Dr Spencer Barclay March 31, 2024

Easter Sunday Service

Please join us for our Easter service at the Hillside Community Hall 27 Chance Harbour Rd.

The service will be held at 2 PM for this Sunday only.

Dr. Spencer Barclay will bring us a message from the Word of God.

Master's Hand Singers will lead worship.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 22

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - DARKNESS

 DARKNESS

In both the books of Matthew and Mark, we are told that, at the time of Jesus’ death by crucifixion, 

from the sixth hour until the ninth hour 

there was darkness over all the land 

(Matthew 27:45)

and

when the sixth hour had come, 

there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

(Mark 15:33) 

This constituted one of the miracles that accompanied the crucifixion of Christ. Although some say this was an eclipse that just happened to take place at that time, examination shows that such was just not possible. No eclipse lasts for three hours and, in addition, the crucifixion took place at Passover, which itself occurred at the time of the full moon, thus also making an eclipse impossible. 

So why was there darkness for three hours? Darkness has often been associated with an absence of God and the knowledge of Him. Were the three hours an indication that He would be, as was Jonah:

…three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, 

so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

(Matthew 12:40)

In addition, there is a statement in the book of Amos:

“And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord God,

“That I will make the sun go down at noon, 

And I will darken the earth in broad daylight…” 

(Amos 8:9)

In multiple passages in Scripture, darkness has long been associated with evil and the absence of God. There is also an association in some places with that future time called the day of the Lord.

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, 

and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death 

Light has dawned. 

(Matthew 4:16)

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

(Isaiah 5:20)

Who walks in darkness 

And has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the Lord 

And rely upon his God. 

(Isaiah 50:10)

Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,

Bound in affliction and irons… 

(Psalm 107:10)

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, 

And broke their chains in pieces.

(Psalm 107:14)

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly 

As light excels darkness. 

(Ecclesiastes 2:13)

The way of the wicked is like darkness;

They do not know what makes them stumble.

(Proverbs 4:19)

There are many more examples illustrating darkness and the reason why we told to:

 

“…Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; 

he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.”

(John 12:35)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. 

Walk as children of light…

(Ephesians 5:8)

We are told in Genesis that God made two lights: 

…the greater light to rule the day [light] 

and the lesser light to rule the night [darkness]. 

(Genesis 1:16)

Unfortunately, it seems that too many people are still ruled by the lesser light, still ruled by darkness, and have not yet seen fit to:

…walk in the light as He is in the light… 

(1 John 1:7)

and

…walk before God 

In the light of the living… 

(Psalm 56:13)

The darkness that overcame the earth at the time of the crucifixion merely allowed us to see what it might be like to be forsaken by God and cast into the darkness without Him. Then, when we realize God has left us behind, we may also cry out as Jesus did at the ninth hour:

“My God My God why have you forsaken Me?” 

(Mark 15:34)

Three hours would apparently be more than enough to convince us that it is much better to walk in the light and not in the darkness. As Christ said:

“I am the light of the world. 

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, 

but have the light of life.”

(John 8:12)

It certainly is something to think about. 

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 21

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PETER

PETER

We are once again approaching that time of year when we commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus. We do this at Easter even though there is really no connection between that day and the events we are remembering. And that may account, in some cases at least, why so many have a problem in accepting those events as being factual.

And, in some ways, that may not be so difficult to understand because even those closest to Christ did not understand or accept all that was taking place. Let us take the case of Peter for example.

He was a fisherman by trade. Most likely a hardy, rough and tumble sort of person, quick-tempered, not apt to be educated, but loyal to those who were loyal to him. As a result, he was not known to be really close to Christ and often ended up in some difficulty regarding his behaviour. For example, when in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus said to him:

 

…“Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, 

for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” 

(Matthew 16:23)

And in the garden, when Jesus was betrayed, it was Peter who acted rashly and:

…Simon Peter, having a sword, 

drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, 

and cut off his right ear… 

(John 18:10)

causing Jesus to once more somewhat rebuke him with the words:

…“Put your sword into the sheath. 

Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" 

(John 18:11)

And further it was Peter who denied Jesus three times when confronted by the servant girl in the house of the high priest.

Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, 

‘‘You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” 

He said, “I am not.” 

(John 18:17)

There is also no indication that Peter was there at the time of the actual crucifixion. And so, he does not present as the brave and fearless individual who was expecting the miracle which was about to happen. And yet, when Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb, it was to Peter she first reported the news, and it was Peter, along with another disciple, who entered the tomb and saw the clothes lying there. And, although not well educated, was readily willing to perceive and accept what had taken place.

Within a few weeks, he was boldly able to state:

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, 

a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, 

and signs which God did through Him in your midst…

Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, 

you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 

whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, 

because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 

This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

(Acts 2:23-24,32) 

Peter was essentially uneducated, impetuous, and a somewhat rough sort of a man who became a disciple. Although loyal and steadfast, he was not the bravest of men, and while under pressure denied Christ, showed troublesome behaviour, and even ran when the situation became difficult. But when confronted by and convinced by the truth, he became among the boldest and outspoken of men. When he determined who Christ really was, there was no stopping him. When we look at the resurrection and the empty cross at this season, may we determine to be as convinced and as emboldened as was Peter.

It certainly is something for one to think about.  

Caroline Barclay March 17, 2024

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 20

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - IN THE NAME OF...

 IN THE NAME OF...

In the Old Testament, prayers and invocations were usually made in the name of the Lord, our God. There are multiple examples of this throughout the Bible, such as:

“then he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God…” 

(Deuteronomy 18:7)

“…and to bless in the name of the Lord…” 

(Deuteronomy 21:5)

…he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 

(2 Samuel 6:18)

“…tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord…” 

(2 Chronicles 18:15)

…in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. 

(Psalm 118:10)

In the New Testament, however, although the phrase is still used, it is more often used in connection with Christ or in direct reference to Christ Himself. As we see in the following examples:

“…Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

(Luke 13:35)

“…Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!…” 

(Luke 19:38)

“…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 

(Acts 3:6)

giving thanks always for all things to God the father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

(Ephesians 5:20)

…whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

(Colossians 3:17) 

But have you noticed that we never pray or invoke anything in the name of the Holy Spirit alone, only in conjunction with God and Jesus?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

(Matthew 28:19)

Is this because of the different aspects of each personality of God? After all, we are told that God is love and that those who love God are loved in return. But there are many gods worshipped throughout the world and invoking the name of god could be referring to any one of these so called deities. The God of the Bible may be love but that is not the god that many refer to. On the other hand, Jesus is specific to the Son of the Living God and there is no doubt as to whom one is referring when they are praying in the name of Jesus, and through that Name, to God Himself. There is only one God who sent His Son to be a sacrifice for us all, and therefore doing anything in the name of Jesus refers only to the true God.

As for the Holy Spirit, well, He is not meant to be a conduit from us to God but rather from God to us and is the teacher of true wisdom.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things, 

and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." 

(John 14:26)

“For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” 

(Luke12:12)

It is to the God of love, who is identified positively through His Son who became a sacrifice for us all, and who subsequently sent us ultimate wisdom though the Holy Spirit, that we make our requests known; with the Holy Spirit teaching us what to say.

In the name of the God of love, the Son of sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit of wisdom; it really is something to think about.

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Daniel Part 19

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ALL THINGS

ALL THINGS

There are a few verses in the Bible that are often used, and sometimes misunderstood. In Romans we are told that:

…all things work together for good to those that love God, 

to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

(Romans 8:28) 

And in Psalms the statement reads:

 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. 

(Psalm 150:6)

Further more, in Ephesians the message is to:

 

[give] thanks always for all things to God the Father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

(Ephesians 5:20)

Finally, in James, he writes:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above… 

(James 1:17)

Now if one looks at these statements as they appear, it seems that we should give praise and be thankful for everything that besets us because don’t all things work for good to those who love God? But does it always seem to be that way in real life? Should we be thankful for disease and tragedies, for natural disasters and wars, and other such events that take place on this planet?

However, if the statements are looked at carefully, it would seem that what we sometimes think may not actually be the case. In the second statement, Psalm 150:6, it does state that everything that can should praise the Lord, but it does not say all the time or in all circumstances. And while it also says in James that all good and perfect gifts come from above, gifts of a different nature may come from elsewhere, and although in the end all may work out, it may only be to those who truly know God. And even then only by prayer; a prayer that most of us do not really know how to do. After all:

…the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses…

[and] makes intercession for us… 

…according to the will of God.

(Romans 8:26-27)

It’s important to understand that although:

The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness… 

(Psalm 24:1)

Satan is really in charge at the present time. He emphasized this when he showed Christ all the kingdoms of the world and said:

“All these things I will give to You if You will fall down and worship me.” 

(Matthew 4:9)

So therefore, we should recognize that all good and perfect things come from God but not everything in total. We should give thanks always for what God has given us but not for what has come from elsewhere. We should praise Him frequently for everyday He blesses us. And we should continue to give Him thanks for all things, even those which do not come from Him, for He helps us get through those events and adversities and may even use them to our eventual benefit, even though such may not be evident at first. Only then may it become evident how all things can work together for good to them that love the Lord.

And in that there are a few things to think about.  

Jasmine Trott - March 3, 2024

Worship Service

 

Please join us in worship this evening (Sunday March 3) at 6 PM at the Hillside Community Hall Chance 27 Harbour Rd.

Jasmin Trott is bringing us a message from the Word of God

Amy Rafuse and friends will be leading worship.

Come and bring a friend. We'd love to see you.