Tag: April 2019

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Standing On the Promises

Joshua 21:45 There failed not aught of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

This statement was the concluding thought after the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein (Joshua 21:43). Israel was restfully settled in the Promised Land according to God’s promise.

However, it was recorded later in the Book of Judges Israel’s incomplete obedience to the good instructions of the LORD cost them dearly from generation to generation. They failed to separate from the idolatrous people of Canaan both in worship and marriage till today.

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Hymns: RHC 339 When I Fear My Faith Will Fail; 333 Yesterday, Today, Forever; 320 ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus Job 5:6-17 6Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; 7Yet man …

16. Many the Afflictions of the Righteous Read more »

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Jesus Lives! (John 20:1-8)

The account in John’s gospel was the Apostle John’s personal testimony of how he arrived at the conviction even before he saw the resurrected Christ that Jesus is alive. He has risen from the dead.

It was Mary Magdalene who was early at the tomb of Jesus when it was still dark on Sunday morning, three days after Jesus was buried to find the stone of the tomb taken away – John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. She immediately ran to Peter and John to inform them that Jesus’ body was missing from the open tomb. Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb.

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Hymns: RHC 360 My God Is Any Hour So Sweet, 351 He Leadeth Me, 243 The Comforter Has Come

Job 5:1-5

1Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? 2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. 3I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. 5Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. (Job 5:1-5 KJV)

A Fool’s Downfall

OUTLINE

(1) Call for Your Righteous Witnesses? (v1)

(2) A Fool’s Judgment (v2-5)

INTRODUCTION

Elilphaz has sought to discomfit and distressed Job into confessing that he has been living a fool’s life and therefore now faces a fool’s destruction.

(1) Call for Your Righteous Witnesses? (v1)

(2) A Fool’s Judgment (v2-5)

(1) Call for Your Righteous Witnesses? (v1)

1Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?

Which holy man of God is going to defend you? Anyone saint is able to vouchsafe for you? Surely there is none. It read like the judgment upon the fool who disregarded God’s reproof and instruction in Solomon’s proverbs.

22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Prov. 1:22-33 KJV)

The simple ones, the scorners and the fools are apt descriptions of those walking on the broadway who, scorn and mock at the truth, enticed by the sinner, consenting to his persuasion. Why do you hate knowledge? Why do you hate the truth? Why should it be so? It is for our good and yet we reject God’s call. Job is such a one!

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Christ’s Seven Sayings On the Cross

(Edited and Extracted from “The Guide to the Gospels: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Four Gospels” by Graham Scroggie)

(1) The Significance of the Sayings

Last words are always important and are carefully stored in the memory, especially the last words of the dying, of the martyrs, of people who have been great leaders, inventors, discoverers, writers, and of our own loved ones. But all the greatest last words which have ever been uttered throughout all time are not of comparable significance and value with the Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross, and just because no one before or since can be compared with Him, no one before or since has been at once Perfect Man and Very God. It is His Divine-Human Personality that gives all that He ever said its value.

(2) The Number of the Sayings

“That there should be exactly seven, the sacred and mystical number of Scripture, is itself not without its significance” (Trench) No Evangelist records all of them, but each Evangelist records some of them. Matthew and Mark have one; Luke has three, and John has three.

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Hymns: RHC 41 God Is Still On the Throne, 255 Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart, 256 The Bible Stands

Job 4:12-21

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. 13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, 14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: 16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? 18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: 19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? 20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. 21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom. (Job 4:12-21 KJV)

Unbiblical Vision

OUTLINE
(1) Unbiblically Invoking God’s Authority (v12-16)
(2) Misrepresenting God’s Name (v17-21)

INTRODUCTION
Eliphaz has begun discrediting Job, putting to question his past actions of piety. Mr Counsellor is himself troubled and despondent. It goes to show that his claim of being a God-fearer, one who places his confidence in God and lived a life of uprightness is a vain show. “Look at yourself now,” Eliphaz points out to Job, “you are now fainting and troubled. You are disquieted! What happened to your faith in God? Has it now caved-in? Goes to how shallow is that faith that you profess!” This was how Job was discredited. His testimony in God called to question – “You comforted others but now look at you, do you not now wallow in self-pity too?”

This was to force a confession from Job, a sly ploy of Satan, to persuade Job to confess himself a hypocrite. If Job had capitulated, Satan would have won his case with God against Job.

Because Job was discomfited, he showed himself impatient under pressure, this was brought as evidence against him.

If Job is indeed a good man, why would these afflictions have come to him? It is not logical. He must have sinned against God.

It was a spiritual test for Job. He was not afflicted as a judgment for sin. Eliphaz concluded that Job’s present predicament has been a result of his sin. He is reaping the evil he has sown.

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Dwelling In Thy Courts

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

The psalmist pronounced God’s blessing upon the worshipper whom God caused to approach Him in holy worship. He comes and dwells in the courts of God’s house by an irresistible call.

(1) God Draws

The psalmist tells us it is God who draws us to Him. Jesus says in John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

What a privilege to hear the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep calling us to be assembled before Him. As God draws us, He also prepares our hearts to approach Him. He draws us with an irresistible love. Jesus says in John 10:14-15I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

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Hymns: RHC 269 Come to the Savior, 271 Softly and Tenderly, 272 Jesus, I Come

Job 4:3-11

3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5Butnow it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 6Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? 7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? 8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. 9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. 10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. 11The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad. (Job 4:3-11 KJV)

Where Were the Righteous Cut Off?

OUTLINE

(1) Suffering Because of Man’s Wickedness

INTRODUCTION

Eliphaz was the most senior of three of Job’s friend who spoke first after 7 days of silence where they sat with Job during the deepest valley moment of Job’s life. He has just shared his misery in chapter 3, in lamentation, asking vulnerable questions, searching to unravel the mystery of what had befallen him.

Why Was I Born? (v1-10)
Why Did I Not Die Earlier? (v11-19)
Why Am I Still Alive? (v20-26)
Eliphaz began to discredit Job’s past testimony as a man of integrity who gave advice to many during the time of his “prosperity”. If Job is such a good counsellor to others, surely, he must have an answer to his own condition. Why is he reduced to such a troubled state, complaining of his own condition?

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