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Glen Park Gospel Church >> Archive >> Editorial >> 2008
Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Some months include a topical article or report. We thought you might appreciate reading those previously published.
The Ideal Congregation
In one of his excellent books, and they are all excellent, F W Boreham writes of The Ideal Congregation* Is there such a thing? He thinks there is.
He tells the story of Dr Lyman Beecher from another age, almost another world who had agreed to exchange pulpits with a country preacher. When the day arrived it was mid winter and the roads were thick with snow. His horse could scarcely make its way through the snow. When he arrived the building was empty, there was not a soul to be seen. He was about to remount to make his way home when one man turned up. What should he do?
In a moment of indecision he remembered that during his hours of preparation for the service he had experienced definite guidance and concluded that he should proceed just as he would if the church was crowded.
Some twenty years later when in Ohio, USA, a man came to him
and addressed him by name.
‘Have he met before,’ he asked.
‘We have,’ the stranger replied. ‘Do you remember
twenty years ago preaching to a single person?’
‘I do indeed. And, if you are that man I want you to know
that I have been looking for you ever since.’
‘I am the man sir, and I want you to know that that sermon
led me to the Lord and made a minister of me. The converts to
that sermon are all over Ohio.’
In his introduction F W Boreham points out that a congregation of one is better than a congregation of two. If there are two hearing the preacher each one considers that the remarks apply to the other person. But when there is a congregation of one, he can have no doubt. The prophet Nathan had a congregation of one when he confronted king David with his sin by telling a parable of a stolen sheep. When the king demanded to know who had done such a thing, Nathan turned and pointed, ‘Thou art the man.’
What is true about the Gospel is that it is made for a congregation
of one. Listen to the words of Jesus:
And He said to them all, ‘If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.’
‘I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.’
‘If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.’
Jesus spoke to the multitudes, but his message was always to the
individual. He sought out many disciples and called them one by
one. After his resurrection he met with the many, but spoke individually
to each needy heart. ‘Feed my sheep Peter.’ ‘Thomas,
Reach hither your finger and behold my hands.’ ‘Mary!’
The Gospel is made for a congregation of one. That one is you.
The Gospel might only come once to you like this, and when it
does it has the power to change your life and secure your eternity,
but only if you respond. Don’t let the moment pass you by.
‘If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.’
The Gospel is an invitation that must be accepted in response.
It is a sign post that points the way that must be taken. It is
a contract between you and your maker that binds you to Him and
Him to you.
On the other hand, Christian, remember that you, whoever you are, are a preacher to the ideal congregation. Your life is in touch with many individuals; the people you meet during your day, the members of your family, the people with whom you work, or shop, or play. Your life is a living letter, says Paul, open and able to be read by all.
However remember that you meet them one by one. You have an opportunity and a responsibility to be as Christ to them. Each one will move close to you and gaze into your eyes as many did to Jesus. How they respond will depend on many things, but may well depend upon what they see and how they read what they see. Make sure that you do your preparation well.
*Dreams at Sunset, March, 1954, p88
What the Lord has Added
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33
Here it is again, another leap year. We have one about every four years. An extra day is added, February 29th. The reason for this is that the period of earth’s orbit of the sun does not equally divide by the period of its daily rotation. Someone has calculated the year to a rounded 365.2425 days long. Doing a little mental arithmetic we readily see that even the leap year system is not quite adequate. So we leave one out occasionally. 2000 was a leap year, but 4000 is not. If we want to be more accurate we can calculate the year by the frequency of the vernal equinox, to about 365.242374 days. We say ‘about’ because the period is increasing as time goes by, so the world is gradually slowing down.
Is all this too much to take? Then, think of it like this; this year we get an added day. It happens to come on a Friday, so probably we will spend it at work. But on the positive side, we will get older slower and Christmas will not come around quite so blistering fast this year. An extra day. Wow!
When we stop to think of it, in His providential wisdom, the Lord adds many things to the lives of those who trust Him.
There is ample historical record of things God miraculously added in the lives of His servants in their day. Joshua was winning a war but needed more time to secure victory. At his command the sun stood still. A widow was in penury in a drought; Elijah extended her oil supply sufficiently to meet her deficit. Sampson had foolishly allowed his mighty strength to be sapped, but in answer to his dying prayer he was enabled to topple the pillars of Dagon. King Hezekiah heard that he was dying. He turned his face to the wall and called on God. God gave him an added seven years.
In our text above, the word ‘added’ Matthew used means ‘to lay beside’ or ‘to annex’. We think of an annex as an extension, like a tent added to a caravan or an extra room to a building. What Jesus was saying was while all the people around us are worrying about their daily needs, God will lay these things beside us. Therefore lets not worry about the day we do not yet have. Lets put our heart into living today.
This is not an absolution from work, or timely, orderly planning. It is a prohibition from thinking that the future depends on us. It does not mean that God’s children will not experience drought like everyone. It is an assurance that the fountains that feed the clouds are not dried up. He is saying, ‘We can trust our heavenly Father for tomorrow whatever it brings, if we serve Him diligently today.’ Look at the birds, they do not worry about tomorrow for they are incapable of that; they just tend their business today. Jesus’ message is not about getting things. It is about trust in God.
The question is in our minds, ‘Can God do this for me?’ Well, can we trust Him; really trust Him? Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. He does not change with the changing years. But first things come first. If we come to Calvary; trust Him; leave ourselves, our past and our future in His care and we will find He will give us all this and Heaven too!
He is Risen
“He is not here: for he is risen. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Matthew 28:6
The religions and sects and isms of this world have prophets aplenty. They tell us what we have to do to find our fulfilment by currying favour with their gods. Salvation their style is reduced to obeying their rules, following their rituals, believing their pattern of dogma, wearing their style of clothes and observing their taboos.
When Jesus came into this world, He did something different. He took upon Himself the guilt and pain of the sin of all the world; every man, woman and child, of every race, for all of time; and paid its price by submitting Himself to the pain and inhumanity of the death of a criminal upon a Roman cross. He then demonstrated and validated the efficacy of that sacrifice by His resurrection from the dead, without decay after three days.
On the basis of that death and resurrection he sent His disciples, whom He had called and equipped, into all the world to graciously offer to all and any who would accept, without cost or obligation, redemption from the guilt of sin past, the power of sin present, and elevation to a life of fellowship with God and His people, both now and in eternity, and all the manifold blessings that follow on from it. What do we need to do? Just trust Him and say thank you, and allow the Spirit of Christ to lead us in the way. His way is now our way and it is the right way.
The Title Deeds to My Home in Heaven
Hidden in Egypt for centuries, then overlooked by scholars for decades, were some letters from ordinary people about every conceivable mundane thing. Why would anyone want to read them? They date back to New Testament times and they show us how words were used in every-day conversation. Some of them light up our Bible translation for us.
A woman named Dionysia wrote a petition about some land she owned but which other people were trying to wrest from her. In her appeal she told of the legal documents she possessed testifying of her ownership of the land, which had been collected and deposited in the town archives and held in charge of its custodian. These papers could be produced on demand to verify her ownership. They were in fact her title deeds to the property. The deed is the evidence of entitlement. She called this documentation her ‘hupostasis.’
This is the word we find in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance (hupostasis) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is the title deed that we hold for what has been set aside for us. Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” There is a place for every blood bought son and daughter of God and that place is secured by faith. Now we have not seen it yet, but our name is on the deeds. It is there and it is ours. Faith, says the Bible, is the evidence of entitlement.
There is a deeper, richer use of this word in Hebrews 1:3. “He (Jesus) being the brightness of His (God’s) glory and the express image of His person...” The word ‘person’ is the same word Dionysia used ‘hupostasis’. The term ‘express image’ in Hebrews 1.3. refers to the impression of the engraver’s work, Jesus is the exact copy of the evidence of God’s being, His identity papers. We have here a word picture. Before computers, title deeds were issued in two copies, one in circulation, the other held by the registry. Any notation on one had to be made simultaneously on the other. They were exact copies of each other. It tells us that what is true of the Father is also true of the Son. Jesus told us, “He that has seen me has seen the Father.”
Pleasing God by the Way We Live
You have been raised up with Christ. So think about things that are in heaven. That is where Christ is. He is sitting at God’s right hand. Think about things that are in heaven. Don’t think about things that are on earth.
You died. Now your life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is your life. When he appears again, you also will appear with him in heaven’s glory. So put to death anything that belongs to your earthly nature. Get rid of your sexual sins and unclean acts. Don’t let your feelings get out of control. Remove from your life all evil longings. Stop always wanting more and more. You might as well be worshiping statues of gods. God’s anger is going to come because of those things. That’s the way you once lived. But now you must put away anger, rage, hate and lies. No dirty words. Don’t lie to each other.
You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient. Put up with each other. Forgive the things you are holding against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you. And over all of those good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.
Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace. And be thankful. Let Christ’s word live in you like a rich treasure. Teach and correct each other wisely. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing with thanks in your hearts to God. Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks to God the Father through Christ.
Colossians 3:1-8 & 12-17 from New International Readers Version
Be of Good Courage
When I was at school we had class sets of what was known as ‘The School Book’. There was one for each year of the Primary School grades. It contained a suitable selection of English language exercises and Australian and overseas literature from which we constantly sourced reading, dictation and memorisation exercises. I am sure that it helped busy teachers in composite grade schools and the pockets of pressured parents. I rue their passing for we are the poorer for it. I think that it was there that I memorised:
Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own.
Adam Lindsay Gordon
Teaching values like these seems to be missing today. They are ‘Christian Values’, solidly taught in the Bible. They are, however, not exclusively Christian. But they are part of the rightness which we know as practical holiness, or right living. These are just two of a host of like values; integrity, honesty, faithfulness, loyalty and such like. They are solid building stones of character necessary in a whole-some, happy community which is the local Church.
Values such as these differ from the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ the Apostle talks about: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance; such qualities deck our personality as clothes dress our body. These are ours and present us to others attractive, whereas our values reach out to others in their interests and at our expense.
When the fruit of the Spirit is evident we get something; for it is part of the life the Spirit of Christ produces in us by faith. However the values of Christian character are instilled by training, whereby we give ourselves to others.
Courage strengthens us when we are under threat. Kindness stands beside some one else and lends support.
How much poorer the world would be if Jesus Christ had not died and risen to enable us. And His body, the Church were not here to exhibit these expressions of human compassion.
“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”
Prayer of Peter Marshall
Knowing the Unknowable
A student once asked, ‘What is God like?’ Christianity’s deepest conservative thinkers have pondered this question. Here is a little of the fruit of their efforts:
God is not like anything - A W Tozer.
Without God, God cannot be known - Irenaeus C175 A.D.
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal; and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power holiness, justice, goodness and truth. - from the Westminister confession.
For in glory He is incomprehensible, in greatness unfathomable, in height inconceivable, in power incomparable, in wisdom unrivalled, in goodness inimitable, in kindness unutterable - Theophilus of Antioch, 2nd century A.D.
To study infinity requires eternity - James Denney.
John Calvin liked to tell his students Cicero’s story about Simonides, the ancient Greek poet, who asked Hiero the Tyrant what God was. Simonides reqiested a day to consider the question, then another day, then another day. Finally he concluded that the question only became more baffling the longer he thought about it
A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about God - J I Packer.
O taste and see that the Lord is good - Psalm 34.
Selected - Morgan J R Stories Illustrations
and Quotes, Nelson.
A Friend of God
The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11a. NASB
This verse does not say that Moses looked on God. It says that God would converse with him in the manner that a man will speak with his friend. A friendship of familiarity and affection is one that grows out of like interests, mutual trust, and joint activity. That kind of friendship is very worthwhile and is characterised by good communication.
Many of us speak to God in prayer. In fact many of us can be quite voluble as we tell God all about our problems, and we are not critical of that. Would that more people sought this place of intimate prayer. But, we often fail to pause for God to speak to us in return. One of the factors is that God is not in a hurry. He never is in a hurry, because He has no need. He has no emergencies, but He is always on time, and He always knows what He will do. It is we who have the emergencies. It is we who are in a hurry.
This New Tablet May be Hard to Swallow
You will probably have heard by now of the ‘Gabriel Revelation’, a tablet which was apparently discovered 10 years ago on the east bank of the Jordan, near the Dead Sea, but which has only just come to light.
It is from the first century before Christ, about one metre long and contains 87 lines of text written in ink, not all of it clearly. It includes a message purported to be given by the Angel Gabriel and predicts a messiah who would rise again after three days. There are other parallel concepts to the person we know as Jesus. The full text has been published in the Israeli historical and archaeological review Cathera.
What do we make of it. There are a number of options. It might be a con, a curio or a contribution to our knowledge of the Jewish awareness of the coming Messiah. While scholars argue, we shall just have to wait and see.
Actually, we do not need it, as we already have a body of evidence about the life of Jesus as preserved in the New Testament, together with a collection of prophetic statements contained in the Old Testament which are adequate. They tell of the One who came as God’s anointed, but was rejected, crucified and rose again. But to those who did, and have and will accept Him in faith, God has given the right to be His children. This is a life changing experience. If this is you, your own experience is evidence enough.
Muriel Peterson
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Isaiah 40:7&8 (AV)
On Monday evening at 9.45 Muriel Peterson left her suffering behind her and stepped into the presence of her Lord. In this text the Lord God is telling of His love and care for the people who are His. The text is so typical of Muriel’s experience! For quite some time now she has been a fading flower.
Muriel has not been well for many years and in the time she and Bob, her husband, have spent at Glen Park we have found her to be loving, quiet, gracious and uncomplaining, as her remaining strength ebbed and failed. Even during these days we have recognised her as one of the Lord’s beautiful creations, bearing in her nature many of the characteristics we also recognise in her saviour, Jesus Christ.
There are many examples of exquisite floral beauty. People flock to the Ballarat begonia festival simply to gaze at the intricate design and subtleties of delicate colour that these blooms produce. People trek in their thousands to Western Australia every spring, to walk amidst the abundance of wild flowers that nature alone has cultured, or to Renmark for the Rose festival’s abundant profusion of glorious colour. The sad reality is, however, that every blossom that ever was, or ever will be, will one day be tinged with brown, the petals will open and fall, the glossy leaves fade and dry. What was once proud to admire will droop it’s head and die.
No matter how robust and strong be every man, woman and child that ever lived, no matter how charming or beautiful the personality, no matter how brilliant or agile the mind, no matter how deep or quick the wit, all are destined, should time be on their side, to fade, and fail, and fall. Our text tells us why: the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it. God has placed a limit on man’s powers, for his own safety, ever since sin entered human experience. As it is, people think and act as if they will live for ever and can do anything; that we alone are responsible for our own salvation. When the spirit of the Lord blows upon the flower, our work, our achievements, our boasts and our resources fade, and fail, and fall. And we are gone.
Muriel however, found immortality. Our text also says the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. In this respect Muriel is unlike the flower. In her earlier years while still attending the Baptist Church in Auburn she put her trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and was born there and then into His eternal Kingdom. Since that time there has been a part of Muriel that cannot die. God has given His word. Jesus said initially to His friend Martha, but also to Muriel and all of us, whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. While she was living with us here, she heard His word and put her trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. At a quarter to ten, our time, last Monday evening, Muriel, after many weary years, as quietly and calmly as she had lived, left us, and joined the throng of like believers around the throne of the Lamb, to add her voice in praises to His name.
Her life was her testimony. Will you heed her example?
With a Song in My Heart
The Emperor Trajan asked the historian Pliny the Younger to investigate and report on the activities of the Christian sect which had become part of the Roman scene for the past fifty years. Pliny’s report was that he could find no specific concern in the actions of the group, except that some of them had some ideas strange to the authorities.
One thing that puzzled him was their practice of arising early, before the sky blushed at the approach of the sun, to meet secretly to sing antiphonal songs of praise to Jesus Christ as God.
This story enlightens the words Paul quoted, thought by some to be a creed. It is rather a hymn for two choirs sung in harmony and in alternation.
UNISON
And without controversy great
Is the mystery of godliness:
ALTERNATION
God was manifest in the flesh,
(He was) Justified in the Spirit,
(He was) Seen of angels,
(He was) Preached unto the Gentiles,
(He was) Believed on in the world,
(He was) Received up into glory.
The unison call wonders at the great revelation of the incarnation. It is about the godliness of Jesus in that He was well pleasing to the father.
The antiphony consists of three contrasting couplets, each
telling some aspect of what He did for us:
He was born in likeness of man.
He was vindicated at His transfiguration.
After the cross He ascended to heaven.
He is proclaimed throughout the world.
He spiritually enters the hearts of believers.
He is physically in heaven, the man Christ Jesus.
If you read 1 Timothy 3 you will see that Paul is calling his readers to godly living. He is saying. As you sing this song about Jesus your Lord, take your lead from Him. Just see what a difference this makes to your life!
Mission Spotlight
All of the missionaries we pray for are supported through one of many mission agencies. Let’s get to know one such mission and see if you can guess the missionary family in the field.
Scripture Union
Scripture Union (SU) is a worldwide ministry active in over 140 countries and has been serving for more than 140 years. Their vision is: "That children, young people and their families will know God’s love, follow Jesus and meet God daily in His Word."
To this end, the ministries of Scripture Union are centred around production, distribution, training, and utilisation of Bible reading material. It is not just printing, but all of the support for those who would like to use such material.
Other children's ministries include summer CSSMs, beach missions, and annual camps. These ministries are usually run with the help of secondary school students which provides their own first steps in missions and sharing of their faith. No mission can fund such extensive outreach, and likewise, Scripture Union relies on about 1000 volunteers.
To help volunteers, SU also provide internship and training programs. Training is also available for churches looking to build their own ministries. Training and children’s ministry is the type of work done by the missionary couple that we support in prayer.
We met John and Kay Rowse in December 2006 when John preached at our little fellowship. However, we have been in correspondence for many years. Because they are prolific in sending out emails, their ministry benefits from much prayer from us and many other supporters.
Based in Mbeya, Tanzania, Kay is involved with teaching children, support of youth in difficult circumstances, and home schooling their adopted daughter Asha. John is constantly on the road visiting church after church, both locally and in neighbouring countries, to speak at their conventions and training seminars. It is amazing to see God working and blessing through the Rowse’s effort and it is clear that Jesus sustains and leads them.
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