Sunday August 3, 2015

Some notes from Sunday's service. (Thanks, Jean)

 

 

 

 

Dr. Barclay -Something to Think About.

 

The example of the temple in Israel versus the benefits of Godly clean living.

 

God has shown unfailing love to the nation of Israel. We as human -people have been known not to learn from history. We humans are not quick to learn and need to have things repeated over and over again. 

Solomon succeeds his Father David and is tasked with building the temple- the house of God. The temple was the center of Jewish worship. However as we learn from scripture he did follow through as he was told, he allowed pagan practices and idol worship into the land of Israel.

1 Kings chapter 6 to 9

1 Chronicles chapter 28 to 2 chronicles -end of chapter 7

1 Kings 11:4-8King James Version (KJV)

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

 

King James Version (KJV)

Solomon's duty was to build the temple for God, after Solomon's death the nation of Israel was divided and went down hill.The temple fell into disrepair and pagan, idol worship was widespread in Israel. 
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 [Full Chapter]

What? know ye not that your body is  the  temple  of  the  Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have  of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your  spirit, which are God's.

 

This scripture tells us we ourselves as people, are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the temple of the living God. We need to keep our lives pure and holy that all may go well with us. When we worship God we will be blessed. When we do not worship God and fall into sin , we will see disastrous results.Our lives are a mirror of the temple in Israel. We need to learn from the example in ancient Israel. When we follow idols, pagan worship and falsehoods we will not prosper and will suffer terrible consequences. 

 

 

Rev. James Weller- Missionary to Russia and Eastern Europe

 

2 Timothy 3:15King James Version (KJV)

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 
Reverend Weller has been involved in ministry in Eastern Europe for over 20 years. He spoke on how it is such a tremendous joy to give a Bible to someone who has never had one before in their own language. A very significant and important part of the Roma/ Gypsy history is the printed New Testament Bible in their own Roma/Gypsy language. Bibles are so rare in eastern Europe people truly value and treasure them. Reverned Weller shared with us the exciting news that people in Russia and Eastern Europe, countries such as Bulgaria and Macedonia are coming to Christ in great numbers. Here in North America Bibles are so plentiful, we take it for granted how easily the word of God can be obtained. Yet for many people in various parts of the world accessing and reading the word of God, may be of great difficulty.
The missionary zeal and passion of Rev. James and his wife Olive Weller should inspire us all to continually give and pray for our Christian brethren in Russia and Eastern Europe.