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Thought for March 18th..''Fearfully and wonderfully made Psalm 139-14....'' Mar 18, 2020

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"FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE" March 18th
I remember searchlights as a boy. Beams of light would sweep across the sky from near where I lived. They were searching for enemy planes, if they found one they would lock on to it and the gunners would try to shoot it down. My wife Fran had gunners right near her house.
We were reminded of this by our reading of Psalm 139 today. "Oh LORD you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up … you search out my path" [Psalm 139:1-3]. But David realizes that God's power to "see" extends far beyond what we do physically. We read, "you discern my thoughts from afar … even before a word is on my tongue …" [Psalm 139:4]
In the language young people use today, they would describe as 'awesome' the thought that God knows our thoughts before we even put them into words. That really is a searchlight on the mind. We cannot limit the meaning to David personally. BUT there is even more than this in what he writes, a wonderful inspiration by God! We read, "For you formed my inward parts , you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … your eyes saw my unformed substance." [Psalm 139:13,14,16].
Today, clever men have unravelled some of the secrets of DNA and the human genome. David was inspired to write 3,000 years ago of his "unformed substance," i.e DNA.
Finally, the word 'SEARCH' occurs again at the climax of the Psalm, Search me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts … and lead me in the way everlasting." [Psalm 139:23,24] Would I, would you, want to sense God's searchlight on your thoughts? If the answer is "No" then should it not also be 'No' to the question as to whether we want to led by God in the way everlasting?

Thought for March 17th..''The land shall not be sold in perpetuity for the land is mine....'' Mar 17, 2020

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GOD'S PRINCIPLE Mar 17

Today’s readings in Leviticus 25 are the words of the LORD about how the nation is to function when they settle into the promised land.

First there are laws to see that they treat the land properly so that the soil continues to yield its increase. They were work the land for 6 years “but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD” [Leviticus 25:4] This policy of ploughing a field for 6 years and letting it rest on the 7th made good sense. The soil could rejuvenate. It is only in recent generations that farmers have been able to use lots of extra chemical fertilisers to increase land productivity. But at the same time they have made mistakes, and in trying to make the land too productive, some have ruined it.

The chapter goes on to tell us that after 7 cycles or 7, making 49 years, the 50th year was to be a Jubilee Year, a very special year when “each of you shall return to his property”

[Leviticus 25:13] God said, “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity for the land is mine.” [Leviticus 25:23]

When they arrive in the promised land, as we will read in May, the land will be divided by Joshua into territories for each tribe. Each of these territories are then divided again into the ownership of families within the tribe, and then again to heads of households and individuals. If land was sold because of some urgent need, this was only until the next Jubilee Year. We read of various laws designed to help those who became poor. It is summed up in verse 46 “you shall not rule over one another ruthlessly” [Leviticus 25:46]

The law was very good, but the people often were not, and did not put it into practice very well.

God’s messages through the prophets often address this failure. In Isaiah we read, “Woe to those who join house to house and add field to field” [Isaiah 5:8] The whole spirit of capitalism as practiced in much of the world now is wrong; it cultivates a spirit of greed in building up more and more wealth. But God’s principle for Israel was, “the land is mine” they were the tenants to whom he had let it out. Surely the same will apply in the Kingdom of God. When, new week we come to Luke 18, take special note of Luke 18:25

Thought for March 16th..''For thus says the one who is high and lifted up.....'' Mar 16, 2020

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"WHO INHABITS ETERNITY" March 16

"Remember O LORD in David's favour, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the LORD and vowed …" [Psalm 132:1-2] The prayer and petition in that Psalm has a very significant lesson for us. What particular thing did David vow to do that he should be remembered for? Was it some great thing? He did many great things starting with the killing of Goliath, not counting the killing of the wild animals that sought to attack the sheep he was caring for. But his vow is not something that human nature sees as great but which today's Psalm is a plea about! The memory of this vow should be counted in his favour! Is it a vow we should consider making?

He vowed "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob" [Psalm 132:3-5]

David cannot mean he is going to build a literal temple for the Almighty. Nor can he mean the Tabernacle, for the LORD had had a dwelling place there for centuries.

The answer is to be found in Isaiah 57, as well as other places. There we read "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit" [Isaiah 57:15]

So the dwelling place that David vowed to find for the LORD was in his own heart. To do that he had to mentally prostrate himself before the Lord! How to do that? We suggest a factor in this is getting your true imagination to try to comprehend God's immeasurable greatness and how he desires to dwell in the hearts of the humble.

Remember how Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" [John 14:23] Our heart becomes a Temple if we really carry out the first commandment to the full! At the end of each day, we need to take stock, and restore any loss the day has brought to the Father's spiritual temple in our heart.

Thought for March 15th..''Why do you call me Lord,Lord and do not the things that i tell you..'' Mar 15, 2020

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WHAT DO THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS REALLY MEAN TO ME? March 15

"Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like" [Luke 6:47] There follows the story of a man carefully building a house and digging deep and finding a rock on which to base foundations. So when all was complete "a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it because it had been well built" [Luke 6:48]

Now this parable begins with Jesus saying, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, lord and not do the things that I tell you?" [Luke 6:46]. We all need to ask ourselves – what do the teachings of Jesus really mean to me? Do I live in a way that shows I believe in them?

We are being buffeted by the storms of Godless human behaviour as never before, it is becoming a tsunami of Godlessness. But look at the difference between the natural and the spiritual.

We are frightened by violent weather. But when it comes to a flood of immoral behaviour, many seem to welcome it, and, maybe more deadly still, many enjoy indulging in splashing in the shallows, ignoring the awesome flood of God's judgments that is promised.

Ancient Israel fooled themselves thinking; well God is in our midst, we go to the Temple to worship, "we lean on the Lord" - but the prophet Micah said to them, you "detest justice and make crooked all that is straight" [Micah 5:9] yet you then "lean on the LORD and say, 'is not the LORD in the midst of us ? No disaster shall come upon us.' Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; and Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins …" [Micah 5:11,12]

The spiritual failure in which they fooled themselves that the Lord was with them led to the realisation, too late, that their personal spiritual house was not built upon a spiritual rock. History is set to repeat itself – the same call goes out now as is it did then! Note the message God sent through the prophet Zephaniah.

"Seek the LORD all you humble of the land who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden in the day of the anger of the LORD." [Zephaniah 2:3]

Thought for March 14th..''But at your word, i will let down the nets..'' Mar 14, 2020

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“BUT AT YOUR WORD I WILL …” Mar 14

Who told Jesus to “Depart from me!” after he had witnessed a remarkable miracle? It was Peter! He had said, although he was sceptical, he would do what Jesus had suggested!

Now in our reading in Luke Ch. 5 today we see how Jesus used Peter’s boat as a preaching platform and “when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” [Luke 5 v.4]

Now Peter earned his living by fishing, he really knew when and where the fish were most likely to be found. He answers, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” [v.5]. He “knew” there were no fish around so with what frame of mind would he then add, “But at your word, I will let down the nets.”

The nets become so full of fish that they are breaking and they need the help of others from another boat! The fish “filled both boats so that they began to sink” [v.7] Peter is overwhelmed, he gasps out, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord” [v.8] Because of his intimate knowledge of fishing this miracle shocks him far more than the healing of his mother-in-law’s fever and other sick people we read of yesterday.

Peter realises Jesus has the power to do anything! This causes him to be overwhelmed by a sense of his own unworthiness. Do we ever get confronted by our own sense of unworthiness? What about our feelings when the miracle of the return of Jesus starts to unfold before our eyes? Carefully meditate on the emotion you will feel then!.

Do we really believe Jesus is with believers in spirit here and now? The disciple John wrote, in his old age, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God abides in him, and he in God…. God is love and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment. ” [1 John 4 v.15-17] Surely all who believe the spirit of Christ is all around them and have responded to his call “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me” [John 7 v.37] – and “thirst” to read God’s word everyday will have confidence when it is evident Jesus is returning.

As we will be away from Melbourne, you will (“Lord willing”) receive our Bible Thoughts via Kay McGrath for the next 5 days

Thought for March 13th..''I was sent for this purpose..''- Mar 13, 2020

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"I WAS SENT FOR THIS PURPOSE" Mar 13

The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” [1 Tim 1 v.15] That salvation was only possible through his sacrifice on the cross, a sacrifice that brought an end to all the sacrifices of animals and the use of their blood on the altar that we have been reading about in Leviticus.

But that was not the only reason Jesus came into the world! The point is very clearly made in today’s chapter in Luke (11). As Jesus moved around Israel many were attracted by his healings. “…all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on them …and healed them … The people … would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them. ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” [v.40,42,43] But were they listening to “the good news”? The people of Capernaum, in particular, who had been “exalted to heaven” [Luke 10 v.15] by their witnessing of heavenly deeds and hearing his message, were rejected for their failure to change their lives and really follow him.

After Jesus rose from the dead he showed he was alive “by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” {Acts 1 v.3] The Apostles continued his message; note how the very last verse in Acts tells us that Paul was “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness …”

This message was an integral part of the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” [Matt. 5 v.5] The way the meek, i.e., the gentle minded, will inherit the earth is for Jesus to return and establish his kingdom on the earth.

Those who decide to follow Jesus must have this purpose also – sharing his message of hope for our ever more troubled world. Let us not be attracted and distracted by the essentially purpose-less pursuits of the world around us but show by what we say and do that we are following in his footsteps.

Moses - My Servant! Mar 12, 2020

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Bro Harry Tennant

Jesus - the Ultimate sacrifice Mar 12, 2020

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Sacrifice is necessary following sin; sacrifice entails the shedding of blood. The death of Jesus was a sacrifice that does not need to be repeated; it took away the need for animal sacrifices and will take away our sins if we do what he asks of us.

Thought for March 12th..''I rejoice at your word... great peace have they that love your law..'' Mar 12, 2020

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“I REJOICE AT YOUR WORD” Mar 12

Today we completed reading the 176 verses of Psalm 119. What impressed us was how often the Psalmist stresses the value of knowing God’s word. There is no point in reading God’s word if what we read has no effect on us. We read today, “The unfolding of your word gives light; it imparts understanding …”[v.130] and leads to the plea for God’s help to “keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” [v.133]

Those with a firm relationship and reliance on God then feel great dismay at the attitudes they see around them; the Psalmist becomes very emotional about this, “My eyes shed streams of tears , because people do not keep your law … my zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words.” [v.136,139]

There have been many times in history – and again today in countries like Pakistan - where “foes” arise to make life difficult for those who follow Christ. The Psalmist says, “I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts … your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.” [v.141,144]

He sees more than the continuation of the struggles of this mortal life, he looks forward to the time when he may live eternally – and because of this he declares, “The sum of your word is truth …my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil … great peace have they who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O LORD …” [v. 160-166] May God’s salvation be our hope and peace of mind, so that our ‘steps’ in this life are sure and firm.

In Luke’s gospel today we read of John Baptists’ message “to the crowds that came out to be baptized … ‘Bear fruits in keep with repentance’” [3 v.7,8] he told them. God’s call to people has not changed, but the foundation attitude of those who respond to the call is that they say to God, “I rejoice at your word.”

Dinosaurs are Dragons; Let's not be deceived 3 classes - Mar 11, 2020

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At Schools all over the world, children are taught, as fact, that the dinosaurs existed millions of years ago, yet there is overwhelming evidence to show that they were, in fact, contemporary with modern man, supporting the Bible view that life was only brought about on this planet around 6000 years ago. Matt Jamieson, Christadelphian, Author, public speaker, and supporter of a Biblical creation, has a deep passion for this subject and in these three addresses puts forth compelling evidence showing that the Dinosaurs were, in fact, contemporary with man and were walking this earth as little as 4000 years ago. Also a must-see video series for all. Great for youth gatherings, CYC's etc

Study 1: 'What came out of hell creek?

Study 2 'Pharoah's court and the creatures of Job'

Study 3 - 'Historical Archeological evidence!

Watch the videos here.....

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsmUZDApxHVHSOtpfBcEw7_TC-xBBQSfj