frankly did not know that much and especially did not know exact biblical citations. Even though I did not know exact citations, I learned a number of biblical passages over the years from hearing them preached and from the friendly discussions primarily between my father and my uncle — my dad’s brother-in-law (he knows who he is).
I know now that I never really gave my dad much good advice. But I do remember a conversation in the car during my high school
days when I would frequently drive for my dad to his Sunday appointments. I was young and could drive long hours, and if gave him the opportunity to study and rest.
He had been especially busy in the last few months "ministering". He had had numerous funerals, weekend and Sunday appointments, and lots of hospital and home visits and late-night calls with individual requests for help. He never complained about it, but it was wearing on him mentally and physically.
I advised him to "slow down" and look at priorities. I know a lot of people were calling on him wanting a piece of his personal time; but he had a duty to his God and to his family.
With regard to myself, I am not as smart now as I was then. There are many times today when I need someone to give me that same advice. I suspect you do to; and I know many of our ministers need to heed that advice. Before, I did not use scripture; this time I will.
Too many of us, and especially our ministers, feel the burden to say "yes" to all requests of all people. It’s our duty. . . it’s our duty as a child of God. We are supposed to love our neighbor, care for the poor, visit the sick tend to the needs of the congregation, and even go search for that one lamb who has wandered off from the flock.
After all, we are instructed that to whom much is given, much is expected and required. See Luke 12:48. That is correct, but we need to balance that with our real priorities: first, God, and then family.
How much time lately have you taken to pray? Let’s ask again. How much actual time have you taken recently to study, pray and meditate? Is it sufficient time to justify your top priority of God? Are you prepared to defend the word of God; are you ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear? 1 peter 3:15. Have you set aside undisturbed time to pray for those you love, as well as for your enemies?
Let’s talk about our family. How much quality time have we spent with our spouses?, our children?, our grandchildren? A Commandment of the Lord is for us to honor our mother and father. Have we spent sufficient time fulfilling our duties under this commandment? Have we dedicated sufficient time to providing love, guidance and care to our families? Have we sufficiently spent time to instruct our children in the ways they show go? Do we spend enough time visiting, talking, listening and loving our spouses so that we know and love our spouses as well as we know and love ourselves?
I plead guilty to all of the above. How are you (including the ministers) doing?
But wait. What about our needs to the poor. What about the multitudes that need us?
Let’s look to Jesus’ example. Go to Matthew 26:11. As Jesus was teaching his disciples not to be critical of a woman who they felt had wasted precious ointment on Jesus instead of being given to the multitude of poor.
"For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always."
Think about priorities. The poor will always be with us, always in need of our help. Let’s not forget our priority to God first. He has ways of helping the poor without our help. Let’s set aside time first for Him.
Remember also the time Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to his betrayal and arrest. At Matthew 26, beginning at verse 36, Jesus instructed his disciples to wait and watch for him while he went in alone to pray. Jesus isolated himself from those closest to him, in order to tend to a higher priority: He said: "Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." Matt. 26:36.
At Matthew 8:18, Jesus saw the multitude around him (who obviously desired his full time and attention). One person asked to follow Jesus where ever he went. He instructed his disciples that it was time to leave so that he could get rest in order to properly attend to his priorities:
"The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not, where to lay his head." Matt. 8:20. Like all of us, Jesus needed some quiet time, some rest and meditation time.
At Matthew 14:22, Jesus instructed his disciples to leave him alone and to head out on a journey before him, "while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone."
There could be no greater demand on someone’s time and attention than there was on Jesus from his disciples and the multitudes. Yet Jesus sometimes said "no" to the demands on his time, so that he could rest, and so that he could spend sufficient time with his first priority: praying to his Father and Lord.
It is a good example. It is good advice. The poor and needy will always be with us. We should help them. It is our duty to help them. However, our number one priority is to our God, to his honor, and to his glory; and then to our family.