Mark 15 - ALONE (II)

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

ALONE (II)

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” —Mark 15:34

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The most incomprehensible aspect of the crucifixion of The Son of God is the ultimate “alone-ness” defined in this anguished cry from the cross. The Son of God, God forsaken!!

Forsaken by His friends and scorned and spit upon by His enemies, He had anticipated and prepared for, but this abandonment wrings a cry of pain beyond compare. There has been no suffering like it in the history of the universe. It represents the rupture of the most intimate relationship, that had endured for eternity past. 

There is a passage of scripture, admittedly somewhat enigmatic, that touches upon it:

“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him…” [Proverbs 8:22-30]

Because of the feminine pronoun assigned to wisdom in this chapter, it is often applied to the Holy Spirit. That peculiarity notwithstanding, I am convinced that the passage quoted above belongs to the Son of God Who “of God is made unto us wisdom… [I Cor. 1:30 - see also 1:24] From that perspective we have a glimpse into that everlasting fellowship which pertained between the Father and the Son; the Savior speaks, “I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.”

Against that backdrop the cry from the cross reveals something of the depth of His grief and an aspect of His pain and suffering against which the physical sufferings of the crucifixion pale to insignificance. And we must not overlook the fact that though we are given no record of it, the suffering of he Father was no less. This is infinite grief.

Nothing more vividly illustrates the nature of sin than this! It is the price God had to pay, and was willing to pay, in order to rescue sinners from the torments of an everlasting hell and preserve at the same time His integrity as a righteous God. Few among us regard sin with such horror. That is because no one understands what takes place when rebellious man insults the character of an infinitely holy God. The interface between the finite and the infinite is beyond the comprehension of any of us, and beyond the concern of most.

Alone, Christ met the challenge, and as a result, there is hope for the lost. 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” [Romans 3:23-26]

Jesus—alone—on the cross for me! “Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be. Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to me!” This side of eternity, we will never grasp the full impact of this incredible fact, but perhaps meditating on it under this single word, “alone,” will move us a little in the right direction. 

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In one of my pastorates there were two women, sisters-in-law, who sang on more than one occasion a beautiful duet that captures something of the pathos of this monumental fact. It has never left me since I heard them sing it so long ago. I append it below for what it may be worth.

—"Pastor" Frasier

             ALONE


It was alone the Savior prayed 
In dark Gethsemene;
Alone he drained the bitter cup
And suffered there for me.


Refrain:
   Alone, alone, He bore it all alone;
   He gave Himself to save His own,
   He suffered, bled and died alone, alone.


It was alone the Savior stood
In Pilate's judgment hall;
Alone the crown of thorns He wore
Forsaken thus by all.

Refrain

Alone upon the cross He hung

That others He might save;

Forsaken there by God and man

Alone, His life He gave.

Refrain

Can you reject such matchless love?

Can you His claim disown?

Come, give your all in gratitude, 

Nor leave Him thus alone.

Refrain

Mark 14 - ALONE (I)

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

ALONE (I)

“And they all forsook him, and fled.”  —Mark 14:50

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In 1934 Commander Richard E. Byrd spent five winter months in self imposed solitary vigil at a meteorological station in Antarctica. Subsequently he published an autobiographical account of his experience in a book entitled “Alone.” It was a great adventure that nearly cost him his life, but it was not the loneliest event in history.

Calvary was the loneliest place on earth, and the loneliest journey in history. No one was ever more alone than the Son of God on His way to and through the cross.

The Savior’s solitude began with His betrayal by Judas, one of “His own.” Judas had accompanied Jesus, with the other disciples, from the beginning of His ministry. In fact, he was not only one of the twelve, but had been engaged in service among them as treasurer for the group. Judas’ problem, as with so many who presume to follow Christ, was that he had his own agenda, and when it became apparent that Christ was not going in the same direction Judas decided to sell Him out.

When the issue of the cross reached its zenith, the rest of the twelve “all forsook Him and fled.” Fond as they were of Him, they could not muster the courage or strength to follow through to the end. They left Him to face Calvary alone. 

Notable among the twelve, not for betrayal, but for determination, was the apostle Peter. Informed after the passover of the betrayal and subsequent sacrifice of the Lord, Peter forcefully declared, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I…If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise.” (v. 29, 31) But, not long thereafter Peter joined the others in abandoning Him, and “began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the Man of Whom ye speak,” and his denial, when it came home to him, drove him to tears.

Alone. But that does not yet tell the whole story. In the next chapter the depth of Jesus’ isolation is spelled out in the agonizing word from the cross lifted from earth to heaven when He cried to the Father, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!? Abandoned by all who had been His companions and friends, the crisis was amplified to infinity by the unthinkable fact that His eternal relationship with the Father was also ruptured at the cross. He was, indeed, ALONE!

What does all of this teach us? At least this: when we reach ‘the other shore,“ we will take nothing with us to justify our arrival. Association and service (Judas) will not suffice to see us through to glory. Our affection for the Son of God, born out of however long we have walked with Him, (they all) will not serve to sustain us. Our most adamant determination (Peter) will not carry us to the cross nor beyond. Faith alone will suffice, and faith succeeds not because it is tethered on our end, but because it is anchored to that which is “within the vail.” It is the character of God, not of man—any man—that determines our destiny. We will arrive on heaven’s shore not because we have “held on,” but because He holds on to us, for some incomprehensible reason, and will not let us go.

“Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you…” “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast [Eph. 2:8-9].” It is sovereign grace, nothing less and nothing more, that accounts for the salvation of any and every sinner who identifies with the Savior.

If I associate with Him and “serve” Him, it will not suffice. If I am fond of Him, my “love” for Him will ever be fickle. If I am ever so determined to follow Him to the end I will still, like Peter, come up short at last. Salvation is all of God. I can only cast myself upon Him by my feeble faith and trust the “judge of all the earth” to do what is right. “Failure” is my middle name; “Faithful” is His, and He has promised, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Betrayed by Judas, abandoned by “His own,” denied by Peter and, finally, forsaken by the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ did what no one else could do nor contribute to—alone. And He did it for you and for me.

With David of old our response can only be:

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

                                                                                                                         —Psalm 34:1-2

—"Pastor" Frasier

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6/23/12

Mark 13 - WATCH

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

WATCH

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.”                     —Mark 13:33-34

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From time to time, when history takes a peculiar turn, Christians become much concerned that the return of Christ is at hand. “The coming of the Lord draws nigh,” may be the conviction of many in such days, and believers are comforted or challenged accordingly. Sometimes, as has happened recently, men of influence take up the cry, agitate many, and stimulate the unbelieving world to scoff at the whole idea. 

We need to remember that the return of Christ is a two-fold event. It’s first aspect is His coming for the church to catch it away before the Great Tribulation, an event to take place “in the air.” (Cf. I Thess. 4:17)  The second phase, if you will, is His coming with His church, to the earth, to establish His promised earthly kingdom. During Christ’s earthly ministry the apostles knew nothing of the former. Their concern was with that kingdom promised to Israel, which had been the primary focus of Israel’s messianic hopes. It was this that they had in mind when they asked Him, just before His return to the Father, “Wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) His response to their question was consistent with His teaching throughout His ministry: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power [Acts 1:7].”

Clearly, God has withheld from man’s knowledge the time of Christ’s return, either the rapture or the revelation. He has “reserved” that under His own “authority,” as several translations render it. “For ye know not when the time is,” and “It is not for you to know.” Those who make predictions are, in fact, false teachers.

Two things are clear. First, of tremendous import for the church and Israel, Jesus is coming again. Second, no one knows when. These two things lay the foundation for God’s word to both Israel and the church throughout this dispensation: watch!

In fact, our nugget for today makes three things urgent for the believer every day. The first is to live expectantly every day, that we may “not be ashamed before Him at His coming [I Jn. 2:28].” Times of tranquility are more dangerous spiritually than times of agitation; they tend to lull us to sleep in a “comfortable” world.

The second urgency is “pray.” Many (professing) believers pray little if at all. Many who do pray pray altogether for temporal rather than eternal concerns.The body dominates the soul, and earthly welfare, physical, economic and political, dominates our petitions. “Heaven can wait!” Compare the prayers recorded in the New Testament with those uttered in the average “evangelical” church to make the point.

Third, “work.” He has given “to every man his work.” Many have never considered that God has work for them to do as we “occupy” till He comes. (Lk. 19:30) If we really desire the Lord’s return, we will seek first the will of God for our lives, and fund more generously the advancement of the gospel, because “this gospel must first be preached unto all nations.” (v.10) 

There is nothing new in these observations, and for many, I fear, it will be a boring “re-run,” but the emphasis bears repeating in this day of growing complacency and apostasy. When I think on these things I am reminded of the young Bible institute student who commented after a message on the return of Christ, “I want the Lord to come, but not just yet. I’d like to get married first!” That reflects the mentality of the majority of professing Christians. We have temporal goals that preempt our interest in the “coming of the Son of Man,” and betray the fact that our love for Him and our confidence in His word are far from what they ought to be. Our concept of “reality” is earthbound and our concept of eternal life is woefully inadequate. 

May the Spirit of God awaken us to the truth and alter our values until we can say with the apostle Paul, ”For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain…For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better [Phil. 1:21, 23].”

—"Pastor" Frasier

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6/16/12

Mark 12 - HOW MUCH HAVE I GIVEN?

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

HOW MUCH HAVE I GIVEN?

“And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:”        —Mark 12:42-43

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Our text for today centers in what is not an unfamiliar incident, but one that I fear we have not allowed to “sink in” as much as it ought. Viewed in its context, it offers a number of interesting and challenging observations.

First, “Jesus…beheld how the people cast money into the treasury.” (v. 41) Point: God is observant of our giving. If we go back to the law, we are confronted with the fact that God ordered His people to contribute a tithe (10%) of their profits to His cause. And I say “profits” rather than “income,” because the tithe was required of their “seed…fruit of the tree(s)…the herd…the flock…the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord [Lev. 27:30-32].” And, the tithe was not to be regarded as a gift to the Lord, because God claimed it as His own: “All the tithe…is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” (v. 30) The Old Testament believer was not regarded as having given anything to the Lord until he had given beyond the tithe.

The logic for that is not hard to find. We are reminded in scripture that everything we have is a gift to us from the Lord. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning [James 1:17].” And again, “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing [Psalm 145:15-16].” This is an echo of God’s reminder to Israel that even when we gain by our labor, it is God who enables it. The temptation is to say, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth,” but God says, “…thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth [See Deut. 8:17,18 and context].” Indeed, it is He who “gives to all life, and breath, and all things [Acts. 17:25].” In the end man is but a trustee of that which God has bestowed upon him, be it little or much.

The second thing to notice in the context of our verse for today is that God’s measure is very different from ours. As the Son of God watched the treasury, “many that were rich cast in much…[out] of their abundance.” (v.41, 44) The poor widow “threw in two mites.” Together her two mites constituted less than a penny. No one but the Son of God would have given more than passing notice to her contribution. There would be no plaque on the wall to commemorate her donation!

But, consider the Savior’s evaluation: “This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.” He did not say more than anyone, but more than all. He measured her gift as greater than all the rest put together! Surely “the Lord seeth not as man seeth!” The plaque for the widow is mounted in heaven and recorded in the word of God. 

What is the key? In chapter one of this gospel the calling of certain of the disciples is recorded. In their response, they “left all and followed Him.” They did not make a donation; they gave themselves. That is the essence of discipleship. That same spirit is evident in the gift of the “poor widow.” She gave all she had, at the risk of life itself. It was given in the spirit of a disciple. Earlier in this chapter the Savior cites “the first commandment”: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” The key word—one of the most devastating in all the bible—is the little word “all.” Jesus says of this widow, “She of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” 

Two great things are demonstrated in the gift of the widow: love and faith. In her love for God she gave all, and committed her destiny to Him in faith that He would supply all her need. She held back nothing for herself, including life itself. That is the spirit of discipleship, and should characterize every believer in Christ. The uncomfortable thing about this meditation is that for so many of us, it does not. We reserve so much of ourselves and our substance for our own ends and make so little available to Him. Most of us spend more for our “toys” than we freely give to the testimony of Christ. Statistically, according to a recent report, fewer believers even tithe any more. May the Spirit of the Lord probe our hearts to consider these things. 

Meanwhile, remember the “poor widow.” As I heard someone say years ago, the size of our gift is not measured not by how much we gave, but by how much we have left! She, “rich in faith,” gave all.

“What shall I give Thee, Master? Thou hast given all for me! 

Not just a part, or half of my heart, I will give all to Thee!”

—"Pastor" Frasier

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              6/9/12

Mark 11 - FRUITLESS

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

FRUITLESS

“And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.”         —Mark 11:14

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When we were privileged Israel many years ago our host called our attention to a budding fig tree. He focused on an immature fig about the size of a man’s thumb surrounded by a cluster of budding leaves and reminded us of the account of what is usually called the Savior’s cursing of the fig tree, the incident from which our text for today is drawn.

Most of us are aware of the story, but few, I fear, have reflected deeply on its significance. When the Savior and His disciples passed by the same fig tree the following day, Peter noticed and remarked, “Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away (v.21).” “Dried up from the roots (v.20).” Jesus took advantage of the moment to teach the disciples a lesson about the vital connection between prayer and faith.

The lesson, I believe, is broader than that. One highly respected student of the word observes, correctly, that Old Testament references to the fig tree make it a type of “Gods Chosen People,” the children of Israel, and sees the blighting of the tree as symbolic of God’s judgment of the nation because of its “fruitless” profession of enthusiasm for God. I believe there is validity in that interpretation, but I believe the lesson is broader than that, as well.

The day the fig tree was blighted was the occasion of Christ’s “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. A great crowd surrounded Him filled with enthusiasm, shouting “hosanna,” welcoming Him as a potential king come “in the name of the Lord.” Each in that crowd had his own conception of what all that meant, and their enthusiasm was based on those subjective ideas and personal hopes and ambitions. They had not a clue of the real significance of what God was unfolding, and less than week later many of them with equal enthusiasm would be in another throng shouting, “Crucify Him!” Theirs was a premature and misplaced zeal.

There is a two-fold significance to the fig tree incident. In the first place, the leaves so full of promise were premature. “The time of the figs was not yet (v.13).” Second, it is the peculiarity of the proper fig tree that the fruit sets before or simultaneously with the appearance of the leaves. In other words, the appearance of leaves is the promise of fruit. That is the nature of the fig tree, and it is the nature of saving faith. This tree held out an empty promise, proving it not true to its proper character. What it advertised it did not deliver. 

The Savior’s indictment of the tree is an illustration of divine disdain for all empty profession. Mark’s gospel, many expositors believe, was written with the Gentile (Roman) mind in view. If that is true, then it is no coincidence that this little incident is included in his abbreviated account of he Savior’s ministry. Throughout the New Testament where the great doctrine of justification by faith in Christ is developed and set forth, there is an emphasis on the vital link between profession and product; not for the Jews only, but “also to the [Gentiles].” To cite a few:

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” (Matt. 3:8); “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:20; See vss. 17-23); “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:22-23). “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Col. 1:9-10).

Where fruit is wanting, the tree is as good as dead. The judgment of God will prove the case. Far too many in the churches today are shouting hosannas on the Lord’s day who serve other gods the rest of the week. Their enthusiasm is premature; they have not understood the implications of the gospel and have but an empty profession that will not follow through to the cross and resurrection life. These are cheerleaders who have no idea of Who the King really is, or what He may require of His own. 

These, like the fruitless fig tree, are all promise, but no product, and in due time will wither from the roots up and bring no fruit to perfection (See Luke 8:14). In these days of growing apostacy and spiritual decline, it behooves us to “examine ourselves and see whether [we are] in the faith,” lest we suffer the fate of the barren fig tree.

"Pastor" Frasier

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6/2/12

Mark 10 - THE SON OF GOD ON DIVORCE

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

THE SON OF GOD ON DIVORCE

“And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”         —Mark 10:11-12

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In few areas has the evangelical church (so called!) become more ambivalent, inconsistent and compromising of the word of God than on this subject with which the Pharisees sought to ensnare the Savior. It is common practice in “fundamental” circles today to rail against abortion and homosexuality, but little is taught regarding what the Bible says about sex outside of marriage (adultery), and there is thunderous silence on the subject of divorce and remarriage.  This deterioration (and it is that) has been marked and steady over the seventy years since I came to Christ and identified with “Bible believing” churches. Yet on few ethical matters is scripture more emphatic and clear.

The issue was raised by the Pharisees to “tempt” or test the Lord Jesus. Then, as now, the matter was subject for debate, and, since it is referred back to Moses, so it has been for many, many generations. It has ever been the Adversary’s strategy to raise the question, “Yea, hath God said…” It worked “in the beginning,” to our continual sorrow, and it still works today. These despisers of the doctrine of Christ aimed to bring the Savior into conflict with the multitudes and undermine His popularity. The Son of God was never moved by culture or custom, but only by “thus saith the Lord.” The revealed word of God was His lodestar and it should be ours.

The Savior’s answer to the charge that Moses allowed divorce was to attribute it to a concession to the sinful heart of man, not to the revealed will of God (v.3-5). He then carries the subject back to the Divine order as evident in creation where Adam was given a wife formed of his own body, and thus illustrative of the nature and intimacy of marriage. He notes that the union of a man and wife is more intimate than the relation between a man and his parents (v.7) and constitutes, in the Divine order, one new entity; they become “one flesh,” so that to “divorce” is to destroy a union that He defines as “one flesh,” literally tearing it apart. God views marriage (sexual union) as an identification; the world sees it as merely an association. 

This principle is reiterated in the epistles (see I Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:31) and is the ground upon which fornication, adultery and homosexuality all are treated with equal judgment in scripture. There is no relationship on earth more significant and binding than marriage, in the mind of God.

In addition to the natural order, however, there is another reason why marriage is so significant. Marriage is the ultimate type, or representation, of the relationship between Christ and the church. “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church [Eph. 5:30-31 - study the whole context, Eph. 5:21-33].” Divorce destroys the type. 

The union between Christ and the church is permanent; so should be the union between a husband and wife. Believers are commanded to love one another; where should that love be more evident and practiced than between a man and his wife? If we are to illustrate the truth of the relationship between the church and the Savior, marriage is where it should begin.

 And, lest there be any doubt, the disciples privately asked the Savior “again of the same matter.” His answer is crystal clear, as our text for today reveals: “And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery [Mark 10:11-12].” Because it takes a joint effort to maintain a marriage, divorce is sometimes inevitable. The clear teaching of scripture is that in such cases the one who seeks to glorify God will remain single while the departed spouse lives. This, too, is reinforced in the epistles: “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife [I Cor. 7:10-11].”

There is, it must be  noted, an exception, and that is in the case where a marriage is dissolved by the death of one’s spouse. “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord [I Cor. 7:39  See also Rom. 7:3].” Why this exception? Because death is an act of God, Who makes the rules; divorce is an act of man in defiance of the law of the Lord. So, the widowed believer is free to remarry “in the Lord” (i.e. to another believer); the divorced believer is not, if he or she would enjoy God’s favor.

Surely someone will raise the question, “Doesn’t God want me to be happy?” To that we offer a two-fold answer. First, God is less concerned with our being “happy” than with our being holy. (I Peter 1:15-16)  Second, if a professing Christian can be happy in violation of the revealed will of God there is a fundamental problem with his/her relationship with Him! The church, in its contemporary attitude toward this issue, has gone with the flow of our deteriorating culture,  first tolerating divorce and remarriage, now practically endorsing it. What that is costing us in the lives of our people, and especially our children and young people, is incalculable. What it is costing the testimony of Christ, only He can measure. If this teaching were given more emphasis in our churches, believers would think more seriously and pray more earnestly about the whole matter of sexual purity and if, when and whom to marry. 

One more word, however, remains to be said. For all the tragedy of this sinful trend, those who discover what the Bible teaches after the fact, that is, already caught in the snare of a divorce as a sponsor or as a victim, or already divorced and remarried, it must be understood that this is not the unpardonable sin. Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ will bring forgiveness and healing. Then the trusting soul must settle down and make the best of the situation as it is. Since Adam’s transgression in the beginning, God has had to work with broken things. He does it still. Some broken things, for now, cannot be “fixed,” but all can be forgiven, where repentance and faith are genuine. That is what the cross is all about.

 "Pastor" Frasier

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5/26/12

Mark 9 - TO GOD BE THE GLORY

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

“But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.” —Mark 9:34

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Few things are more hazardous to one’s spiritual health than the desire for self glory. Sometimes this sinful tendency is overt; I want the first place in line, the best fruit in the display, the most impressive house in the neighborhood, the “chief seat in the synagogue.” Sometimes it is more subtle as, for example, when someone else tells an attention getting story, and I have to chime in with my account of a similar incident. Ofttimes we do not even recognize the vanity that directs our behavior.

It was this tendency to egocentricity that snared Adam in the beginning and brought immeasurable tragedy to the human race, and the cross to the Son of God in His endeavor to remedy the tragic situation that resulted. It was the ground of the Satanic appeal when the adversary said to Eve, “God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods…” The tempter’s suggestion was, you can be more than you are, you can have more than you now possess, you can be first and greatest.

Life in this present evil world is essentially driven by this passion to “get ahead,” to “be somebody,” to obtain position and honor for ourselves. It drives the business world, fires the passion for “higher education,” and threatens to make one vulnerable to all kinds of evil. It is astonishing to find this unholy ambition fueling a passionate dialogue among the apostles who had now sojourned for a season with the Son of God. Or it would be were it not that we see so much of it in the churches of which we are a part, and among Christian workers aspiring to “a place in the sun.”

It is interesting to consider how much of New Testament teaching is directed against this flaw in human nature. Consider some representative passages:

“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” —Psalm 138:6

“…seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not:” —Jer. 45:5

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” —Prov. 15:33

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” —Luke 14:11, 18:14

“…Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” —I Pet. 5:5

And there are many, many more. 

The instruction is clear, and consistent. To these disciples the Savior taught, “…If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all (v. 35). Interestingly, this advances on a note sounded earlier in this chapter. Allowed the privilege of seeing a glimpse of the glory of the Son of God in the transfiguration, impulsive Peter had suggested, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” (v. 5)  The divine response to that suggestion was, “…a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.” (v. 7-8, italics added)

The whole point is this: as believers we are not to be preoccupied with ourselves, nor with “man” in general. All that we are and all that we have that has any real worth is not ours, but His, bestowed upon us by His grace and for His glory. “Jesus only with themselves,” is all one needs. All the rest is in His hands, subject to His will and designed for HIS glory. 

“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee… For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another —[Isa. 48:10-11]. Nothing else matters this side of eternity.

If God chooses to use you in some service for Him, pursue your calling with humility. If He chooses to put you on “the back side of the desert,” be content with your role and glorify Him in your body and in your spirit, which are not yours, but His. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's [I Cor. 6:20].”

—"Pastor" Frasier

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5/19/12

Mark 8 - THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP

“Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” —Mark 8:35

          

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The Son of God had made inquiry of His disciples regarding popular opinion as to His person. Various suggestions were offered, suggesting the speculation of the multitudes. In contrast, when He asked, “Whom do you say that I am,” Peter boldly replied, “Thou art the Christ,” or, the prophesied, long awaited Messiah. And of course he was right!

On that platform Jesus began to teach them what lay in store for Messiah; that He “must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Peter, if not the others, recoiled at that idea, a concept inconsistent with the popular view among the Israelites that Messiah would come as a conquering king. When Peter “began to rebuke Him” for the notion of suffering and death, Jesus rebuked him in turn and declared that his conception of the redeemer was Satanic in its origin, manifesting his ignorance of the ways of God. (See vs. 27-33)

Almost immediately it would seem, the Savior called those within His hearing, along with the disciples, and began to disclose to them “the things that be of God.” Like His rebuke of Peter, His teaching cuts across the prevailing view of the price of discipleship, then and now. It begins not with self exaltation, but with self denial.

There is an invitation to discipleship veiled in His words; “If any man will come after Me.” That invitation embraced both “the people” and those already identified as His disciples. (v.34)  If self preservation and advancement (in this world) is our goal, we have an inverted view of the things of God. A candid individual said to me today, “My immediate goal is to buy a bigger, better home, and if I get a better home I will need better cars to park in front of it…” He saw himself driven by what a radio preacher some years ago referred to as “the desire to acquire,” and was remarkably candid about it. Sadly, many professing Christians are driven by the same wind and fail to recognize its inconsistency with “the things that be of God.”

The Lord then probes the issue, first with a telling declaration, then with a penetrating question.

The declaration, our text for today: “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Interestingly, the word translated “life” in this verse is the same word that is rendered ”soul” in the following verse, The soul consists of intellect, emotions and will. It is, in a manner of speaking, the CPU of personality; the place where information is processed, decisions made and actions initiated. It is, in fact, the essence of “life” as we know it, determining values and dictating behavior to the body. It is the real “self” of man, and makes a man what he is. It is that in man which will survive after the body dies, and give account to God. We can cherish our souls (life) and squander them on our own interests, but only to “lose” them. Or, we can surrender our souls to Christ and to God and preserve them forever.

The question, then, is this: “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” It is a rhetorical question, and the implied answer is, the person who makes that deal is a fool. Jesus tells the parable of “the rich fool,” who made it big and determined to secure his wealth in a ‘bigger barn’ and to “eat, drink and be merry, But God said to Him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast [acquired?]” (See Luke 12:16-21!)

The price of discipleship is high. Hudson Taylor called it “the exchanged life.” It is my life for Him in exchange for His life for me. It involves a cross, the potential for suffering, the surrender of my plans for His will. For “what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (v.37)  The preservation of life is beyond our power. It is given to us one day at a time, Today is all we have that we can be sure of, and that only one moment at a time. “Our times are in His hands.” 

The Son of God ends this discourse on a sober note: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (v. 38)  The implication is this: Jesus is coming again and it behooves us to be ready if we would save our souls from the wrath to come. That can only be done in and through the Lord Jesus Christ—first received by faith as Savior, then surrendered to as Lord. If He is, indeed, “the Christ,” the dividends will offset the cost by an immeasurable margin!

   “If I gained the World but lost the Savior  Were my life worth living for a day?

   Would my yearning heart find rest and comfort,  In the things that soon must pass away?

   If I gained the World, but lost the Savior,  Would my gain be worth the life-long strife;

   Are all earthly treasures worth comparing,  For a moment with a Christ-filled life?”

—"Pastor" Frasier

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       5/12/12

Mark 7 - VAIN WORSHIP

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

VAIN WORSHIP

“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

          —Mark 7:7

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Biblical Christianity is not a religion. There are, however rituals—religion—that parade as Christianity. These come under divine indictment. It is this disparity between religious formalism and genuine faith that the Son of God confronts in our text for today and its context.

The Pharisees had developed and formalized many rituals that had no connection with the Law of Moses, and published them as essential elements of religious practice. One of them was a ritual washing of the hands which had no connection with sanitation, but was merely symbolic—and empty of meaning. We might call it “going through [the] motions.” So committed were they to this ritual that when some of Jesus’ disciples failed to follow their tradition, they found occasion to “find fault” with them, and with Him. 

The Savior’s response was to charge them with hypocrisy, expose their inconsistency and expand upon it, and to penetrate the issue to its heart—no pun intended. He charged them with “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,” and in the process undermining truth, ”Making the word of God of none effect through [their] tradition.” (v. 7, 13) And on another occasion He declared, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity [Mat. 23:27-28].” It is most important to understand this in its relation to the gospel of the grace of God.

Immediately following this confrontation He called the people to Him and proceeded to instruct them in the great central fact that a right relationship with God is not realized by the observance of religious ritual, but is an affair of the heart, a truth often emphasized in the Word of God. His disciples sought further enlightenment (v. 17) to which He responded, in essence, defilement (moral and spiritual corruption) is not the result of things external, but of the condition within—an affair of the heart. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (v. 21-23)

The externals reach us not because of what they are, but because of what we are—sinners by nature! There is no ritual nor religion on earth that can cure that condition. The remedy, if there is to be one, must come from a source much deeper than can be realized by any kind of religious exercise.  Hear the word of the Lord:

     “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the 
     LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and
     according to the fruit of his doings [Jer. 17:9-10].”

     “…out of [the heart] are the issues of life. [Prov. 4:23b].”

     For as [one] thinketh in his heart, so is he: [Prov. 23:7a].”

Man’s greatest need is not a new religion, but a new relationship with God. It is for this that the Father sent the Son, and the Son of God came into the world. And now, with sinful man as with sinful Israel, God’s plea is “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye  Ezek. 18:31, 32].” And this is not a “do it yourself” exercise accomplished by mere church attendance and/or the rituals associated with it, (in whatever denomination) but by a direct appeal to God’s grace revealed in and through “the Son of God.” A new heart can only be obtained from the hand of God Himself, Who promises, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them [Ezek. 36:26].” In New Testament terms, the need is for “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Cf. Acts 20:21)

On yet another occasion Jesus exhorted His hearers, His critics, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life [John 5:39, 40].” Where do you stand in relation to “Jesus Christ, the Son of God”? Have you come to Him for a spiritual heart transplant, or are you still, for all your religion, a “whited sepulchre…fuil of dead men’s bones,” appearing outwardly righteous before men, but inwardly full of hypocrisy and iniquity? The answer to that question has eternal implications.

"Pastor" Frasier

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5/5/12

Mark 6 - WHAT IS YOUR VERDICT?

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

WHAT IS YOUR VERDICT?

“He marvelled because of their unbelief.” —Mark 6:6a

          

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The amazement expressed by the Savior in our text for today expresses His reaction to the question raised by “many” who witnessed His ministry “in His own country,” “From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?” (v.2)  That question embraces two things; His discourse (“wisdom”) and His deeds “mighty works.” Those under indictment here “saw,” but did now perceive; they “heard,” but did not comprehend; they queried, but did not reach the right conclusion. They have many descendants even to this present day.  They are judged elsewhere as those who are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the TRUTH [II Tim. 3:7].” And the Truth, of course is Christ Himself (cf. 14:6).

It leads us to recall the occasion later in His ministry when Philip asked, “Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus’ reply: “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake [John 14:8-11].” 

When John the Baptist sent to verify His person, Jesus called attention to His works: 

“And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me [Luke 7:19-23].”

Sufficient evidence had been set before them, yet they failed to reach the right verdict. Knowledge is one thing; wisdom and understanding another. It was true then, it is true today. If He marvelled then, He marvels still.

Evidence for God and the gospel has always been the same: His word and His works. The apostle Paul wrote:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools… [Rom. 1:16-22].”

If men perish, it will not be for lack of evidence; it will be because of their unbelief. “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him [Heb. 11:6].” For, “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [Rom. 10:17].” And, it is by faith that we embrace the truth of God—”Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear [Heb. 11:3],” and the gospel—”The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved [Rom. 10:8-14].”

A university education, a PHD, will not bring about salvation from sin and eternal life. Faith will. Indeed, a “little child” who trusts the Savior has more understanding than a university professor, rises higher than a king, obtains more enduring wealth than Croesus, and will live infinitely longer than Methuselah! (See Mt. 18:2-3) “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God [Ps. 14:1],” but “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved [Rom. 10:14,]” and justly able to say, “I have more understanding than all my teachers… (See Ps. 119:99, 144).”

—"Pastor" Frasier

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4/28/12

   

Mark 5 - I TOUCHED HIM!

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

I TOUCHED HIM!

“And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?”   —Mark 5:30

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As Mark continues to provide evidence for the deity of Christ, this chapter gives account of His power over demons, disease and death. Our sophisticated culture is not inclined to give much credence to demons, or to anything supernatural, for that matter. “Spiritual wickedness in high places,” is the stuff of science fiction, if anything. Disease and death we are forced to believe in, for they are thrust upon us daily.

Those familiar with the New Testament are likely to be more interested in Jairus, whom we know by name, and his concern for his little twelve year old daughter who died before Jesus could reach her side. Less well known, I suspect, is the account of the unnamed woman who braved the jostling crowd that surrounded the Savior as He was on His way to Jairus’ house. 

Her plight was pathetic. She had been ill for twelve years with a bloody flux and had been impoverished by the health care system of the day only (like some today) to become worse rather than better. In short, she was in desperate straits. 

Then she heard of Jesus. And, she believed in Him. “When she had heard of Jesus, [she] came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole [v. 27-28].” While others doubted and debated, and many were just swept up in the enthusiasm of the multitude, this woman who had been disappointed so many times and reduced to despair, hearing of Jesus did not say, “what’s the use?” or, “Well, it won’t hurt to try one more thing.” She is recorded as saying, without qualification, “If I may but touch His clothes, I shall be whole.” It was not superstition, nor experimentation, but the unwavering confidence that characterizes true faith. 

Jostled in the throng, she pressed on against the odds and finally reached her objective. She touched Him. She needed nothing more and sought no publicity. “She felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.” Her need met, she would have retreated into the crowd and slipped quietly away—but for Jesus. “Knowing in Himself (“nothing is hid from the eyes of Him with whom we have to do”) that virtue(“power” Gk.) had gone out of Him He turned”—in her direction, no doubt,—and said, to her consternation, “Who touched my clothes [v.30].” This anonymous woman, overcome with fear and trembling confessed before Him “all the truth.” Her name is not recorded in the record, but it is written in “the Lamb’s Book of Life!”

When the disciples heard Him call out, “Who touched my clothes,” they thought Him a bit irrational, saying, “Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest, Who touched me?” (v. 31) Under ordinary circumstances their reaction was perfectly logical, but these were not “ordinary circumstances.” This was an encounter with “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Her confidence, miraculous cleansing and trembling confession combined to receive from the Son of God much more than she bargained for;  “He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” The implication, “Thy faith hath made thee whole,” appears to include her soul’s salvation; the physical healing was, as with the handicapped man we considered in chapter 2, a secondary benefit. This remarkable Man came “to seek and to save the lost,” not merely to make them healthy, wealthy and happy. She did not know that then; we do now.

Today, on a dramatic scale, this story is oft repeated. There are multitudes who have an occasional, casual contact with Christ. They make no significant impression on Him, and He is to them only a matter of curiosity. “Having eyes to see they see not, having ears to hear, they hear not.” His voice is to them as  pleasant song. But here and there one breaks through to touch Him, convinced against all doubt that He is the answer to all their need. “If I may but touch His clothes, I shall be whole.” Impoverished by the dreadful malady of sin, despairing of all human help and ready to die, these press on with a determined faith and find Him able to deliver them and “full of grace.” How wonderful!!

The account reminds me of a familiar gospel song: “He Touched Me.” But with a significant twist. This song would be  entitled, “I Touched Him.” The initiative was hers. She believed what she had heard about His power, and was determined not to be denied. She pressed against the odds, ran counter to the crowd, obtained His blessing and got His attention. I know this perspective will trouble some of the “theologians” among us, but that is exactly how it reads.

The gospel of the Son of God declares, “…whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved..” (Rom. 10:13, e.g.) That is why He came! Have you touched Him? Or are you just one of the crowd?

—"Pastor" Frasier