Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Ephesians Part 1

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE BLESSING?

                                                                         

                                  THE BLESSING?

One of the most disturbing stories surrounding the birth of Christ is tol in the book of Matthew in chapter 2.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, 

was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death 

all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, 

from two years old and under…

(Matthew 2:16)

This gives further evidence that the wise men did not visit Jesus at His birth but a number of years later - but why such a scene? Was Herod really so cruel or was there something else involved?

This atrocity and its inception really goes back to the days of Issac, Rebekah, and their sons Esau and Jacob. It involves the situation where Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, tricked his father Issac into giving him his father’s blessing instead of his older brother Esau, to whom it rightfully belonged. Esau became very angry at this turn of events and…  

So [he] hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, 

and Esau said in his heart "…I will kill my brother Jacob.” 

(Genesis 27:41)

Now Esau went on to have many offspring and…

 

…Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.

…the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir. 

(Genesis 36:8-9)

Now, the Edomite people lived in an area south of Judah until they were displaced by conflict and eventually settled again in a portion of Judah and became known as the Idumaeans but still descendants of Esau.

Antipaster, the progenitor of the Herodian dynasty that ruled Judea under the Romans after the Roman conquest of that area, was an Idumaean and the antecedent of the Herod in the Biblical story of Jesus. Thus, Herod himself was really a descendent of Esau. Therefore, trying to kill the Messiah, of the lineage of Judah, was really an attempt to carry out the old threat of Esau to kill his brother Jacob.

It’s amazing how events related in ancient history have an influence on events many years and centuries later and how they still influence world events today. An ancient curse by Esau was the trigger for the Slaughter of the Innocents by Herod as well as the attempt to kill the Messiah shortly after His birth.

It all gives one something more to think about.  

Pastor Jasmine Trott Nov. 24, 2024

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Jonah Part 10

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE MAGI

THE MAGI

The story of the Magi - wise men from the East - visiting the Christ Child after His birth, is one of the most enduring stories of the Christmas season that we have. This is documented in only one place in the Bible - in the book of Matthew. Here it states:

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, 

…wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? 

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

(Matthew 2:1-2)

When reading these stories it is important to distinguish what is related in the Bible to what is not; even though some of the other material may be ancient, they are non-biblical sources. For example, we often refer to the three kings but the Bible mentions neither the number of visitors nor that they were kings. We commonly see illustrations of these wise men coming to the stable where Jesus lay but the Bible clearly states that:

…when they [the wise men] had come into the house, 

they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, 

and fell down, and worshiped Him… 

(Matthew 2:11)

If we truly believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that:

 

…the word of God is living and powerful…

…which lives and abides forever…

(Hebrews 4:12 & 1 Peter 1:23)

and comes from a God…

 

…who cannot lie… 

(Titus 1:2)

…then we must be careful to state what the Bible relates and not change it to suit what we think it should say. Mixing falsehoods with the truth does not enhance the truth but only tends to enforce more of that which is false. The wise men were not at the stable as depicted by so many stories, nativity scenes, and songs but came sometime later, perhaps up to two years, after Christ’s birth.

In focusing only on the time of the visit, we often miss the other implications that the coming of these men may mean. For instance, they were Gentiles, probably Zoroastrian in religion, who came to worship a God unknown to them. They were the first gentiles who reached out to Christ and gave the indication that Christ would be for everyone.

They bowed and worshiped at the sight of Christ. They did not do the same at the kingship of Herod and so did not give homage to worldly authority but did at the Godly Kingship of Christ.

They gave their time to come to a king they did not know nor to whom they owed allegiance. Not only did they give of their time, they gave generously with their wealth and delight, bringing expensive presents and with exuberant joy, just the way we should do to the God we know and to whom we do owe allegiance.

They were obedient to what they had been taught or told. They knew about the coming of the Messiah and were willing to follow what they had come to believe. In addition, they were obedient to the angel who told them not to return to Herod. We must also decide whether to believe God or honour the world.

Lastly, they would have had many of their own beliefs and traditions and what they did would have gone outside their own culture and faith. Are we willing to do the same when we see the truth in front of us?

By realizing all of what we can learn from the Magi gives us again something else to think about.

*Writing adapted from Who Were the Magi and Why do They Matter by Brian Barrineau 

 

Pastor Dave McLean Nov. 17, 2024

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Jonah Part 9

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - A MAN OF FAILURE?

 

A MAN OF FAILURE?

Looking at the church today and comparing it with the church of old it may appear as if the church is failing in its’ message. The number of people attending church appears to be lessening and churches all over seem to be closing. But is it the same all over the world? Perhaps God is not interested just in numbers of people but in the dedication of those people who are involved. The Bible does say:

 

“…whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

(Romans 10:13)

However, it seems that fewer people are doing that each year. Perhaps we should not be surprised at that, as the Bible also states that:

…narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, 

and there are few who find it. 

(Matthew 7:14)

It implies that many who should be saved may not be and perhaps we should expect this considering Jesus spoke to thousands during His time on earth but, in the end, there seemed to be only about 120 true disciples left.

And in those days Peter stood in the midst of the disciples 

(altogether the number of names was about one hundred and twenty)… 

(Acts 1:15)

It would seem that Jesus Himself was a man of failure at the time but look what happened when those disciples became excited, invigorated, and energized. They changed the world.

Often we look at ourselves and feel as if nothing of importance is being done. Too often people feel as if they accomplish little and give up - often turning to unhealthy or harmful means to try and console themselves and forget their failure. Too many accept this as their fate and refuse to continue trying to see if they can, as Robert Schuller used to say, turn their “scars into stars.” These people also seem to give up on God as well, believing that He has given up on them.

The disciples of Christ did not give up when they were only few and the rest is history. By giving up too easily, in many cases, people often miss out on what God may have had in store for them. We should try to avoid becoming men (and women) of failure as the following illustrates. One person in:

• 1831 - failed in business
• 1832 - was defeated for the legislature
• 1833 - failed in business again
• 1834 - was elected to the legislature
• 1835 - suffered the death of his sweetheart 
• 1836 - suffered a nervous breakdown
• 1838 - was defeated for speaker of the legislature
• 1840 - was defeated for elector
• 1848 - was defeated for congress 
• 1855 - was defeated for Senate
• 1856 - was defeated for Vice-President 
• 1858 - was defeated for Senate
• but in 1860 was elected for President of the United States

The man? Abraham Lincoln* 

The disciples did not give up even when some may have felt their cause a failure. God did not give up on them and he doesn’t give up on us even when we may consider ourselves to be less than successful. It is God’s will that all should be saved and unless we ourselves will it otherwise no person should be a “man of failure” and be lost.

The Lord…not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should reach repentance 

(2 Peter 3:9)

If everything is not now as it should be, we need to keep trying. It is not God’s desire that we should fail - it should not be ours.

Something to think about. 

*Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, 1987

Pastor Matthew Trott Nov. 10, 2024

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Jonah Part 8

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CIVIL WAR

CIVIL WAR

There was recently a movie made with the title “Civil War,” a fictional rendering of what might occur should disagreement develop to a point where actual conflict could result. Now this was fictional, but our neighbour to the South will be having an election shortly after this is posted and the rhetoric and disagreement seems to be at a point that has not been seen in recent times. Admittedly, this is all verbal and ideological at present but who knows just what could evolve if level heads do not prevail.

In 1861 just such an event developed in the US and an actual civil war did break out. Ideological differences at that time did seem insurmountable and physical conflict did develop between the Union and Confederate states. For approximately two years, battles were fought between the opposing armies with considerable loss of life on both sides. It seemed at first that the Southern States might prevail for most, if not all, the battles seemed to be Confederate victories.

At the present time, with ideological differences worsening both here and in the nation to our south, it seems difficult to imagine how these differences can be resolved without some form of conflict developing. At the same time, with the world in the state it’s in we really should be more united than ever. It seems hard to conceive, however, that in the present day leaders would resort to the same type of methods that the leaders of the Union did during those bleak days of Civil War. Because, on March 30^th, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation as follows. 

Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation; and

Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord;

And, insomuch as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do by this my proclamation designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the divine teachings that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 30th day of March, A. D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN*

It is of interest that within a few weeks of this proclamation and the designated day of prayer, the Confederacy lost a major leader which so demoralized the South that the tide of battle changed and the Union eventually went on to victory. The Bible states: 

“[I]f 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)

The Bible also states that:

…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, 

and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

(Matthew 12:25)

Abraham Lincoln, in 1858, reiterated that thought when he said in his address at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield that: A house divided against itself cannot stand.

In this present day, with so much at stake and with so much animosity in our lands, can we afford not to pay attention to what our previous leaders had the fortitude to undertake and realize again that we need God’s help and guidance in our lives?

It is certainly something to think and pray about.

*American Presidency Project Proclamation 97

Rev. Vincent Hanley Nov. 3, 2024