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The Final Hours #5 Events after his Death (Matthew Pearce) Feb 22, 2025

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#5 A @Christadelphians Video: Description: It is through all of these events, that the women feature with their extraordinary devotion to the Lord. The Lord Jesus has achieved the work. As the saviour he is seated on the right side of the throne of God. Following his work, there is now a separation between Christ and his disciples. It is now “your Father and my Father”. We all hope to be given immortality, through the grace of God.

Thought for February 22nd. “EVERYONE WHOSE HEART STIRRED HIM” Feb 22, 2025

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The drama of Moses in the mountain and then in dealing with those who made the golden calf is now in the past. We read today of preparations for making the Tabernacle: everyone had brought away from Egypt items of value – remember what you read in Ch. 12 v,35,36! “They plundered the Egyptians.” Moses appeals to the people, “Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze …yarns and fine twined linen …” [35 v.5] These will be the source materials needed to make the Tabernacle. The people “departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. And so they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart …”

[v.20-22]

We will read in ch. 36 that Moses is told, “The people bring much more than enough …” [v.5]; so many willing hearts! Now this was not tithing, these were freewill offerings. The institution of tithing is detailed in the next 3 books of Moses, see for example Deuteronomy 14 v.22-29. Tithing was for the running costs of the nation: the Levites duties were wide ranging being required to act as medicos, policemen, administration, etc., tithing was the income tax of the nation. The functioning of the tabernacle was the responsibility of Aaron and his sons and close relatives.

Many ‘Christian’ organisations demand tithes of their flock, claiming the Bible advocates this – and many become really wealthy – and its tax free! ‘Hillsong’ is an ugly example! But there is no basis in God’s word for Christians to practice tithing – the evidence is all the other way!

There will be evidence of this when we come to Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians next month. Paul writes of the attitude of the believers in Macedonia “in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity … they gave … beyond their means of their own freewill …” [8 v2,3] “Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not … under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” [9 v.7]

Equally important is for believers to show the heart felt sincerity of their commitment to Christ by giving of their time and their abilities in different areas of service for Christ. Can it be that some, well blessed in the needs of this life, think that it is enough to be very generous when the collection bags come round and appeals are made – but that is all they do! We must each let our hearts stir us to use our talents (not just finances) in the service of the Lord wherever he creates opportunities for us – and there are many of them.

Thoughts on the readings for February 23rd (Exodus 36, Psalms 94, 95, 1 Corinthians 6) Feb 22, 2025

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Among the Corinthians there was a misunderstanding in relation to the responsibility of the need to make judgments on disputes between believers. They were taking their fellow believers before the bench for decisions. So Paul urged them in this 6th chapter to settle the issue among themselves. He said that the time would come in the kingdom when the worldly authorities would be ruled by the saints. So surely determinations of differences could be decided by them. The ancient city of Corinth was renowned for fornication. It was a proverb of the day that visitors would go here to ‘Corinthianise’, that is to fornicate. The Acro Corinthia, atop of the city’s mount, had a temple with many restaurants and 3,000 temple prostitutes. So wrong was this behaviour that Paul warned believers against going there for a meal if they were to be distracted by the practices. And even if they were not, he says they should not go should it become a cause of stumbling to another. Engaging in a sexual union outside of marriage is defiling for holy believers – they are God’s temple (see Hebrews 13:4). Our bodies are God’s temple and to kept in purity for Him and in obedient loving service in worship of our Almighty God.cont reading...

https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-february-23rd-exodus-36-psalms-94-95-1-corinthians-6/

The Final Hours_ #4 'The Crucifiction' (Jon Day) Feb 21, 2025

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#4 A @Christadelphians Video: Description: While Jesus was taken away to be crucified, and on the cross, he interacted with many different people. Some of them loved him; some hated him; others were doing their job, incidentally providing unintended witness to the fact that he was Israel’s king and high priest. These encounters show Jesus’ care for his mother, his compassion for the suffering that would come upon his nation, and the scriptures that were in his mind.

https://christadelphianvideo.org/tftd/thought-for-february-21st-please-show-me-your-glory/ Feb 21, 2025

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The life story of Moses is remarkable, only after being a shepherd for 40 years in Midian was he called by God to serve him. He then had the drama of the plagues and his inter-action with Pharaoh. The dramatic crossing of the Red Sea and the quaking mountain and 40 days on the summit are naturally seen as the highlights of his life story. But something totally special was in store for him and we read of this today in Exodus 33 and 34.

The Lord commands them to leave Sinai, God sees the masses encamped there as “a stiff necked people” [33 v.3]. Yesterday we read “the LORD said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned I will blot out of my book.’” [32 v.33] When Moses went into his tent “the pillar of cloud would descend … Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” [33 v.9,11] Moses says to the LORD, “If I have found favour in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”[v.13] The LORD answers, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” [v.13,14] The A V has ‘give thee rest’ – the promised “rest” only applied to Moses.

There follows a remarkable request. “Moses said, ‘Please show me your glory.’ The answer is most thought provoking, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” [v.18,19] Moses is made to stand in the “cleft of a rock” until the LORD has passed by, but Moses is not allowed to see his face.

But the greater cause for our meditation is the declaration of his name. In one sense God’s name, as with our name, is the reputation we develop and display.

Moses goes up on the mountain for a second 40 days (34 v.28) and again “The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger; and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness … ” [v.5,6,] The glory of character is far greater in meaning than physical glory.. Remember Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus that he would have “no beauty that we should desire him.” [53 v.2] – yet all human portraits make him handsome with flowing golden hair!

Let us each meditate as to how we would respond – if asked to show our glory! How we feel we can genuinely answer this request – will one day be reflected in the kind of “rest” we will receive.

Thoughts on the readings for February 22nd (Exodus 35, Psalms 92, 93, 1 Corinthians 4, 5) Feb 21, 2025

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The letters to the Corinthians are the most autobiographical of all Paul’s letters. In this 4th chapter of the first letter we learn that Paul was being severely criticised by his detractors, of whom there were many. He started by telling us that he was scrupulously honest and in money matters above reproach. This didn’t by any means justify him – it will be our Lord Jesus Christ who will justify the faithful in the day of judgment. Then follows a heavily ironic segment addressed to those his accusers. He said that they were reigning as if the kingdom had already commenced. Oh, says Paul, if only that this was so! By contrast he and the Apostles were treated like the armies defeated by Rome. The vanquished were paraded to be derided and then executed. His opponents, on the other hand, were lauding it over the vanquished. In no way would they ever be able to crush Paul’s resilience. The reason he directed them to this was that as a father he loved them and sought to admonish them. The Corinthians had no shortage of educated instructors, but he alone would be a father to them. Paul urges that they learn from him and become his imitators. They must address the problem, otherwise he would be forced to come to them in discipline; rather than, as was his preference, as a gentle teacher. He tells them in chapter 5 that in among them was a case of shameless incest. So bad it was, that non Christians would find it disturbing. He told them how to deal with it.cont reading... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-february-22nd-exodus-35-psalms-92-93-1-corinthians-4-5/

The Final Hours #3 The The trial (John Clarke) Feb 20, 2025

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#3 A @Christadelphians Video: The Roman and Jewish leaders are involved in the trials of Christ. Then location of the various trials is considered. While Pilate is willing to let Jesus go, the Jewish leaders are determined to put him to death.

G0@ TR=...The final hours_ #2 'Gethsemane' (J. Evans) Feb 20, 2025

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#2 A @Christadelphians Video: When Jesus and his disciples arrive in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter, James and John are specially mentioned. The Gardens of Eden and Gethsemane are compared and watchfulness is heightened.

Thoughts on the readings for February 21st (Exodus 33, 34, Psalms 90, 91, 1 Corinthians 3) Feb 20, 2025

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Exodus 33 is broken into 3 sections – verses 1-6 the command to leave Sinai; verses 7-11 the tent of meeting; and verses 12-23 Moses’ prayer of intercession for the angel of the presence to accompany Israel on its journey. The first three verses deal with the command to leave Sinai – itself being a stepping stone for the fulfilling of the Abrahamic promise; and talking of their final destination, the Promised Land (a land abundantly blessed with the finest products – milk and honey). However, the invitation was accompanied by a serious warning, which disturbed the Israelites. Moses then took from Israel their jewels. Verses 7-11 describe how Moses would enter the Tent of Meeting with the symbols of God’s presence on the Tabernacle at those times. Then the angel of the presence would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend (Numbers 12 verses 1-8). In verses 12-23 Moses made intercession for the people; claiming that the task of leading them is beyond his capacity. It seems to be the same humble and reluctant man that sought to avoid his responsibility 40 years earlier. Moses said to the angel of God’s presence (quite likely to be Michael) unless you accompany Israel on this journey I will not go. And if you will accompany us on this trip I will know that I have found favour. The angel acceded to Moses’ request. Moses then sought additional assurance in seeking for Yahweh to reveal His glory to Moses. Notice that in verse 19 the revelation of the glory of the LORD is understanding His gracious character. Verse 20 reveals that Moses will only see a fraction of that glory from a sheltered cave; since no mortal man can see God’s face and live (1 Timothy 6 verses 16). This place on the rock was very likely the cave from where Elijah received the revelation of God Almighty. These two men – Moses and Elijah – received a foretaste of the glory revealed in Messiah during the Transfiguration. And Messiah was to find himself near his Omnipotent Fathercont readibng https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-february-21st-exodus-33-34-psalms-90-91-1-corinthians-3/

Bible readings and Thought for February 20th. “WHERE IS THE ONE WHO IS WISE?” Feb 20, 2025

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Today we began reading Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Corinth was a centre of Greek learning and Greek wisdom. Winning converts was a challenge – a quite different kind of challenge to winning converts among the Jews. Today’s world with its atheism and humanism is yet another kind of challenge – yet there are parallels – and what Paul wrote applies just as much. “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” [1 v.18] – this applies in every situation. The meaning of the cross, once grasped, creates the power of thought to change lives!

The sacrifice of Christ is senseless in the minds of those who are not seeking real spirituality in their outlook on life. In. v.19 Paul quotes God’s words through Isaiah (in 29 v.14) “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Human wisdom has been thwarted by God, in every age and every culture, the 21st Century is not going to be any different..

Paul asks, “Where is the one who is wise?” and then makes the point, “Since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through (its’) wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but …” And what a vital ‘but’ that little word is! “but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” [v.24]

What wisdom we can read in Matthew’s gospel of the teaching of Christ – what a challenge to practice what he taught, as recorded in chapters 5 to 7 – generally called ‘The Sermon on the Mount.’ No human author could have invented Christ as a fictional character and put such teaching in his mouth. Those who are “called” show their ‘calling’ by whole heartedly responding to such teaching.

Paul tells the Corinthians “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” [2 v.2] He then makes the point, “among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age … but we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” [v.6-8] The Old Testament is the repository of such wisdom..

Let us search out – more and more – the “wisdom of God” and develop more and more a genuine love for God, Paul says, “it is written, ‘… no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him’ “ [v.9] True wisdom is the outcome of a genuine love for God; may we be filled with wisdom – and daily feed on “the wisdom of God.”

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