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Glen Park Gospel Church >> Archive >> Editorial >> 2007
Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Some months include a topical article or report. We thought you might appreciate reading those previously published.
Bible Resources On The Web
Strong’s Analytical Concordance
James Strong, a lecturer in theology led a team of some 100 others
who constructed a listing of all the Hebrew and Greek root words
in the Bible and gave each one a unique number. He applied this
to the English Authorised Version (and also two other versions
which have since fallen into disuse). This numbering system has
been in use since then in countless study Bibles and helps. It
allows the English Bible reader to distinguish the original words,
however they are translated, thereby better understanding their
meaning and the differences in they way they are used.
Strongs’ system is not subject to copyright, although various formats may be, and you can access it on the Internet without cost. It is easy to use and most helpful.
www.tgm.org/bible.htm
Blue Letter Bible
The same site has many resources to offer; too much to describe
here. You can search by the verse address (click on Show Strongs
Numbers), the word of interest, or the number if you know it.
Once the word is entered the Blue Letter Bible provides you
with a new screen containing these fields:
• The word in the Hebrew or Greek lexical form.
• Information about the root, that is, where it comes from
(for further search).
• The basic part of speech, noun, verb etc. (Not too deep)
• The untranslated meaning of the word.
• How it is used in the English Bible.
All the verse(s) in the Bible where it is used are printed to screen with the words in English and their Strong’s numbers. The reader can compare usages or expand the search. The word has also been linked to Thayer’s Lexicon and this gives deeper historical information to a word where this is available.
The Blue Letter Bible does all the hard work for you as you do not need to buy the books or shuffle through the pages or remember the format. You can get right into the topic of interest The site is provided free, however the user may like to donate to its maintenance to ensure that it is there longer. Happy hunting.
www.tgm.org/bible.htm
Touch the Hem of His Garment
“And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they
sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their
sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge
of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.”
Matthew 14:35&36
The exercise of faith takes many forms. To touch the hem of his garment for healing was apparently reasonably common. We say this because there is also Matthew’s story of the woman suffering a debilitating chronic illness who said to herself “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”1 We assume that there were others who touched the hem of his garments. The procession has not stopped. Through the long centuries since the day Jesus walked amongst us, people in need have touched the hem of his garment.
Hem touching is a simple act. It does not require much effort. It can be done quietly and without show or fuss. It does not require great intellectual power or any doctrinal knowledge. There is no fee or payment, no entrance requirement. It is open to all.
Yet it is a selective act. There is a prerequisite condition called faith. There is no power in the act. The power to meet a multiplicity of needs resides in the One who wears the garment. Consider, those who came on that day:
They heard of Jesus. When Jesus stepped from the boat, the news of his arrival spread quickly. It may be a simple thing, but to hear of Jesus is a great privilege. There are many who have not heard, and others who will not hear. An open ear presupposes an open mind.
They knew who Jesus was. They knew him to be an itinerant preacher who could heal both body and soul and who extended forgiveness and acceptance in God’s name and kingdom. Our knowledge is more complete. We know him to be the One who gave his own life in order to achieve that freedom and demonstrated his authority by being raised from the dead. His authority, his power is that of God. Only in Jesus is this power found.
They acknowledged their own need. They were ill and they knew it. Therefore they came. Jesus can only heal the sick. He can only forgive sinners. He can only raise the dead. While we say, ‘I have no need!’ we place ourselves outside his power. When we acknowledge that we are alienated from God and in need of his forgiveness and cleansing, his restoration and acceptance, then we are a candidate for this healing.
They were convinced that he could heal. They had only to look around to find others who testified of his willingness and ability. Look around; are there not many today who have spoken to you of this power? Some say, ‘I know he can, but will he do it for me?’ or, ‘I am too far gone. My case is hopeless!’ We know he can, it is demonstrated. We know he will, he has promised, ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’2
They made a conscious decision. Some may have debated to question of coming to Jesus, others needed no time to think at all. Either way, they got up and came. Here is my need and here is an answer of relief. If you are tired of what you are and what you have made of life and have considered his power of change; come. They came geographically. We come prayerfully.
They acted on their convictions. ‘Lord, may I touch your garment too?’ The healing power only flowed to those who acted on their conviction and reached out to receive it. The wording of our text suggests that there were some, who having been brought did not carry through, and went home unsatisfied. Were they intimidated, or not fully convinced? Were they embarrassed to be associated with him? Did they feel that they were being belittled, or self sufficient. The power in Jesus flows only to those who abandon themselves to him.
The result was that those who touched him were healed. There were even then two groups. Those who touched his robe, and those who did not. Matthew records, ‘and all who touched him were healed.’
O touch the hem of His garment;
And you too shall be free.
His saving power, this very hour;
Shall bring new life to thee!
Notes:
1Matthew 9:21
2John 3:16
Bible
verses are from the NIV.
Pray for Those in Leadership
Following are some brief reports that have been culled from recent issues of ‘New Life’ Christian Newspaper and reprinted by their permission for the purpose of encouragement. In this election year there is increased urgency to pray for our leadership and national and international affairs as the Scripture urges us to do.
MORE than 700 people from all walks of life gathered in the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra, on 25, 26 November for the 21st National Prayer Breakfast, chaired by John Anderson, President of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship.
The National Prayer Council was the final activity of the weekend,
held on the Monday afternoon. Some of the reported events highlighted
include:
the successful Christian Heritage Forum in August 2006, convened
by Prof Stuart Piggin; a proposal to establish a National Christian
Heritage Centre; the continued growth of Christian radio across
the nation, with over 257 Christian stations now in operation;
the Howard Government's initiative to provide $90 million over
the next 3 years to fund chaplains in private and public schools;
the Australian Christian Channel’s continued growth. It has
been invited by the government to move to free to air digital
broadcasting across Australia. This needs lots of prayer to become
reality.
Peter Jensen, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, speaking at the Welcome Service said that although there is a physical drought gripping the country, there is a far worse, spiritual drought overtaking us as secularism dries out the spiritual life of the nation. The way by which Christians can combat this is through support, involvement and fellowship in their local church.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings
and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet
lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to
be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
1
Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)
Your Charles Wesley Favourite Hymn Survey
Charles Wesley was born on 18 December 1707.
2007 marks the 300th anniversary.
What is your favourite Wesley hymn? ‘New Life’ is conducting a survey over the next few weeks to find the top 10 Charles Wesley hymns, and we are invited to participate. This is not a competition, so there are no prizes – just the interest in his remarkable poetic genius.
Write down your three favourite hymns by Charles Wesley, starting with the one you like most. Post them to: PO Box 267, Blackburn 3130 by 31 March 2007; or email it to: editor@nlife.com.au If you want to add a sentence or two about why you made this choice they will be interested to read it (and perhaps publish it). Any budding authors out there?
Pray for Those in Leadership
The physical agony began in a garden of prayer, in anticipation of that which was to come. A physician who lived at that time and took trouble to examine the evidence recorded of Jesus, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” It is a pathological state known as ‘haematidrosis’ which leaves the whole body tense and sensitive with every nerve unnaturally alive to pain, a condition which often quickly leads to death.
After scourging which lacerated his back and legs until he was wet and faint from the loss of his own blood, a heavy cross beam was tied across the Victim’s shoulders for him to carry to the place of execution. But Jesus, collapsed on the way from the loss of blood, his pre-condition and the cruelty of his treatment, so that bystander, a visitor to Jerusalem was forced to take his burden for him. It would not do for him to die prematurely.
Reaching the site, The beam was thrown to the ground and the arms of Jesus loosely stretched along it. The soldier felt for a depression at the front of his wrist and a heavy square iron spike driven through it, and then the other, piercing the median nerves. The beam was lifted and hung over a pole or trunk of a tree.
His left foot was lifted and positioned over his right with the toes down. Another spike was driven through the arch of both, leaving the knees flexed, but severing the nerves between the metatarsal bones of his feet.
Pain is intense, wracking the whole body from feet to the brain, causing muscles to knot with unending spasm. Jesus could inhale, but not exhale with the pectoral muscles paralysed and intercostal muscles powerless. To breathe he had to push himself up on his wounded feet increasing the agony in his limbs. As carbon dioxide builds up in his blood stream, the cramps began to subside and he was able to push himself to exhale and gasp in some oxygen. It was during these moments that Jesus uttered those seven short sentences that the Gospel writers recorded.
Because a holy day was approaching, and strong men could last an unbelievable time, the soldiers came to break his legs, hastening death. But Jesus was found to be already dead. To make sure, a soldier drove his spear up through the fifth interspace of the ribs and through the pericardium of the heart. The record is that blood and water flowed from the wound. This is postmortem evidence that Jesus had already died due to shock and the constriction of pericardial fluids, a death of heart failure.
Dr Blakelock in his address told a story by Arnold Bennet. Two young people were in on holiday and wandering aimlessly Edwin and Hilda heard the words of Isaac Watts famous hymn coming from a tent. Hilda stopped to listen.
When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my price.
The boy urged the girl to come, but she held back to listen.
See from His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’re such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
He urged her on, but she cried. ‘No! Listen. It would be worth anything to sing those words and mean them.’
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small:
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
It is worth everything th be able to sing those words and mean them. To do that we must understand that Jesus did all that for us, because there is no other way that sinful men and women can be brought into a right relationship with God Himself. This is a treasure worth everything, but available freely, you see it is yours for the taking. Just say, ‘Thank you’.
Detail sourced from an article by Dr. Truman
Davis, A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion- Review of
the News, Apr 14, 1976,
and an address by Professor
E. M. Blaiklock M.A. Litt.D. delivered at Keswick Convention,
Monday July 13,1969
Days of Drought
There is a description of the conditions on earth in the end days, immediately before Jesus comes again to relieve the curse upon creation. Read it in your Bible. Conditions include:
The sea is polluted, congeals and the fish
stocks die,
watercourses and springs are polluted, turn thick and red,
the sun scorches men with its burning heat,
men suffer wretched, infected sores in their bodies,
water dries up in the mighty Euphrates river,
there is a massive earthquake, dividing cities,
causing islands to disappear and mountains to be levelled,
huge hail stones hammer the earth. 1
As with many Bible prophecies, this one centres in the Middle
East, but influences the whole world.
Do these conditions seem familiar? We are not suggesting that
we have yet come to that point in time, but it seems that we have
had a foretaste. Australia’s prolonged drought is probably
cyclical to some considerable degree. El Nino has fled for now
and his sister La Nina has fulfilled her promised coming, at least
in part. Listen to the falling rain. Drought and flood visit our
land in harmonic intermeshing cycles bringing boom and bust, confidence
and disaster. We have become so accustomed to it all that we are
almost anaesthetised to the disaster that conditions can inflict.
It happens to others, but will it really happen to me?’ It
will probably all work itself out.
Job knew these same problems in his day:
If He holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
And again:
Men at ease have contempt for misfortune. 2
However know this, that blessings of abundance are promised in the Bible to those who follow the way of righteousness, and conversely days of drought and famine for those who turn from the known way of truth.
Moses promised his people that if they walked in the way of God, His blessing would follow them.
The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. 3
But, to fail to walk in His way would invite all kind of ecological disaster.
The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish. The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron. 3
The fears of Moses were borne out.
This is the word of the LORD to Jeremiah concerning the drought: “Judah mourns, her cities languish; they wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads. The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.”
And the reason -
This is what the LORD says about this people: “They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet.” 4
God’s way is a way of righteousness. To the man of this world, righteousness is a hypocritical, spoil-sport, religious attitude, best avoided. However, it is more correctly right-ness, the art of getting things, all things, right. To be right with the world around us, we must be right in ourselves, and to be right within ourselves we must be right with God. We cannot be at peace unless we have things, all things right. Disjointedness destroys peace. Getting things right is not just ecological, it is first spiritual, then moral, then relational, then environmental.
We may not be able to influence world affairs, but we are each already responsible for our own back yard, and the first step is to get ourselves right with God. Then we will be a blessing to our neighbour and to the traveller who is merely passing by.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the
Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” 5
1. Revelation 16:1-12; 2; Job 12:5&15;
3; Deuteronomy 28 esp vs12,22&23; 4; Jeremiah 14 esp vs1-4&10;
5.Jeremiah 17.8.
All quotations are from the NIV.
Read these verses in your own Bible and in their context.
Jesus in the Midst
“And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.”
Luke 2:46
The Bible does not say that He was teaching them. He was little more than a boy. He was respectful and serious in his enquiry. There are however some things that cause us to wonder even more. Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, the fount of all knowledge incarnate, came in form like unto sinful men, born of a woman, calling Himself ‘the son of man’ and as such had need to learn.
Had they known it, as they expounded the Scriptures, in the midst sat the One who was the end of their search. In the volume of the book it is written of me. And again Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life: they are they which testify of me. And again Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. Without Him, the Bible is meaningless, pointless history; the record of man searching but never finding fulfilment; in short, failure; human failure. In scripture, Christ is the beginning and the end, its origin, its meaning and its fulfilment. Unless you can find Christ in all the scripture, it is merely academic exercise. Praise be! Christ is all!
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:20.
Notice the condition of the promise. Jesus is not in the midst of a small group, but a small group specifically meeting in His name. His name stands for His nature. Here is one in whom is the Spirit of Christ and there is another in whom is the Spirit of Christ. And when we two come together in the bond of that nature, Like calls to like, Spirit calls to Spirit; the Spirit of Christ in me calls to the Spirit of Christ in you. Behold the miracle. Christ is in the midst. Who wants religion when we can have Jesus Christ. Who is satisfied with the casing, when we crave the fruit. So it has been since time began. They that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
"Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst."
John 19:18
What potent symbolism. He who came in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, and condemned sin in the flesh, died in the midst of criminals. Each of these three represents us. Jesus is our representative. It was for my sin that He died. It was my sin dealt with in the rending of His flesh. Each of the criminals represent us. We read that whilst they both cast their insults into his teeth one was immediately penitent and turning, even as He hung there, found forgiveness. What deep insight he exhibited as he hung there beside Jesus. ‘Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. What faith. The other remained rebellious to the end, only asking to be saved from execution.
"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."
Luke 24:36
What a tense, nervous atmosphere filled the room where the disciples were gathered. What fear filled their hearts; confusion filled their minds. Jesus stepped into their midst and blessed them with His peace. It was so then. It is so now. Jesus is ready to step into our bewilderment. Where ever and whenever He comes, He brings His peace. He brings His peace because He is in control of every situation. He knows and understands when we are amid the storms of life. Remember, even the wind and the waves obey His command. So it was in that upper room. Storms still raged about, but peace reigned within. There was great calm simply because He was there.
Jesus is in the midst.
Something Old Something New
Jesus had been teaching and as usual his teaching met with different responses. Some received His words gladly, but others closed their ears and mind to His message, just as men and women do today. ‘He who has ears, let him hear’ was one of His favourite sayings. It was more than just a catch line, it was a key for understanding his method and a call to diligence. The saying is still valid not only in understanding the meaning of the Bible, but in applying it to every day life.
When He saw the hardness of the hearts of some of them, He switched to telling stories taken from the world that they saw around them. He told them about a sower and his seed, how some of it prospered, and some of it failed. He told of a man who unexpectedly uncovered some treasure and gave up everything to own it. He told of fishermen who hauled in their catch and then sorted out the good fish to sell, rejecting the worthless. He applied these progressive lessons to God’s kingdom which was then about to come. Sometimes He supplied and applied the spiritual interpretation. But sometimes he left his hearers to work it out themselves.
One day, He told them this terse little parable: “But this, because of this, every teacher trained in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a headman of a house who brings out of the storeroom the superior as well as the old.” Matthew 13:52.
Jesus was that teacher instructed in the Kingdom, that head of the household of God. He knew how to build on the old and familiar images of this world new, vital spiritual understanding in a way that those who were actually listening would hear, learn and respond. Those who were just spectators would enjoy the story; but miss the point.
This parable is also a serious instruction to all who have sat at the feet of the Master, or have sat at the feet of those, who have sat at the feet, of those who have sat at His feet. What a privilege it is to hear the stories of Jesus, to be trained in the things of the Kingdom of Heaven. But what a responsibility! Jesus said to them, ‘but this, because of this...’ Because of what? The question is answered in the previous verses. Jesus had been saying “The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:49&50 (NIV).
A day of assessment is coming when all will be called to account. But not everyone will accept the answer of salvation offered; not everyone will reject. ‘Do you understand these things?’ He asked His disciples and upon their affirmation that they did, He instructed them in their responsibility by telling this other little story.
There is in this parable a description of the method Jesus used and an instruction to His disciples to do the same. Jesus Himself applied this method in His ministry in His day with good effect; and we must become skilled to use it in ours.
In the next few months in our Tuesday Evening Bible Studies
we will be looking at ‘Stories Jesus Told’, a study
in some of the parables of the Lord. How are we to understand
and interpret them? What do they teach? How can we use the information
to make our ministry more effective? Wouldn’t you like to
be involved?
New Historical Evidence for the Moses Exodus
Condensation of an article, New Life Newspaper 19-Jul-07, p4.
In 1903 Howard Carter discovered the treasures of the famous boy-Pharaoh, Tutankh-amun. It is not so widely known, however, that in 1903 he found two other mummies in their sarcophagi. One was the mummy of the nurse of Queen Hatshepsut, the most powerful lady Pharaoh in all Egypt’s history. They did not know what to make of the second one, for although it seemed likely that it would be Queen Hatshepsut herself, it has been widely believed that her stepson Thothmes II destroyed her mummy, just as he had many of her statues throughout the land. If so who was this mystery woman?
With the sarcophagus, there was a box containing a tooth and it was inscribed with Hatshepsut, the female Pharaoh’s name. By modern scanning it was found that the tooth fitted the space of a missing molar in the gums of the mummy. For good reasons conservative scholars believe Hatshepsut was the princess who took baby Moses from the Nile and raised him as her heir.
Hatshepsut’s step-son was Pharaoh by the time of the Jewish exodus under Moses. He would have been 84, a similar age to Moses himself. A team from Michigan University x-rayed the wizened corpses in the mummy room of the Cairo Museum. They found that the supposed mummy of Thothmes III was however a middle aged man. According to Exodus 14 and 15 he was drowned in the Yam Suph (Red Sea). The ancient Egyptians needed a corpse to proceed with their burial and succession rituals and the transfer of power to the next Pharaoh. A substitute had to be found. Only the priests would know of the deception.
Reputable scholars are offering dates between 1445 and 1447 when these events took place. 1 Kings 6:1 tells us 480 years before Solomon’s 4th year. This takes us back to about 1447BC.
The interesting way that Hatshepsut and Thothmes III neatly fit the Bible records can give us confidence in the historical and chronological records of the Bible. And if these things are true we ought to give more earnest attention to God’s warning about sin and death and His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
Looking Back
Roger Bannister and John Landy were the first two men to run the four minute mile. Three months later the two met for an historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy was ahead. It looked if he would win, but he was haunted by the question ‘Where is Bannister?’ As he reviewed the race for the Time reporter he said, “If I hadn’t looked back I would have won the race”.
Jesus said Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks
back is not fit for the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:62.
The word ‘back’ is rendered in Philippians 3.14, ‘the
things which are behind’. Don’t let what is behind you
distract you from what lays ahead.
Facts from Excavations Support Early Old Testament Record
by Dr Clifford Wilson
The book of beginnings, Genesis in your Bible, purports to be the oldest written historical record known to man, so ancient that many simply refuse to believe that it is what it seems to be, and cast doubt upon its record. Here is a report of archaeological discovery that takes us back to Genesis chapter 11.
Archaeologists were amazed when they recovered a statuette of Ur-Nammu, King of Ur well before the time of Abraham. There was also an inscription in which he boasted of building a number of structures – ziggurats – which earned the disapproval of the leading gods.
The book of beginnings, Genesis in your Bible, purports to be the oldest written historical record known to man, so ancient that many simply refuse to believe that it is what it seems to be, and cast doubt upon its record. Here is a report of archaeological discovery that takes us back to Genesis chapter 11, shortly after the flood. He shows himself as humble servant of the gods as he carries a basket of mud showing that he is subject to them. Together with the statuette was a written clay tablet saying that because he built one of these towers, the gods were displeased. They broke it down, dispersed the people and confounded their language.
Scholars differ as to which ziggurat was the one referred to, but the actual fact of the happening is established.
The translator of this inscription was the famous Professor Samuel Noah Kramer. When he first read the inscription he turned to one of his associates and exclaimed, ‘This is a veritable Tower of Babel.’ Did you know that? It’s just as if it came straight from the Genesis record.
I was reminded of this just this week when I read something of the history of the early Chinese written by Chan Kei Thong. He has a well-researched story of ancient China and its inhabitants. I was surprised to read that the Chinese claim they trace their ancestry to that same Tower of Babel, and that they were one of the language groups spread abroad at that time.
From New Life Christian Newspaper 5 July 2007 p12.
When Your Best is Not Good Enough
I have often been in a position to ask someone, “. . . and what are you banking on to get yourself to heaven. If you were to die and turn up at the pearly gates and they asked you, ‘Why should we let you in here?’ What would you say?”
The answer is usually something like, “Well I have done the best I can. I have done some bad things, and I have done some good things, and I think that I have done more good than bad, so when they add them all up, I will probably come out on the right side.”
Is this the kind of answer you would give to that question? If it is, then I have some good news and some bad news. First, the bad news. You are depending on your good work to notch up moral credit in the Bank of Heaven. That is bad, because the bad news is that it is not enough, because Heaven’s standard is perfection, and our best is not good enough!
The good news is that our good works is not currency in Heaven anyway. God does not expect us to pay our way in like that. He will accept everyone, no matter how good or bad they are, for free. Someone has already notched up credit on our account. That someone is His Son, Jesus Christ who in His death paid the price of all our failures and mistakes. All we have to do is accept what He has on offer. Here in the words of the Bible is that offer:
God saved you by his special favor when you believed (His offer). And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:8&9 (Living Bible)
Men and Money and More
“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 19:24(NASB)
It has been said that the eye of the needle, in the day of Jesus, was a small gate in the wall of Jerusalem, big enough for a man or perhaps an unladed beast. When the main gates were shut, a camel could only gain access to the city by being stripped of it’s load.
So listening, the disciples were knocked out, saying, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus, fixing his gaze on them, responded, “ Among people this is impossible, but all things are possible with God” v25&26.
Matthew Henry makes this comment : “This is a proverbial expression, denoting a difficulty altogether unconquerable by the art and power of man. . . It is very rare for a man to be rich, and not to set his heart upon his riches; and it is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven; for if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 1 John 2:15.
God is not impressed with our wealth. He wants more. It is a matter of where the heart is. A loving father once said: “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”
The Church Web Site
Philip Trinham is the originator and operator of the church web site. It has been running now for several years and each month he adds to the things on offer; many of the recent reports, studies and editorials which have been part of our activities. In this way, we put before the public at large, a taste of the flavour of the Church.
So we decided to review our results, and sampled three recent month’s activity. Here are a few of the things we found: that there are between 4000 and 5000 calls each month; six people every hour of the day visit us. We also looked at the top twenty options of interest to these people and from them generalized public interest in our site. Not surprisingly most were interested in the activities and involvements of the Church. Mostly people are interested in our guest speakers, the people who fill our pulpit and tell of their involvement in God’s kingdom or open to us the word of God. People are always interested in other people.
Next to this people were interested in the missions and missionaries we support. Some folk were interested in a particular society. One month Overseas Missionary Fellowship, the Aborigine Evangelical Fellowship and Mobile Mission Maintenance. Our world missions interest map was also in demand.
People were also interested to look up the articles, stories and reports (like this one) which we print in our Green Leaf monthly newsletter, in fact an average of 525 a month. An estimated 260 access our Mid week Bible study notes.
Some of these people come to us because they target the site. Many people come because their computer search engine offers them our site when they ask it for information about a topic. They could be Bible School students doing assignments, or someone looking for information on a Bible theme; someone wanted Francis Dixon style Bible Studies, others the work of Kenneth Weust (names found on our site), or maybe they wanted to locate a past friend, as names of our members came up. Maybe some people were looking for a church in their area. One person was looking for ‘liquidambar kill’. They obviously had a problem with a big tree, but I don’t think that they found much help from us with that one.
Have you visited us on glenparkgospel.org.au ?
If Jesus Had Not Come
We in the West are living in days when the antagonists of faith are pushing hard for, not only secularisation of all religious expression, but a world where the things of God are wholly removed from society.
When I was young, the pastor of our church would read to the after service youth fellowship an evening meditation from the popular book, Streams in the Desert.
The reading for Christmas Day tells of a minister who went to sleep in his study chair. He dreamed of the world if Jesus had not come. He awoke and walked through his home seeing that it was undecorated, no tree stood in the corner, no gifts or cards adorned the mantle.
His church, usually visible through the study window was not there. Then he saw that every one of his reference books dealing with the life of the Saviour had disappeared.
About then, a messenger asked if he could come to the bedside of a dying parishioner. Reaching the home and joining the tearful family around the sick bed he smiled and said confidently, “I have something here to give you comfort.” He opened his Bible, but it ended at Malachi. There was no gospel, no promise of hope and salvation; only an empty gaping void. All he could then do was join the weeping and despair.
Two days later he stood beside the coffin to conduct the funeral, but there were no words of comfort, no resurrection, no heavenly mansion. All that was left was dust to dust, ashes to ashes and a long bitter farewell.
He woke from his dream with a shout of praise and joy as he heard the choir singing in his church nearby:
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
If we were to take Jesus out of our hearts we would also take the heart out of society. With increasing secularisation we already experience increasing violence, crime, family break up, faith and responsibility. Rather let us hold fast to the things we hold dear. Nehemiah of old told his people what we do well to remember:
“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
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