Month: December 2024

I believe as Christians none of us like going through trials. However, what the words of God teach us is the times of severest trial have always been seasons of blessing to the people of God. The more fiercely the fires of persecution burn the stronger has faith waxed. So, too, it should be, and often has been, in individua lives. Opposition should cast us back more and more upon God. Persecution results in separating us from the world. Suffering ought to refine. The experience of the Psalmist was, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word” (Ps. 119:67). May it prove true of writer and reader that “the more we are afflicted” the more shall we “grow” in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord.

The scriptures is full of examples that support the principal “the times of severest persecution and trial have always been seasons of blessing.”

Regarding the children of Israel in bondage in Egypt, the words of God say in Exodus 1:12, “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew….”

There arose great persecution over Stephen and result the believers were scattered and in Acts 11:19-21, the words of God say “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

The of the greatest of example of this principle is Joseph, the son of Jacob. He was hated by his brothers. They sold him into slavery in Egypt. He was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and placed in prison. Through all this Joseph becomes very powerful in Egypt and hold a position in Egypt second only to Pharoah. Joseph saves his father, his brothers, and their family from starvation and a place is provided for Joseph and his family to live in the best place in Egypt, the land Goshen. After all is said and done Joseph tells his brothers, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20

My dear friend try to remember when going through a trial that God’s has allowed it. He is still in control, trust in Him, draw closest to Him and wait for the blessing.

Written by Isaac Watts

Did you know that “Joy to the World” was not written as a Christmas carol? In its original form, it had nothing to do with Christmas. It wasn’t even written to be a song.

Isaac Watts, who wrote “Joy to the World,” was one of the great hymn writers in church history, and nothing shows that better than the fact that he wrote one of his most famous hymns by accident. In 1719, Watts published a book or poems in which each poem was based on a Psalm. But rather than just translate the original Old Testament texts, he adjusted them to refer more explicitly to the work of Jesus as it had been revealed in the New Testament.

One of those poems was an adaptation of Psalm 98, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.”

This Psalm looks forward to the day when the Lord will come to judge the world in righteousness. ln this hymn, Watts reinterpreted the Psalm to rejoice in the coming of the Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

More than a century later, the second half of this poem was slightly adapted and set to music to give us what has become one of the most famous of all Christmas carols, “Joy to the World.”

This hymn was sung to various tunes for many years. Then in 1839, Lowell Mason, a banker who happened to be quite interested in church music, published the tune that we now associate with “Joy to the World.”

Watts wrote some 600 hymns altogether and is considered to be the father of Christian hymnody. His hymns include such favourites as “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” but the favourite of favourites is “Joy to the World.

The Gospel Standard

The word of the Lord IS right (Psalms 33:4). Every word of God IS pure (Proverbs 30:5). All scripture IS profitable (2 Timothy 3:16).

Though our perverse, modern society would seek to convince women that they can only know true happiness by casting off the yoke of God’s word, this is the very lie Satan told the first woman. The verses sited above are not just true of Biblical salvation, but of the Bible’s teachings in all matters of faith and practice.

In “the roll call of faith” found in Hebrews 11, God selects two women from Old Testament history. One is a single woman, Rahab. One is a married woman, Sarah. Thus, the wife of Abraham stands as God’s example to all married women who will live by faith.

She is set forth in 1 Peter 3:1-6 as the example to all women who are married to a man who is not obedient to the word of God. Let us examine carefully the meanings of the words used in the passage by the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 3:1, 4-6 says, Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Meek means mild of temper, not easily provoked or irritated, given to forbearance under injuries and provocations, softness of temper, yielding, specifically – submissive to the Divine will. It is the gracious ability to take wrong without being marked or ill affected thereby.

Are you meek?
Quiet is defined as a state of rest, not moving, without agitation, not exciting disorder or trouble, gentle, contented.
Does the Holy Spirit so control you that your spirit maintains its quietness despite the deeds or misdeeds of another?
Subjection means to be brought under control, power, dominion; subdued, regarding life, liberty and property.
While obey means to give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to, to comply with the orders of.
Sarah was in subjection and was obedient. She is God’s example to married women. Through all the misdeeds of her partner, she ably wore the ornaments that were so pleasing to the Lord. As we shall see in the sequel, she was given ample reason to mistrust Abraham but never did she have cause to mistrust God. Despite all she was forced to endure – and it was a lot – at the hand of her faltering husband, her confidence in the Lord kept her in a right relationship with her partner.
These instructions for blessing can only be carried out by one living by faith in God.

The context of 1 Peter 3:1-6 is a disobedient husband.
The likewise in verse 1 refers back to 1 Peter 2:18-25, where the Bible tells a slave to be subject to a froward master, and gives us the example of Christ being subject to His Father’s will despite mistreatment at the hands of evil men.

Consider the conditions under which Sarah was obedient to God by being submissive to her husband:
Genesis 12
Abraham left Ur, departed from family, and broke all ties.
Sarah obeyed
Genesis 13
Abraham went down to Egypt. He lies. He wrongly delivered Sarah into Pharaoh’s hand.
Sarah obeyed
Genesis 14
Abraham was off at war. He was gone a long time. She was left to manage all the household duties alone.
Sarah obeyed
Genesis 15
Abraham went off to worship God. He was busy building an altar. He stayed at this “church service” all night. Sarah was left home alone.
Sarah obeyed

Genesis 17
Abraham was promised a son. Sarah was 90 years old, childbirth and child rearing is hard enough for a young woman.
Sarah obeyed
Genesis 18
The Lord and two angels came to visit. Abraham sent Sarah into the kitchen to fix dinner. She missed out on the fellowship, conversation, etc.
Sarah obeyed.
Genesis 20
Abraham told Abimelech the same old lie. He cared only for himself. Sarah was again put in jeopardy.
Sarah obeyed.
Genesis 21
Abraham headed for Mount Moriah to put to death her only son.
Sarah obeyed.
When God chose Sarah for every married woman’s example, he not only chose a great woman, but one who did not enjoy what a modern woman would call an ideal marriage. In these chapters Abraham shows all the characteristics of a “typical man.” Praise God, Sarah seldom showed the characteristics of a “typical woman.”

The Christ-Honoring Commentary Series – The Book of Genesis – pgs. 193-196 –James W. Knox

IS GIVING

Christmas is a time for giving. God’s gift is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable- truly a “changeless Christ, in a changing world.” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son … “ (John 3: 16). “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given … ” (Isaiah 9:6). “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

IS GAINING

Christmas is a time for gaining. Obtaining, acquiring, receiving. There is much gain in receiving when the gift is of value. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God … “ (John 1:12). “And of his fulness have all we received … ” (John 1:16). ” … but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

IS GOING

Christmas is a time for going. Jesus Christ sets the pattern in always going to others. “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). ” … and took upon him the form of a servant … ” (Philippians 2:7). ” … Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16: 15). ” … give ye them to eat” (Matthew 14:16).

” … they saw the young child … “ (Matthew 2:11). To see is to worship; to worship is to be obedient; to be obedient is to do whatsoever He saith. May these truths become real to us in our attitude toward reaching the lost. ” … Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? … “ (Acts 9:6). This can be the most glorious, the most profitable, the most lasting Christmas we celebrate. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God … and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

” … It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

The Gospel Standard