Vacation Break

 

Dr. Barclay is on vacation.

Something to Think About and his Bible studies will resume when he returns.

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - AWARE

 AWARE

Does it ever amaze you when the Bible indicates that the people who should have been the most aware of the events unfolding during the time of Christ seemed, in fact, to be those least in tune with the happenings?

For example, when Christ was born, it was the Magi who reported to Herod that:

…we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.

(Matthew 2:2)

Even though the priests and scribes of Judea were aware of the prophecies, it was apparently the Magi who really understood what was happening. Why were Persians more in tune with events than the Israelites? 

Even when Christ was teaching and healing it was evident that:

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

(John 1:11)

At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, it became more evident what was happening and then pride seemed to step in and snuff out this awareness for the chief priests and Pharisees said to Pilate:

“…command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, 

lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away,

 and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ 

So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 

(Matthew 27:64) 

Perhaps it’s not so surprising that so many who should have been aware of who Christ really was were not. It is evident that even Jesus’ own family had no faith in the reality of who Christ really was. For the belief that was lacking in the religious officials was also lacking in Jesus’ own siblings.

For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 

(John 7:5)

Apparently, it was because of such unbelief among the Jewish people that we, as Gentiles, have been incorporated into God’s family. It is true that Paul was chosen to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.

…he [Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine 

to bear My name before Gentiles, 

kings, and the children of Israel. 

(Acts 9:15)

It was, however, also apparently because of the failure of the Israelites to recognize who Jesus really was that lead to God saying:

I will call them My people, who were not My People, 

And her beloved, who was not beloved. 

(Romans 9:25)

And then for Paul to write:

…That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, 

have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 

but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, 

has not attained to the law of righteousness…

Because they did not seek it by faith… 

(Romans 9:30-32)

Even the Roman soldier who was at the crucifixion became aware of the person Jesus really was when he said:

“Truly this man was the Son of God!” 

(Matthew 27:54)

There are other instances as well where those who should have been the most aware of the reality of Christ were ignorant and others who were less involved seemed to be more alert to His real nature. And does the same exist even today? It seems that those peoples and countries who have the most available information and freedom to utilize that knowledge are the least aware of His nature. In contrast, those areas which seem most remote from the gospel are those in which people seem to be more aware of Christ than ever before. Is this what the statement in 2 Thessalonians really means?

Let no one deceive you by any means; 

for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first… 

(2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Being aware or unaware of who Christ really is will play a great part in our overall future.

It really is something to think about. 

 

 

Service Cancelled - Master's Hand Ministry Sunday Evening Service

 

Due to the slippery road conditions it has been decided not to have our service this evening. (Jan.21st)

Please stay home and stay safe.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 15

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - BORN AGAIN

 BORN AGAIN*

In John chapter 3, Nicodemus said to Jesus:

“…no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

(verse 2)

Jesus replied:

“…unless one is born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God…

[and] …unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 

he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

(verse 3&5)

It was in this particular chapter that the phrase of bring “born again” is first mentioned. But it wasn’t Nicodemus who was first to be in this category, nor was it even the disciples of Jesus who were the first to be “born again” - even though they were the first to be given the Holy Spirit by Jesus. When Christ met His disciples in a room after the resurrection…

…He breathed on them, and said to them, 

"Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

(John 20:22)

In fact, the first person to be “born again” was Jesus Himself. John asserted, in the first chapter of his gospel, that:

He was in the beginning with God. 

(John 1:2) 

And Jesus Himself stated:

“…O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, 

with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

(John 17:5)

So, Jesus became the only begotten (born) son of God when He left His spiritual existence to enter an earthly life. In a sense, He had to learn how to function with man’s sight, hearing, and touch along with other functions required of an earthly being. By so doing, He, of spirit, was “born again” into flesh so that we, who are born of flesh, may be “born again” into spirit. We do this by following Him who has been reborn a further time back to spirit. And, as He had to learn how to function as human, so we will have to learn to function as spirit.

In that way, we will all become begotten sons and daughters of God; born of the Father and into His eternity. This might be a little different way of looking at the concept of being “born again” but…

…it is certainly something to think about.

* Concept from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn day 241

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 14

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - HEBREWS

 

HEBREWS*

It has often been said that the Hebrews were the chosen people of God. This apparently in spite of that nation being relatively small and insignificant compared to other peoples. God had seemingly chosen this group of people regardless of their place and position among the nations of the world. 

Perhaps this is due to His concern for the underdog and for His lack of concern for the ideals of man, but maybe there is more to this than, at first, is evident. Perhaps it has something to do with what Hebrew means and how that may relate to us.

Apparently, the Hebrew word for Hebrew is “ivar” from the root word “afar” which means “cross over.” And it was the Hebrews who crossed over the Jordan River after their journey from Egypt into the promised land.

And Joshua said to the people,”Sanctify yourselves, 

for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you…

and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan…

the waters that came down from upstream stood still…

Then the priest who bore the ark of the covenant…

stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, 

and all Israel crossed over on dry ground… 

(Joshua 3:5,15-17)

In a similar manner, the Hebrews crossed over the Red Sea in their journey from Egypt, and so in a way their history is one of crossing from one country to another to reach the land  promised to them. In addition, it was only those who had the faith to follow and to cross over on dry land that actually arrived in the promised land.

The most promised Hebrew of all, of course, was Christ. He crossed over from death to life and thus became the prototype of all who wish to cross over from darkness to light and so to enter the land promised to all who have the faith and willingness to follow Him. Based on this, we who do such are all Hebrews in the sense that we have been crossed over with Him into a new life.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 

he is a new creation; 

old things have passed away; 

behold, all things have become new.

(2 Corinithians 5:17) 

In essence, this is what being born again really means: having the faith and willingness  to follow Christ from the country one is presently in to a new land. And although there may be some trepidation in taking the journey, it’s always on dry land as this world’s difficulties are all held back by “the Lord [who does] wonders.”

It’s really no wonder then that God chose the Hebrews as His chosen people. After all, they are the only ones who have chosen to cross over and follow Him into the promised land and in so doing become born again. The question is: Are you a Hebrew or not?

It is something to think about.

*Based in part on The Ivrim from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn

Jean Kirk - January 7, 2024

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 13

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CROSSROADS

 CROSSROADS

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less travelled by, 

And that has made all the difference.

This poem, The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost* gives some indication of the decisions we all must make as we travel any road whether it be a highway or the road of life. As we start a new year, it’s prudent to consider that every decision we make is, in fact, a potential crossroad in our lives. In most cases, these may be well marked and, whether it be in life or on a highway, the signposts can show us the way to go.

But often, the course is not as well defined, and this usually means that we have to make decisions by our insight, intuition, or experience. This may not be as clearcut as it may seem. If, when travelling down a highway or crossroad, the path is not marked, which branch do you take? Most people would probably take the road that seems to be the most used. If one branch is paved and the other not, then the paved road would most likely lead to a desired location. Likewise, if one branch is well worn or wide and the other only slightly worn or narrow, most would take the first branch. After all, most would like to be where everyone else is and the majority can’t be wrong can they?

So considering all this, most of us go on the paved road, the wide road, and the well used road regardless of what our innermost intuition would indicate. We follow the crowd.

The Bible talks about this when Matthew states:

Enter by the narrow gate; 

for wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leads to destruction,

and there are many who go in by it.

Because narrow is the gate

and difficult is the way which leads to life,

and there are few who find it.

(Matthew 7:13-14) 

As we enter into a new year, perhaps it would be good to realize that the paved road or the wide and well-travelled road may not be the right way after all, and the masses may just be following each other in the wrong direction. Perhaps that inner voice implying that there is something better in the less popular route should ultimately be listened to. After all, as Frost said:

I took the road less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Taking the less travelled road in today’s world is certainly something to think about.

*The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (1915) - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken