Month: March 2014

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You Want Me To Try Again?

“We worked hard all night … and we caught nothing.” LUKE 5:5

Do you have any worn, wet, empty nets? Do you know the feeling of a sleepless, fishless night? Of course you do. For what have you been casting? Solvency? “My debt is an anvil around my neck …”

Faith? “I want to believe, but …”

Healing? “I’ve been sick so long …”

A happy marriage? “No matter what I do …”

I’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing.

You’ve felt what Peter felt. You’ve sat where Peter sat. And now Jesus is asking you to go fishing. He knows your nets are empty. He knows your heart is weary. He knows you’d like nothing more than to turn your back on the mess and call it a life.

But he urges, “It’s not too late to try again.”

See if Peter’s reply won’t help you formulate your own. “You say to put the nets in the water, so I will” (Luke 5:5).

from NEXT DOOR SAVIOR

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Daniel’s Seventy Weeks

twinkling of an eye
From a Mid-Week Study

The events recorded in Revelation 6:1 to Revelation 19:21 are connected with the last, or 70th week of Daniel’s 70 weeks.

Daniel had been in Babylon for 68 years – he was studying Jeremiah 25:11 and discovered that the 70 years of captivity of his people was nearly over.

He began praying (Daniel 9:3) to know the exact time of its ending, and while he was praying the Angel Gabriel came to reveal to him something more important than that. Daniel 9:20-23

Daniel was concerned about the expiration of the 70 years of the Captivity, and the restoration of his people to Palestine, and the building of the city of Jerusalem and of the Temple.

But the Angel Gabriel came to disclose to him something more important than that. While he doubtless informed Daniel that God would fulfill His promise to the 70 years of the captivity, which we know, He did, he also told Daniel that wouldn’t end the troubles of Israel. While the Jews were to return to Jerusalem at the end of the 70 years of captivity, there was a longer period to elapse before the Kingdom would be restored to them – a period of 70 weeks.

He told Daniel 70 weeks are determined upon thy people, the Jews, and upon the Holy City, (Jerusalem) to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

The 70 weeks are divided into three periods of 7 weeks, and 62 weeks, and 1 week. They cover the time from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (B.C. 445), which took 49 years.

This gives us the key to the meaning of the word week. If 7 weeks are equal to 49 years then 1 week is equal to 7 years.

Then we’re told from the time that Jerusalem was rebuilt until the Messiah Prince shall be 62 weeks. If one week is equal to seven years and we already had seven weeks, and we’re looking at 69 weeks total. (7 weeks plus 62 weeks = 69 weeks) That would equal 483 years.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, April 2, A.D. 30. The difference in time between B. C. 445 and A. D. 30 is 475 years, but, as we have seen 69 weeks equal 483 years, the difference of 8 years. How can we explain this difference?

The 475 years between B. C. 445 and A. D. 30, are Julienne or Astronomical years of 365 ¼ days each, but when we reduce them to Calendar years of 360 days each, (the year used in the Scriptures), we find we have exactly 483 years of 360 days each. This proves there was no break between the first and second periods of the 70 weeks and the prophecy that there should be 69 weeks to the coming of “Messiah the Prince” was literally fulfilled.

Now as 69 weeks of Daniel’s 70 weeks have already expired, and all that was prophesied to happen during those 70 weeks hasn’t yet been fulfilled, it stands to reason the things unfulfilled are still future, and must be fulfilled in the remaining 1 week, and that 1 week shall be 7 years long, for it must be the same length as the other weeks.

This then gives us the length of time the Antichrist will rule.

The prophecy that Gabriel gave to Daniel only involved the Jewish people. Gabriel told Daniel that the Messiah would be cut off by his people. That’s the Gentile period of history. The final week of Jewish history is still to come. It will be the Tribulation era after the church has been raptured and Christians and the Holy Spirit have stopped restraining Satan. The Antichrist will reign for seven years of literal hell on earth.

We’re told in Daniel 9:27 that the Antichrist shall make a covenant with the Jews for “One Week”, 7 years, which will be the last week of the 70 weeks, and in the middle of the week he shall break the Covenant and cause “sacrifice and oblation” in the Temple that the Jews will have restored, to cease, and then there will be massive persecution until the end of the 70th Week.

JEWISH HISTORY: END OF CAPTIVITY TO RESTORATION OF JERUSALEM

– 7 WEEKS

FROM THE REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM UNTIL THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH

– 62 WEEKS

THE FINAL WEEK OF TRIBULATION

– 1 WEEK

7 + 62 + 1 = 70

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The Doctrine of Christ

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” (2 John 10)

This apparently harsh instruction seems at first to conflict with the many biblical exhortations to show hospitality, but it needs to be placed in context. The one-chapter epistle of 2 John was addressed to “the elect lady and her children” by John, who also extended greetings from “the children of thy elect sister” (vv. 1, 13). These unusual phrases, together with the general tone of the epistle, make it almost certain that John was not referring simply to two individual Christian women, but to two churches, symbolically personified as two noble ladies with the “children” being the new converts in the churches.

The warning, then, is primarily against the danger of allowing a false teacher to come into the church, as a pastor or a teacher or even as a visiting speaker, who would not bring “this doctrine.” The doctrine mentioned is obviously “the doctrine of Christ” (v. 9). This doctrine of Christ is not, however, simply a set of doctrinal tenets about the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is not the doctrine about Christ, but of Christ—belonging to Him—His doctrine. The word “doctrine” is didache, meaning literally “teachings.” The meaning clearly is “the teachings of Christ,” that is, not just one or two least-common-denominator statements about Christ to which all nominal Christians could give assent, but the entire body of teachings that had come from Jesus.

Further, since He taught that all the Old Testament is inspired and authoritative and also promised the same to the writers of the New Testament, this “doctrine of Christ” includes “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), from Genesis through Revelation. How important it is not to allow false teaching to get a foothold in a local church. HMM

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He died for all, that they, which live, should no longer live unto themselves

He died for all, that they, which live, should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who for their sakes died and rose again.—2 Corinthians 5:15 (R. V.).
I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. —John 16:22.

THEN let thy life through all its ways
One long thanksgiving be,
Its theme of joy, its song of praise,
“Christ died, and rose for me.”
J. B. S. MONSELL.

IF you come to seek His face, not in the empty sepulcher, but in the living power of His presence, as indeed realizing that He has finished His glorious work, and is alive for-evermore, then your hearts will be full of true Easter joy, and that joy will shed itself abroad in your homes, And let your joy not end with the hymns and the prayers and the communions in His house. Take with you the joy of Easter to the home, and make that home bright with more unselfish love, more hearty service; take it into your work, and do all in the name of the Lord Jesus; take it to your heart, and let that heart rise anew on Easter wings to a higher, a gladder, a fuller life; take it to the dear grave-side and say there the two words “Jesus lives!” and find in them the secret of calm expectation, the hope of eternal reunion. JOHN ELLERTON.

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How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord! for ever?

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord! for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? Psalm 13:1

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. — But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.

Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. — A woman … cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David! But he answered her not a word.

The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth.

James 1:17. Isaiah 49:14,15. Isaiah 44:21,22. John 11:5,6. Matthew 15:22,23. 1 Pet 1:7.

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Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide

Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide. Genesis 24:63

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? — The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. — This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. — My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Psalm 19:14. Psalm 8:3,4. Psalm 111:2. Psalm 1:1,2. Joshua 1:8. Psalm 63:5,6.

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What Do Your Footprints of Discipleship Look Like?

All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other. JOHN 13:35

Watch a small boy follow his dad through the snow. He stretches to step where his dad stepped. Not an easy task. His small legs extend as far as they can so his feet can fall in his father’s prints.

The father, seeing what the son is doing, smiles and begins taking shorter steps, so the son can follow.

It’s a picture of discipleship.

In our faith we follow in someone’s steps. A parent, a teacher, a hero—none of us are the first to walk the trail. All of us have someone we follow.

In our faith we leave footprints to guide others. A child, a friend, a recent convert. None should be left to walk the trail alone.

It’s the principle of discipleship.

The Inspirational Study Bible

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How to Conquer Your Fears

Psalm 27:1-3

I’ve walked with the Lord for nearly seven decades. I have read the Bible cover to cover many times, preached thousands of sermons, and written pages upon pages of study material. But let me tell you something that may surprise you: In spite of all that, sometimes I’m afraid. And I imagine you are, on occasion, as well. After all, we live in a scary world!

Any of us can feel frightened by failure, ridicule, loneliness, or something else entirely. For me, one area of vulnerability relates to preaching. Sometimes, early in the week, I get a nagging feeling that I won’t have everything I need to deliver Sunday’s message, and the uneasiness persists throughout the week.

In response to that, I pray harder, study longer, and read my Bible more closely. I am driven to do absolutely everything I can to succeed whenever I stand to proclaim God’s Word. I decided long ago that I wouldn’t let apprehension stop me from doing what God calls me to do. However, before I take my stand against fear, I must first admit it is there. That’s the key to conquering feelings of trepidation.

There’s no shame in admitting you are fearful. In the Psalms, King David confesses several times that he is afraid (Ps. 34:4; 55:4-5). However, his confession is wrapped in prayer, acknowledging the Lord’s power over both his apprehension and his enemies.

That same power is available to you today. God wants to cast out the fear and doubt in your life. Go before Him right now and say, “Lord, this is what I am afraid of . . .”