Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Colossians Part 8

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About -- EARTHEN VESSELS

EARTHEN VESSELS

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” 

2 Corinthians 4:7 

One of the characteristics of an earthen vessel that it is an enclosed space, and in this space, in a believer, is supposedly the glory of God and the greatness of the gospel. How can such infinite treasures be contained in such a finite vessel? The answer, of course, is that it cannot. An enclosed vessel is only able to hold that which the confines of the vessel will contain and anything else will just be excluded. 

But if the container is left opened then it can conceivably contain much more and what it cannot hold at least may pass through it. So, by opening the vessel it becomes much less finite and potentially more versatile in its use.

We are unable to comprehend all of the glory of God; incapable of understanding all of the greatness of the gospel in any manner, especially if we are unwilling to open our minds to the possibilities of what it all entails. If we only accept what our five senses receive and our experience perceives then we will never fully understand and receive all that may be waiting for us. That may be why the Psalmist says:

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things…

(Psalm 119:18) 

And why it tells us in Revelation:

He who has an ear, let him hear [open your ears] to what the Spirit says… 

(Revelation 2:7)

If we are unwilling to open our eyes and ears to what is out there, beyond our own experience, how can we possibly:

Set [our] mind on things above, and not on things on the earth. 

(Colossians 3:2) 

And:

…love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, 

with all your strength, and with all your mind… 

(Luke 10:27)

If we remain merely closed earthen vessels, there remains no room for anything other than earthly concerns. If, however, we are to experience God’s grace and the goodness of the gospel we must always have open eyes, open ears, and open minds and never remain just a closed earthen vessel.

It is something to keep thinking about.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Colossians Part 7

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - A PROMISE

A PROMISE

Every day in the news we read or see about the multiple problems besetting the world. And in spite of the efforts of man to control and remedy these difficulties, it only seems that everything is getting worse; from increasing wildfires, to widespread floods, and worsening windstorms. Climate change certainly has a role but is it occurring only because of the use of fossil fuels or are there other possible reasons and activities of man about which we should be concerned? After all, this is not the first time that catastrophic problems have beset nations and the world. We were warned in Deuteronomy, Chapters 28-30, about the blessings and curses that would come if we adhered to or failed to follow the word of God.

…[I]t shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, 

to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes 

which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you… 

(Deuteronomy 28:15)

Many times in the Old Testament the Israelites turned from God and went their own way. And many times they ended up in difficulty before turning back to God and allowing Him to help with and rectify their problems. This happened time and time again and God made this promise to His people:

If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, 

and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

So, this really means that if we are willing to admit that we cannot solve these problems ourselves and acknowledge the need for God in our deliberations, and communicate with Him in an honest and sincere way, then we will see more of our troubles solved. But it also infers that we must be willing to change our thinking and direction by turning from the way in which we are at present heading. If we, in sincerity, pray in an attitude of contrition and are willing to change our ways as a nation, then the promise is that God will bring healing to our land.

We are told that God is never changing, but do the promises of the Old Testament still have credence today? Does God still respect a leader and a nation that is willing to do what is requested in 2^nd Chronicles?

During the American Civil War, the Union army was not doing well and it seemed for a time as if the Confederate States would prevail. Abraham Lincoln called the nation to a national day of prayer on April 30^th, 1863. In this prayer he stated the following:

It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, 

to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. 

…I do by this my proclamation…set apart Thursday, the 30^th day of April,1863, 

as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer…

…in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge 

of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion*

On May 1^st ,1863 the Union Army had its first victory at Fort Gibson and went on to win further victories leading up to the Battle of Vicksburg and the turning of the war. Just a coincidence or the fulfilment of a promise?

During the Presidency of Jimmy Carter, Americans were taken hostage by Iran. They were held for 444 days. On the eve of the inauguration of President Ronald Regan he gave a speech in which he recalled the admonition of the pilgrim founder John Winthrop in 1630.

The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall deal falsely with our God 

in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, 

we shall be made a story and a byword through the world…

And let us resolve they will say of our day and our generation 

that we did keep faith with our God…**

On the day of his inauguration, President Reagan placed his hand on the Bible opened to the verse of 2nd Chronicles 7:14. On that same day, it was announced that the hostages held for so long had been released. Again, just a coincidence?

We have been accustomed for so long to believe that we have all the answers, and can just do things our own way, that we have essentially removed God from any deliberations. We just rely on ourselves and on science to try and solve all our problems. Perhaps we should consider the words of a scientist, Albert Einstein who wrote the following:

Everyone who is seriously engaged in the pursuit of science 

becomes convinced that the laws of nature manifest the existence of a spirit 

vastly superior to that of men, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers 

must feel humble.***

If being humble before God, praying, and turning from our present ways will help to fulfil God’s promise to heal our land, then it is something we should very seriously start to think about.

• from the Harbinger II by Jonathan Cahn pg. 246
• * ibid pgs. 250-251
• ** as quoted in God and Stephen Hawking by John C. Lennox pg. 44 

 

Rev. John Dunnett August 20, 2023

CHURCH SERVICE August 20th at 6 p.m.

 Master's Hand Service

Sunday August 20th at 6 p.m.

Hillside Community Hall

27 Chance Harbour Rd.

Speaker Rev. John Dunnet

NO BIBLE STUDY THIS WEEK

 

Sorry.

Due to technical difficulties there will be no Bible study this week.

We hope to be on track next week.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - LOOK AND SEE

 LOOK AND SEE

About 10 times in the Bible, between Psalms and Revelation, we are told to come and see. 

Come and see the works of God… 

(Psalm 66:5)

“Come and see.”

(Revelation 6:1,3,5,7)

But although it is good to see physically, it is even better to see spiritually, which is what is suggested in the song Open the eyes of my heart, Lord I want to see you by Michael W, Smith

Whether one sees what is physical with the eyes or sees what is non-physical (spiritual) with the heart depends ultimately on how one looks at whatever it is they are trying to see. It’s evident that one cannot see without looking but it is quite possible to look without seeing. As it says in Isaiah:

Hear you deaf; 

And look, you blind, that you may see.

(Isaiah 42:18)

  However, what we see depends on the direction in which we look and the clarity of our vision. If one uses psychology to answer questions, they are often told to look within themselves for answers, that searching the mind and psyche will provide explanations for the problems that beset people. Additionally, people are often told to look to philosophy in an attempt to understand life’s difficulties. It is sometimes hard to understand how looking to the intellectual capacity of man to solve the problems which man’s intellect has largely caused is really rational but this is often cited as the way we should look.*

Then we are told to be optimistic and look ahead but too much of this is also unwise for it is only by studying our past mistakes can we really hope to avoid similar problems in the future. As Winston Churchill once said: “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”*

One who believes in only opportunity and in seizing the same, may only look around for those opportunities which may exist. This might be beneficial but, without looking carefully, the opportunity may be less beneficial than desired; and so the answer found may not be the answer hoped for. *

Similarly, there are those who tend to be pessimistic and feel that a person should always look out for those who might be lurking just to get them. Although some prudence is always necessary, constantly being on the lookout for undesirable activity and circumstances tends to lead to anxiety and depression.*

Perhaps the best thing is to do what God tells us to do and look up even when we don’t feel like it.

I lift up my eyes [look] to the hills-from whence comes my help… 

(Psalm 121:1)

Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation…

(Micah 7:7)

Look to Me, and be saved…for I am God, and there is no other.

(Isaiah 45:22)

…look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 

(2 Peter 3:13)

It is evident that even with clear vision one cannot see unless one looks, and then only if that looking is in the right direction - and that is always up, where the real answers can be found.

And this should give one something to think about.

*in part based upon pg 130 in Christ Above All by Dr. David Jeremiah

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Colossians Part 6

Church Picnic

 We're having a picnic!

Please join us at Caribou Provincial Park for a picnic this Sunday August 13th at 12 noon.

(Don't forget your salads and lawn chairs)

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - COVENANTS

 COVENANTS

It has been long accepted that the Jewish people have been acknowledged as the chosen people of God. Through the covenant God made with Abraham the message was given that: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you…” (Genesis 12:2). In spite of many indiscretions, God did just that and made Israel into a country to be reckoned with especially under the times of King David and King Solomon. But both of these kings turned away from God and the nation itself began a decline that did not end well.

Under Solomon’s successor, the nation of Israel split into two and the northern regions were eventually invaded and later conquered by the Assyrians. The prophet Isaiah talked about this when he referred to how blessings could once again be bestowed upon the nation.

…the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed…

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…

You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy…

(Isaiah 9:1,2,3)

But there was also a warning issued in association with these words and so, to the people of Samaria this was stated:

The Lord sent a word against Jacob…

Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria-

who say in pride and arrogance of heart:

“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones;

The sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”

(Isaiah 9:8,9,10)

This was all a prophetic warning. The nation which had received a covenant from God indicating it would become a great nation had turned away from God and was now openly defying the Lord by stating that what the enemy had broken down, the people would rebuild bigger and stronger than before by their own strength and without reliance in any way on God.

Israel went on to compete defeat at the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.

Did you know that when America was founded that it too was under a covenant? The leader of the Puritans, who were the first large wave of immigrants to the shores of America, was John Winthrop and he is considered to be the grandfather of his country. On the voyage to  North America he wrote a message that would become, in effect, a vision for his colony. He wrote:

for we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. 

The eyes of all people are upon us.*

This really comes from a phrase in the Bible:

You are the light of the world. 

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

(Matthew 5:14)

He also went further in saying at the founding of America:

Thus stands the cause between God and us. 

We are entered into a covenant with Him for this work. 

The Lord will be our God, and delight to dwell among us.*

But he also wrote these words:

But if our hearts shall turn away and we will not obey

So that we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, 

and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, 

we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world. 

We shall surely perish.*

God made a covenant with Israel but Israel did not keep God’s instruction. Even after the Assyrians invaded and subsequently withdrew, Israel vowed to rebuild stronger than before by their own volition, not apparently needing God. As a result, Israel was in the end completely defeated.

On the other hand, the founder of America made a covenant with God at America’s founding, a covenant which was initially honoured and America prospered and enlarged. The initial capital of America was New York where George Washington was inaugurated as president. But as time progressed, America, as did Israel, turned further and further away from God. And, as we all remember, America was attacked and the Gateway to America breached on Sept 11, 2001. This initial capital of the United States had been founded by Henry Hudson on Sept 11, 1609. Just a coincidence? Or was it sign that what had happened to Israel could happen here? Was this a confirmation of the vision of John Winthrop - that if our hearts turn away, we shall surely perish?

It is a chilling something to think about.  

* The Harbinger 2 by Jonathan Cahn (pgs 108-111)

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Colossians Part 5