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Christadelphians Talk
  • 4.6 (12)
  • Christianity
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Christadelphians Talk about various subjects concerning True Bible Teaching.

  1. 1h ago

    'Render unto Ceasar and unto God'

    'Render unto Ceasar and unto God'

    'Render unto Ceasar and unto God'

  2. 5h ago

    “ALL FLESH SHALL KNOW”

    Our Ezekiel chapter (21) starts with Ezekiel being told to “Prophecy against the land of Israel” and that the LORD “will cut off from you both righteous and wicked … and all flesh shall know that I am the LORD” [v.2,4,5]  In effect God is now saying, ‘I mean what I say.’   The fascinating part of the chapter is the long term prophecy Ezekiel then receives from the LORD, “… O profane wicked prince of Israel … thus says the LORD …. take off the crown. Things shall not remain …A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it … until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.” [v.25-27] This is what happened, we await the completion of the prophecy.  The last proper king in Jerusalem is killed, the Jews have not had a king since. Kings Herod and Agrippa in the New Testament era were Idumean’s appointed by the Romans.  The Jewish leaders in the days of Jesus were proud of their heritage, but they said they had “no king but Caesar.”  Their pride was self-centred, they had no meaningful concept of the God they claimed to worship – let us make sure that we do have!               In today’s chapter 18 in Luke we particularly noticed the words of Jesus portraying the contrasting attitudes of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector as they went into the Temple to pray.  The Pharisee suffered from ‘I’ trouble.  He “standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week,  I give tithes ….” [v.11,12]  In contrast, the Tax Collector humbly asked, “Lord be merciful to me a sinner.”   The Lord makes the point, “the one who humbles himself will be exalted” [v.14]  May we fully absorb the point so that we may be there, and be among the “exalted” when “all flesh shall know”  there is a God, an all-knowing, all seeing Creator.  The prophets became totally conscious of this, this is how they were able to endure in all their difficult surroundings:  how difficult are our times going to become?   Remember what we read in Jeremiah a few weeks back,  “O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.” [20 v.12] May we be there at that incredible time when “all flesh shall know” there is a Creator.   Let us pray now that our Lord will be merciful to us.

    “ALL FLESH SHALL KNOW”

  3. 1d ago

    “YOU SHALL REMEMBER YOUR WAYS” Ezekiel 20:43

    One of the most widely used Hebrew words in the Old Testament is the word Zakar.  It is usually translated ‘remember’ but it does not necessarily mean ‘suddenly bringing to mind something you  have forgotten’.  It means focusing your mind on something in particular, it first occurs in Genesis 8 v 1 “And God remembered Noah and all…that were with him in the ark”.      The work “remember” occurs in both our Ezekiel and Luke chapters today and conveys a significant message in them both.  The long term future of his nation is revealed to Ezekiel, it creates a wonderful ‘silver lining’ in contrast to the ugly picture of Israel in Ezekiel’s time.  God tells him that ultimately the time will come for his nation “When I will bring you out from all the peoples and gather you out of all the countries where you have been scattered”.   But this is to be more than a remarkable world-wide regathering!  “And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.  And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel…And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds….And you shall loath yourselves for all the evils you have committed.  And you shall know that I am the LORD”.  (20 v41-44)  How soon before this happens?  It is in God’s hands. We have a book, written by David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel;  it includes reference to a stirring of interest and some knowledge of God’s prophets, such as Isaiah. They are starting to remember and search out the foundations on which their nation was originally built.   But what of ourselves?   How well do we know the foundations of our faith – how real are they to us?  Is it just ‘head knowledge’?   Jesus, when asked, “When the Kingdom of God would come?” (v 20) draws the lesson of the days of Noah and how people were “eating and drinking” and life seemed totally normal “until the flood came” (v 27). The people had forgotten God and put him out of their minds just as they have today.   But God remembered, but only Noah and his family remembered God! Jesus also reminds his audience of the destruction of Sodom, and how “they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building….” v.28, but then God acted. We know the account well, it is brief and to the point. A vital question – if our minds are absorbed and distracted by the interesting and exciting things in our world today, will we be ready when God acts?  Reflect deeply on v. 21, it has just three words;  “Remember Lot’s wife”.

    “YOU SHALL REMEMBER YOUR WAYS” Ezekiel 20:43

  4. 2d ago

    “BUT GOD KNOWS YOUR HEARTS” Luke 16:15

    Luke has left on record for us two intriguing parables, probably those which are most difficult to grasp as to their meaning of all the parables of Jesus.  Let’s start though with recalling yesterday’s chapter 15 where we see that as the “tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him … the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” [v.1,2]  Jesus then tells 5 parables, the last two we read today.  There is a common thread –  the need to be genuine in seeking to serve God and God’s willingness to forgive when people are genuinely repentant. Today we have a parable about a “dishonest manager” [v.1-13] and, as with all parables, its climax makes its’ application clear. The religious leaders are totally focussed in looking after their own interests, they are “faithful” to themselves.  As a result they are dishonest managers of God’s vineyard, corrupt spiritual leaders serving their own interests before serving God’s.   Jesus ridicules their self-interest, their “eternal dwellings” will be their grave – and archaeologists have discovered the elaborate tomb of the high priest’s family, made as a miniature replica of the Temple. We understand that the High Priest had “five brothers”[v.28].  Jesus, in the parable of the ‘rich man and Lazarus’ ridicules their Greek influenced belief in the afterlife, this final parable is being told against the Sadducees, with its’ closing ‘punch line’ that “if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Father Abraham says, ”If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” [v.30,31]  How true this proves to be.  We are not like those religious leaders are we, or is it possible that Jesus would say to you or to me, “you are those who justify yourselves before men” [v.15]?  We live in a world that abounds with self-justification!  It is before God, in prayer, that we should seek to justify our actions – and ask forgiveness where-ever it is necessary.  The Master’s next words are, “but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”  May we, in true humility, in a spiritual sense, be “exalted … in the sight of God” because he knows our hearts.  Whether this truly the case will be evident when the kingdom is here.

    “BUT GOD KNOWS YOUR HEARTS” Luke 16:15

  5. 3d ago

    “MAKE YOURSELVES A NEW HEART”

    Our chapter (18) in Ezekiel offers us a change of focus, instead of describing the sins of God’s nation, the prophet is caused to express God’s encouragement to individuals in that nation to turn from their evil ways and serve him.  This is also a chapter which stresses the divine judgement on individuals and shows that the word ‘soul’ does not mean some ‘spirit’ part of a person, often referred to as ‘the soul’ that is able to continue ‘living’ in some way – even though the body is dead.  This is what the Greeks and Romans believed – and the Catholics believed and most other ‘christians’-  under their influence – came to  believe in later centuries  – and, of course, the Muslims. Twice in this chapter Ezekiel records the words of God, “the soul who sins shall die” [v.4,20]. The Hebrew word can be translated as ‘the person’ wherever it occurs.  Ezekiel conveys God’s blunt words to the people, “Therefore I will judge you … every one according to his (her) ways, declares the Lord GOD.  Repent and turn from your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.”  [v.30]  Godlessness is obviously going to be the ruin of our world today.   Just as Jerusalem and its wonderful temple were destroyed in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, so will our world will experience  an awesome judgement by God.   Our present readings of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke are making this increasingly clear. The final verses in our Ezekiel chapter catches our attention; its appeal applies just as much now as it did then. “Make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!  Why will you die …?” [v.31] This is equally a question for today, “why will you die” eternally – never again to see the light and experience and explore the wonders of existence?  Many Scriptures ask this question, read Psalm 49 as an outstanding example. Luke records [ch. 15] Jesus’ parable about a lost coin.  A diligent search is made and it is found – what rejoicing follows!  “Just so,” says Jesus [v.10], “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Jesus is the only person who ever lived who has never had to repent about anything.  Has there been “joy in heaven” over you?  Or will there be when you “make yourself a new heart” and marvel in “a new spirit” of mind as you are baptised into the name of Christ and commit yourself to use your particular talents in the service of Christ – before he returns!

    “MAKE YOURSELVES A NEW HEART”

  6. 4d ago

    “NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOD”

    Sin is not a word people use these days, I even met a teenager who had never heard the word ‘adultery’ – and had no idea what it meant – she came into our Bible Education Centre on a rainy morning while waiting for the Internet place next door to open. Today, attitudes are as they were in the days of Hosea who wrote, “ the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants … There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God” [ch. 4 v.1] That is exactly the case with our world today – “the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants” – and soon this will become awesomely evident.    In the days of Jesus, people more widely believed that God was the ultimate arbiter of punishment for their sins.  Our readings in Ezekiel also show this, making the point that God had been merciful toward his people, yet there comes a point when God, seeing that his  people do not change although he keeps showing mercy, ultimately brings awesome destruction – and Jerusalem came to a terrible end because of the abundance of their sins and lack of repentance.  It is significant that only once does Ezekiel use the word ‘mercy’ – although Jeremiah uses it frequently. God’s people abused his merciful attitude in Jeremiah’s time.  The one occasion Ezekiel uses it is in his ch. 39 v.25 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name”  A latter day prophecy we believe will soon occur..  Now Jesus makes a very interesting point in today’s ch. 13 in Luke.  Evidently people had been saying that when a tower collapsed in Siloam and killed 18 people (v.4), those people must have been worse sinners than other people.  How did Jesus respond?  “No” he says, “I tell you they were not, and if you fail to repent you will all likewise perish.” There is less and less belief in God these days, so no spirit of repentance. We must look at ourselves! If we are not on God’s side, trying our best to do his will, there is no future for us.  Jesus followed up his warning about Siloam  by telling them a parable about a man who planted a tree (v.6-9) and who came for 3 years, looking for fruit, but found none.  It was given one more year to produce fruit and a special effort was made to fertilise it.  If it did not produce fruit it would be destroyed. Jesus came to the lost sheep of Israel, most would not follow him, 40 years later there was terrible destruction, especially in Jerusalem.. The response of Peter on the day of Pentecost when  the people were ‘cut to the heart’ in realizing they had killed their Messiah, was to tell them to “Repent and be baptised” [Acts 2 v38]  So we have done that!  Good.  Are we heeding the lessons of God’s word – not only with a repentant attitude – we must each ask ourselves, are we producing fruit?   There is no point in having a “knowledge of God” if we do not.

    “NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOD”

  7. 5d ago

    “FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS …”

    They did not have banks in those days!  We read today in Luke 12 v.16-20 of a man who built many barns to “store all my grain and my goods” so he could “relax, eat, drink and be merry.”  This is the spirit among many in Australia today, the emphasis is on material well-being!  Of course it is not necessary to build bigger barns or have barns at all, but what security do banks offer?   Figures in computers, plenty of ‘paper’ money! As the Creator brings more and more of his promised time of trouble, a time, to quote our Lord (in Mark 13 v.19) when “there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be” again – it will almost certainly be useless to have any money in the bank, or any money at all, the only thing of value for the true believer to have – will be an overflowing abundance of faith. Jesus calls the man in his parable who built bigger barns a “Fool!” adding, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himselfand is not rich toward God.”  His next words to his disciples are, “”Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food  … more than clothing …” [v.24] Human minds today are totally concerned about such things – but we take to heart in what Jesus goes on to say, ” For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” [v.30,31]  His next words are, “”Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom….”   Those who belong to his “little flock” spend their time developing more and more “treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”  [v.33] Finally note an even more vital point Jesus makes,  ” For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” And he adds this instruction;  “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning …” [v.32-35]  Are you “dressed for action?” Is your faith shining bright?   Let us all be conscious, with full honesty of heart, where our treasure is!

    “FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS …”

  8. 5d ago

    “THEREFORE BE CAREFUL LEST …”

    Our chapter (11) in Luke’s gospel today is full of challenging sayings by our Lord. There is great spiritual value in deeply meditating on them and seeing the extent to which they have application to the circumstances in which we live today.  The background to many of them is the self-righteous attitudes of the religious leaders who contended with Jesus.  Praise of Jesus’ mother developed in early centuries and led to the cult of a sort of Mary worship. Luke records a little incident which those influenced by such attitudes must gloss over and ignore.  We read the response of Jesus to a woman in the crowd who calls out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed”  Jesus responds, “Blessed rather are those who hear the words of God and keep it.” [v.27,28]  May we all be blessed for that reason, and recognise our additional blessing in being able to read all the words of God.. The way that we “keep it” will result in us being “full of light”!   As a result our “eye is healthy” [v.34] and so our eye (or ear) keep bringing ‘healthy food’ into our minds.  This is more and more essential today as our world is so full of junk food! Underline the next 2 verses, “Therefore be careful lest the light (you think you have) be darkness”  [v. 35] Let’s fully absorb the point Jesus makes in the next verse, “If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Are you and I “full of light”?   How difficult it is to maintain such light in the increasing darkness of this world – evil words and deeds multiply all around us.  Now the words of David in Psalm 139 are a special inspiration to us with his perception of the light of God in the darkness.  “If I say,’ writes David, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” [v12] Read the rest of that Psalm, especially the last 2 verses – and then you and I will be even more dedicated to “be careful lest” the light of God’s word be smothered by the darkness that increasingly surrounds us.

    “THEREFORE BE CAREFUL LEST …”
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Christadelphians Talk about various subjects concerning True Bible Teaching.

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