Again: "The Carpenter's Son"

"When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished....Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?" (From Matthew 13:54-56)

So here we have Him, the oldest child of a family of at least 9 people, and:

"The carpenter's son," the One called, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."

"The carpenter's son," the One Who claimed, "Before Abraham was, I Am", and of Whom it is written, "all things were created by Him and for Him."

"The carpenter's son," the One Who Is right now, "....upholding all things by the Word of His power," the One called, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

"The carpenter's son," who is also, "Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God."

But He appeared among men as, "the carpenter's son."  How can this be?  How can the Eternal God, Ruler of the Universe, the One Who said, "In the beginning..., Light be", Who Alone created everything you now see, Who Alone, "....formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being", and Who Alone continues to impart to us His, "God-Breathed," Words, how could such a, "Great and Mighty God," then "stoop" to become, "the carpenter's son"?  Well, He did, and, it is, "to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishness, but to (you and me) Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Can you imagine what it must have been like to enter that carpenter's shop, to encounter the One of Whom the creed states, "Who for us men, and for our salvation came down," standing there with carpenters' tools?  Well, my friend, no need.  Jesus is right now in our "shop," gloriously in you and me, Jesus, of Whom the song writer said, "For me it was in the garden He prayed 'not my will but Thine.'  He had no tears for His own griefs, but sweat-drops of blood for mine."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene," the One Who for me became, "the carpenter's son."  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Comfort...With These Words."

"But I do not want you to be ignorant....For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus....For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,..and with the trumpet of  God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (From 1 Thessalonians 4)

"Therefore comfort one another with these words."  These are the Words with which Paul then concludes this part of his letter------- to us.  The sad reality is that too many have made fun of, even rejected, "....caught up together...in the clouds...."  Our text says, "....I do not want you to be ignorant...."  Far too many are.  The purpose of the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, is to "....comfort...with these Words."  You may know that on Stephen's grave marker are the words, "Until the Trumpet Sounds."  One rejects, "....the dead in Christ will rise first", to their own peril.

"Therefore comfort one another with these words."  When we need comfort, we don't need intellectual grasp.  We need impartation of the, "God-Breathed," Words.  "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him...."  The Holy Spirit is, "The Comforter," and He comforts us by, "The Words of God."  He does not comfort us by "taking us to our happy place," or some gooey feeling.  The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus and "points" us to Jesus, His Words; hence, today I implore you to take His, "....comfort... with these Words," that, "the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them...to meet the Lord in the air."  Flee from any "teacher" who tells you otherwise.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are my Comfort.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"For A Whole Year"-- Some Not Recorded

"So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the Church and taught a great many people." (Acts 11:26)

Some people think that Paul just traveled ceaselessly, endlessly; he did not.  Our text reveals this.

Our text tells us that he spent a year with the Church, "....in Antioch."  No, it was not 24/7/365 teaching seminars, prayer meetings, "outreaches," etc.  "How do you know that?" someone may ask.  For one thing, we know that Paul, according to Acts 18, made tents, "So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.  And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath...."  The fellowship he had with Aquila and Priscilla, and the Church at Corinth must have been wonderful.  Notice that the only record we have of Paul's time in Corinth is that, "....he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath...."  I'm sure Paul did "other things" while he was in Antioch.

"So," you may ask, "and the point is?"  My point is that our walk in Jesus includes our "work place" as it does every moment of our lives, "....whether we wake or sleep...."  Right now most likely you are not in a church building, or a prayer meeting, or a worship gathering, or....  You may be in your kitchen, family room, on a lunch break, etc.  And, right now in this moment, no matter where you are, no matter the surroundings, you are, as the Bible says, "in Christ," and, "Christ in you, the hope of glory."  Enjoy that "out-of-meetings" experience.

I cannot encourage us all enough to enjoy our Living Triune God, Father, Son Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, while "making tents," or having lunch with another Follower of Jesus in a crowded restaurant.  Making tents, having lunch can be equal to any other gathering of the Church, that is, if we really believe Bible Theology.

Father, in Jesus' Name, too much of my out-of-meeting-times over the years had an out-of-You air.  Thank You for continually "bringing me back." Amen.

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* October 20, Washington, DC

* October 28-November 15, Germany

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"I Set My Face Toward The Ground"

"While he was saying this to me, I bowed (literally, 'set my face,') with my face toward the ground and was speechless."  (Daniel 10:15, NIV)

Have you ever had an "encounter" in Jesus which left you as Daniel in our text?  What Daniel experienced that day was not an every day experience, which too many think of when they read much of the Bible.  One thing, however, about our Lord Jesus which I think is so wonderful is that when we need such, He gives such.

I shared yesterday that something "happened" last Sunday during my preaching time which is still difficult to explain.  It was as though a "curtain" were drawn back, a "window" opened.  As an example of an "encounter" with our Lord Jesus many years ago, I had referred to Elijah in the cave when our Lord asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  For a moment, it was as though I was "there" with Elijah, experiencing the grace and gift of Him Who loves us so, dealing with the particulars of our lives.  I have not attempted a further "explanation" of that.  Rather, I accept it as "a gift from God."

Pascal, the French physicist and mathematician, once wrote, "In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't....Faith is different from proof; the latter is human, the former is a gift from God." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be more of an "accepter" than an "understander."  Amen.
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* DC on October 20
* Berlin, Wittenberge, October 28-November 15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....In Power,..In The Holy Spirit..,In Much Assurance"

"For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance...."  (1 Thess. 1:5)

Yesterday I personally experienced our text.  No, there were not resurrections from the dead, or water turned to wine.  It was just that wonderful, "....in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance...."  The, "....much assurance...," is in the, "Words of God," and, "in the Holy Spirit"------ equally.

I don't know what else to say about this.  I am just thankful that Jesus' Words produce and manifest in us, "....in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance...."  I pray this be your daily living experience.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You when you impart/release in me, "....in power, and in the Holy Spirit...much assurance...."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2