Bible Summery

- The Bible is the greatest History book ever written
- If you ca believe the 1st four words “in the beginning God” you have made the greatest step in faith
Genesis
· The Bible begins with the creation of all things
· Man, Adam, was created on the 6th day and was made in the image of God
· A short time later Woman, Eve, was made from the rib of man
· All things were made perfectly good, Sin and death did not exist.
· But this did not last long, the devil came in the form of a snake and tempted Eve to eat from the tree that God had commanded them not to eat from.
· The devil called God a liar and told Eve that if she ate from this tree she would become like God.
· Eve ate from this tree and persuaded her husband Adam to eat with her.
· Sin and disobedience has now entered the world.
· There fore now death and pain is part of everyday life
· Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Paradise.
· All men and woman are now born and defiled with sin.
· The justice of God requires that sin must be justified, man is now in debt to God and this debt can only be paid for, by living in everlasting agony in hell after he dies.
· But God in his love has given a way of escape.
· He promised Adam and Eve that He would send One who could pay for the sins of the whole world.

· Adam and Eve gave birth to a son named Cain
· Another son was born named Abel
· Cain kills his godly brother out of jealousy
· Adam and Eve have a 3rd son whom they called Seth
· All ready in the 1st few chapters of the Bible we see the vast difference between those who hate God and those who love him.
· We are given a brief tour down the wicked line of Cain
· And another down the more godly line of Seth.

· As time goes on, sin expounds and man turns more and more away from God
· We read that the Lord is sorry that he had made man and decides that He will destroy the people He had created.
· There however is one man with his family who still loved the Lord.
· God decided that He would start over through him.
· God told Noah to build a large boat called an ‘ark’
· The dimensions of this ark were to be 450ft x 75ft x 45ft
· It took Noah approximately 120 years to build this ark.
· While building it he prophesied the coming of a flood. But nobody believed him and heartlessly mocked him. (remember at this time there had never been a rainfall. The earth was watered from dew that came up from the ground)
· When the ark was finished animals came from all ends of he earth in 2’s or 7’s depending on their kind.
· Finally everything has been prepared and we read in Genesis 7 that Noah and his family enter the ark and God shuts the door.
· For 40 days water fell from above and the earth opened up and springs and fountains of water came up from beneath.
· The entire earth was covered in a great mass of water. Even to the tips of the mountains.
· All living creatures that were not inside the ark drowned and died.
· The water covered the earth for 150 days
· And it was over a year later before Noah and his family could leave the ark.
· God placed a rainbow in the sky as a promise that he would never destroy the whole earth with a flood again.

· A genealogy of Noah’s family is given in Chapter 10
· We then can read the story of the Tower of Babel
· God had asked the people to spread out and cover the earth but the refused to do so and began building a tower “whose top may reach into the heavens” “and let us make us a name lest we be scattered abroad the face of the whole earth”
· The Lord came down and brought upon confusion amongst the people by “confounding their language”
· Now that the different families could not understand each other they were forced to spread out claim their own land.

· The Lord chooses a people for himself
· He takes out man named Abram to be the Father of a Great Nation
· Abram who’s name is changed to Abraham bears a son, Isaac
· Isaac gives birth to two sons, Esau and Jacob.
· Esau sells his birthright and blessing to his brother Jacob
· Jacob gives birth of 12 sons and the blessing is given to Judah
· Jacob’s name is changed to Israel.
· Jacob had a son named Joseph whom his brothers hated.
· They sold his as a slave to Egypt and told their father that he had died.
· God with Joseph and through the interpreting of Pharaoh’s dream Joseph becomes 2nd in command of all of Egypt.
· God promised that the area would receive 7 years of very good crop followed by 7 years of famine.
· Joseph had the people store and save much of the good crop so that there would be enough to feed every one during the time of famine.
· Joseph’s brothers come to him begging for food. They do not know that this overseer who is in charge of food rations is their own brother.
· After placing his brother through many tests to see if they have changed, Joseph reveals himself and invites his family to live with him in Egypt where food is plentiful.

Did God Create Evil? God's existance and Science

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty. He asks one of his new students to stand and starts a short dialog.

Prof: So you believe in God?

Student: Absolutely, sir.

Prof: Is God good?

Student: perfectly.

Prof: Is God all-powerful?

Student: most certainly

Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn’t. How is this God good then? Hmm?

(Student is silent.)

Prof: You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?

Student :Yes.

Prof: Is Satan good?

Student : No.

Prof: Where does Satan come from?

Student : From…God…

Prof: And God did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Prof: "Did God create everything that exists?"

student:, "Yes, he did".

Prof:, "If God created everything, then he created evil. Since evil exists (as noticed by our own actions), so God is evil.

the Prof went on to say: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son…Have you ever seen God?

Student : No, sir. Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

Student : No , sir. Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelled your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t. Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes. Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

The student couldn't respond to that statement causing the professor to conclude that he had "proved" that "belief in God" was a fairy tale, and therefore worthless.

Another student raised his hand and asked the professor, "May I pose a question? " "Of course" answered the professor.

Student 2 : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Prof: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Prof: Yes.

Student : No sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : In fact sir, Cold does not exist. According to the laws of Physics, what we consider cold, in fact is the absence of heat. Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. What we have done is created a term to describe how we feel if we don't have body heat or we are not hot . We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of light. A simple ray of light tears the darkness and illuminates the surface where the light beam finishes. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light…. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you? Dark is a term that we humans have created to describe what happens when there's lack of light.

Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Evil does not exist. Just as in the previous cases, Evil is a term which man has created to describe the result of the absence of God's presence in the hearts of man."

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shakes his head)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelled it?…..No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical,stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Prof: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it, sir.. The link between man & God is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving and alive.

Maybe we should just step back

What This World Needs
(thank you Casting Crowns)

What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder
with an axe to grind
Another two bit politician peddling lies
Another three ring circus society
What this world needs
Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you
Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth
Another prophet in an Armani suit

CHORUS:What this world needs
is a Savior who will rescue
A Spirit who will lead
A Father who will love them in their time of need
That's what this world needs

What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside
Have we become so blind that we can't see
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt
What this world needs
Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance
Blending in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free

CHORUS

People aren't confused by the gospel,
They're confused by us.
Jesus is the only way to God,
But we are not the only way to Jesus.
This world doesn't need
My tie,
my hoodie,
My denomination,
or my translation of the Bible,
They just need Jesus.
We can be passionate about what we believe,
But we can't strap ourselves to the gospels.
Because we're slowing it down
Jesus is going to save the world,
But maybe the best thing we can do
Is just get out of the way.

CHORUS
Jesus is our Savior,
that's what this world needs
Father's arms around you,
that's what this world needs
That's what this world needs

Commandment #3 – part 1 – GOD’S NAME

For the Honour of God’s Holy Name
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain”

Lords Day 36
Question 99 - what is required in the third commandment?
Answer: that we, not only by cursing or perjury, but also by rash swearing, must not profane or abuse the name of God; not by silence or connivance be partakers of these horrible sins in others; and, briefly, that we use the holy name of God no otherwise than with fear and reverence, so that He may be rightly confessed and worshipped by us, and be glorified in all our words and works.

Question 100 – is then the profaning of God’s name by swearing and cursing so heinous a sin that His wrath is kindled against those who do not endeavour, as much as in them lies, to prevent and forbid such cursing and swearing?
Answer: it undoubtedly is, for there is no sin greater or more provoking to God than the profaning of His name; and therefore he has commanded this sin to be punished with death.

Scripture reading: James 3:1-12

How do we speak about others? Say this week you meet together with another friend and you spend the entire time talking about different people. With each person you voice your opinion about each. One you like, another maybe you dislike, or there is some you are indifferent about. Each time you hear a certain individuals name the way you feel about that person will affect how you express yourself and conduct your words and actions

Now the 3rd commandment does not ask how we speak or feel about others but how do we speak about God? How do we use His name?

The Name of God

1) Revealed Name
> when we meet someone for the 1st time we introduce ourselves by saying “Hello my name is ...” however our name does not tell others about our personality or character, what we like or dislike for it is just a name.
> However the names of God tell us about who he is
(Jehovah – He is faithful, El Shaddai – He is the great one, Father – we are His children,)
> but for us to know God, we need Him to reveal Himself
> the Lord reveals Himself because He wants to have contact with us. The Lord seeks to have a relationship with lost sinners
> that is why he brings us to church each Sabbath, He has put us young people in Christian homes so that we might know His name. There are many people who do not know the names of our God, who do not know that there is a God of love, mercy, justice, power, faithfulness. Let us remember this and not take it for granted.
> now why has the Lord done this, why does He reveal Himself to sinners? Out of love
> this is why it is a terrible thing to take this name and abuse and curse it.
> imagine after you have just introduced yourself to someone, that they turn around and mock and curse your name!

2) Abused Name
> Why is God’s name so misused?- to emphasize
- to be funny
- when surprised or shocked
- a habit
> many short forms have been substituted (gee for Jesus, or short terms when texting: OMG, or goodness is often used, but who is good? God is good)
> some ask if this is a little extreme to condemn all these things as sinful. Others say that they really don’t mean to abuse God’s name, in fact when they use these words they don’t mean anything at all.
> but this is precisely the problem, these words should mean something to you
> these words should not be used thoughtlessly or flippantly.
> there words are like a mighty hurricane wind, even though they sound bold they only leave destruction in their wake

So who uses these words in this way
> well of course blasphemers do this, those who are enemies of God
> we can think of those who are outside the church, in fact I am sure each of us can think up at least one person whom we here often taking the Lords name in vain.
> yes we are correct to say that this is where we find such people, outside the church for David said in Psalm 139:20 –“For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain”
But what about the people inside the church? What about YOU?
> Paul says in Romans 3 -“there is none righteous, no not one ... their throat is an open sepulchre”
> such swearing can easily be picked up in today’s world as it is every where on the streets
> but we can take God’s name in vain when we pray – when out prayers are empty, just a few words we rattle off because of habit. When we don’t really mean what we are saying.
> when we have no love for God but just hold a form of religion
Isaiah 6:5b – “I am a man of unclean lips”

> sometimes parents say when their children use bad words, “now I will have to clean out your mouth with a bar of soap”
> but will soap solve the problem of bad language and words?
> why do people swear? Where do such words come from?
> where does this problem stem from
> well Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:19 – “for out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts ... and blasphemies”
> there is a problem with out hearts, it is a pool of wickedness.
> Matthew 12b “...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
> man swares because of what is in his heart, he is showing that he has no love for God in his heart
- that he hates his Maker
> it is a new heart that we need, let us go on our knees and ask for a new heart

What must we do when we hear cursing and blasphemy?
> we do have a task,
> our catechism says we must not partake by silence or connivance (silent consent) to the horrible sins of others
> we are just as guilty of this sin when we stand amongst a group of people, hear God’s name being taking in vain, yet say nothing at all.
> we must speak against those who blaspheme our God
> yes there are times when it’s best to just walk away especially when we have already talked to this person about it before, but let us not excuse our selves too quickly.
> Ephesians 5:11 – “ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
> Paul not only tells us to stay away from sin but he also commands us to reprove the sins of darkness.
Why?
> because this sinner is giving proof that he is following the path of destruction and if no change takes place before he dies he will be lost forever
> it is our duty to warn him and not stand back in silent consent.

3) Dangerous Name
Is then the profaning of God’s name by swearing and cursing so heinous a sin that His wrath is kindled against those who do not endeavour, as much as in them lies, to prevent and forbid such cursing and swearing?
> The answer to the 2nd part of this catechism is quite strong – “it undoubtedly is ...”
> no the world does not punish this sin, in fact nothing will be done to you if say such words
> there may be penalties for speeding or littering but there is no fine you must pay if you take God’s name in vain.
> our society does not find this a great sin at, or even amongst those who call themselves Christians do not find any harm in using slang or short forms of God’s name.
> but even though the government and people might not count this a serious crime, God does.
“for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain”
> the Lord here gives a stern warning here
> our catechism goes on to say that there is no sin greater than this, nothing provokes the Lord more than the cursing of His name and therefore He has commanded that sin be punished with death.

Examples
We can read of this command taking place
1) Leviticus 24:11ff – there was a son of an Israelite woman who was married to an Egyptian man. Now why was she married to a man of Egypt. Well she comes from the tribe of Dan. The people of Dan were known to live the closest to the world. Their attitude was, “how close can we live to the world and still be a part of Israel”. Now remember Dan was not listed in Revelations 7. One day this boy had a fight with another Israelite, and in that fight he cursed and blasphemed God. He was taken to Moses and God commanded the people of Israel to stone him. “whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin; And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death.”

2) Pharaoh (Exodus 14 ) –“ who is the Lord that I should hearken to him?” Pharaoh perished in the red sea

3) Goliath (I Samuel 17) – cursed Israel and the God of Israel. God made sure he died at the hand of David

4) Sacrinib (2 Chr 32) – king of Assyria in a letter to the Israelites, mocking and railing on the God of Israel and its king; that same night an angel came and cut off all the men of valour and 185,000 soldiers died.

5) Example of not so long ago – two boys were riding their horses when they were caught in a storm. They found shelter in some shed, but one boy was so angry he started to curse the thunder and the lightning and the God that sent them. The other boy begged him to stop, but boy wouldn’t and with a terrible curse he swore that he would go on despite the storm, but a flash of lighting came and struck him dead. A sign was posted there that said, “Prepare for eternity, a boy was struck dead while in the very act of swearing.

> no the Lord does not only do this, but the Lord is angry with the wicked every day
> let us not continue to provoke the Lord to anger with this sin, for if we do not break from this sin and take Jesus into our hearts this sin will one day take us to hell.
> it is a dangerous name, but the Lord wants it to be also be a loved name

4) A Loved Name
> the name of the Lord should be used with fear and reverence
> we must rightly confess his name that he should be glorified by our words and works.

Let us say with the black slave who bowed himself down to the ground whenever his master took the Lords name in vain “when ever I hear the name of God it fills my soul with awe and reverence?”

> you tell how someone feels about God by the way they speak about his name, how they read their Bible, how they sing the psalms.
> let not God be used at the brunt of our jokes, but let us commend Him to others
> let us have a desire to speak to others about our Lord
> this is not an east task, but take it to the Lord in prayer.
> The world thinks it can do without God, it is more interested in its music, work and entertainment,
“some trust in horses and chariots but we trust in the name of the Lord”
> but let us tell them where we hold our trust
> let us be able to say at all times “still the Lord is good”

> pray – to be done in faith, we need a pleading ground which can only be name of our Lord Jesus

> God’s name must be a name we:
- fear
- confess
- call upon
- worship

How do speak of His name? Do you love His name?
Take this question with you when you go to bed, when you wake up in the morning, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Don’t be more entertained or stirred up more by the names of people and things in the world.
But let us seek to know His name and find refuge in it.
- Christ was condemned to death as a blasphemer so that we the true blasphemers and breakers of the 3rd commandment might be saved and have some where to go for forgiveness.
“hallowed be thy name ...”

Good Evening

Before I continue to post the sermon notes of the Holy Law of God, I would like to give you the opportunity to post some items that hold some importance to you. Maybe you have read an article, poem, story, notes, or song that made your thoughts turn heavenward again. If you email this piece of writing to me at christlikecharity@gmail.com I will be more than willingly to post it as soon as I can. Also if there is a topic you might like me to address I will look into it and see what I can give.

I thank you for spending the time to read what I post and write. May we as Christians with God's grace be a shining light in this dark world.

Commandment #2 - part II - A JEALOUS GOD

Why we must worship the Right God the Right Way

“For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth and generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5b-6)

scripture reading: Exodus 34:5-17

"we have looked at the 1st and the 2nd commandment but before the Lord moves on to the 3rd commandment He adds/impends something to the 2nd commandment."

> But why was it added here? - previously we have been taught which God is the right God and how to worship the right God the right way;- now we need to see thy this is so important “For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.”

Three Motives to Acceptable Worship

1. God is a Jealous God

2. God is a Sin Visiting God

3. God is a Mercy Showing God

*1* (jealous)

> jealousy is a mixture of love and anger – can be illustrated by the feelings of a husband when his wife breaks her wedding vow. He is angry that she is not being faithful to him but he still loves her and wants her back as his own.
> the Lord says “I am a jealous God”
> he is a husband to his people for he has said "I am the Lord THY God"
> in a spiritual sense we are like the unfaithful wife toward her husband
> if we are more eager in our work, in our earthly friendships, and are not so eager about worshipping the right God in the right way, we are breaking the 1st and 2nd commandment.
> the Lord will not accept this
> it is at times like this that God will show His jealousy
> He may therefore withdraw Himself from His people
> His bride needs to feel that He is a jealous God
> we also read in Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God”
> and Israel should remember this

Example: Nadab and Abihu (Aarons sons)
> They brought strange fire into the worship of the Lord. They may have had good intentions but there were not following the law of God and were killed with fire from heaven. They had not even been priest for one day (Leviticus 10)

> The Lord does not tolerate it when we do not place Him 1st, when we do not worship Him the way He has commanded.
> Yes he is also merciful
> How merciful has the Lord been to you?
> Have you gone day by day not placing Him 1st, going about your day putting all your care upon other things.
> There is a limit to His patience, take his jealousy to heart.
> Worship Him the way he desires to be worshiped with your heart, your whole heart.

* 2 * (sin visiting)
>Those who do not worship the Lord inwardly or outwardly are called haters of Him
> no they do not all show their hatred the same way
> there are some who show their hatred outwardly and quite blatantly
>but then there are others like the Pharisees who seemed very religious on the outside
>but God knows what is in their hearts, he seems the enmity that lies there
> is this what the Lord has to say about you? A hater of him?
> being a hater of God has its consequences, for your sins will be visited
> it is no small thing to be a hater of God, for he will visit the sin unto the 3rd and 4th generation
> God will visit the children of those who hate Him and their children’s children
>your actions have consequences on both you and your children.

> must we suffer because of our father and our grandfathers?
> does it not say in Ezekiel 18:20 –“ The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

> yes but if a father or a grandfather decides to worship the Lord their own way it has consequences for himself as well as those who are close to him. Because the Lord will withdraw himself from this family. The children will as generation go by move further and further away from the Lord

Example 1: King Jeraboam (known as the one who made Israel to sin)
>the Israelites did not have to go along with Jeraboam in worshipping the calves in Bethel, they could have easily said no and continued worshipping in Jerusalem. The Lord then would not have punished the people but just Jeraboam.
> however Jeraboam’s sin became their sin and they and their children were over taken and carried away captive

> Children do not have to go in the steps of their fathers
Example 2: Korah, Dathan and Abiram
> the children of Korah would not stand by their father – and they were saved (Numbers 26:11)
> however in many cases the children follow in the sins of their parents
> it is dangerous to take even the smallest steps away from the Lord
> over the generations the steps keep moving further and further and soon the children will not even know the Lord
Beware: fathers/mothers of what you do and don’t do (Eli the high priest)
> show your children that God is a jealous and holy God

Do we love or hate our children?
Let us do what is best for them and remember that God is a sin visiting God.
Everyday we go unconverted we are affecting the salvation of our children

* 3 * (mercy showing)
> there are also those who love God and keep His commandments
> these two things go together
> you can not say you love God yet do not follow His Word and law

> by nature we all hate God, but as it is written in Eph 2:4,5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.”
> God writes his law on their hearts

> the Lord is pleased to work through the generation
Proverbs 20:7 “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”
> children who live in a home where God is loved are very privileged
Examples: Philippian jailer, family of Lydia, Rahab

>However remember you are not saved as a family or because of your family
> salvation is individual
Illustration: security checks – you pass through alone

> Salvation is a personal thing, but the Lord shows mercy to the thousands
> There is room for you and your whole household by the Lord

Conclusion
> There are only two kinds of people (haters and lovers of God)
> There is no in between, no 3rd group
> So which one are you?
> Do you hate God or are you someone who loves God?
> What can God say of you today?
> Let us take this time to examine our own heart

> If you have found yourself a hater, take the example of the publican “God be merciful to me a sinner” for not only is our God a jealous God but he is also a merciful God.

Commandment #2 – part I – RIGHT WAY

Worshipping the Right Way

“Thou shalt not make unto me any graven images”

LORDS DAY 35
Question 96 – What doth God require in the 2nd commandment?
Answer – That we in no wise represent God by images, nor worship Him in any other way than He has commanded in His Word

Question 97 – Are images then not at all to be made?
Answer: God neither can, nor may be represented by any means. But as to creatures, though they may be represented, yet God forbids to make, or have any resemblance of them, either in order to worship them or to serve God by them.

Question 98 – But may not images be tolerated in the churches as books to the laity?
Answer: no, for we must not pretend to be wiser than God, who will have His people taught, not by dumb images, but by the lively preaching of His Word

Scripture passage: John 4:1-24

The difference between the 1st and 2nd commandment:
1st – Who to worship (the Lord God)
2nd – How to worship

Worshipping the Right God the Right Way
1. Temptation
2. Teaching

* 1 *
> who decides what is the right way to worship God?
- Not man but God

(Examples of man deciding how to worship God)
King Jeraboam and Aaron the High Priest – making of golden calves
- (I Kings 12:25ff, Exodus 32)
King David – his disobedience resulted in the death of Uzzah
- (2 Samuel 6:1-11)

> Man has a desire to see God, but is spiritually blind
> But God cannot be seen, He is a spirit and He is Holy
> He cannot be resembled in any earthly manner

Before a physical image of God enters a home it begins with having a wrong view of who God is
Where does the wrong image of God begin?
- In your heart and mind

How do YOU view God?
a) Do you see Him as someone who is blind or deaf?
Blind – He doesn’t see your sin?
Deaf – He doesn’t hear your lacking and empty prayers?
b) Or do you see him as a God who is not Just but only a God of Love and can easily ignore your sin

“OPEN MY EYES AND HEART; SHOW ME WHO THOU ART!”

* 2 *
> we are to worship God as He commands – not by the trends of the day
> Even though God may not explicitly condemn something (drama, TV screens), if he doesn’t command it, it should not be introduced (choirs, banners, pictures) bands, crosses, decorations, candles)

There are 5 things commanded for Christian worship:
1. Prayer
2. Singing
3. Word of God (scripture reading/preaching)
4. Collection of offerings
5. Sacraments (Lord Supper, baptism)
> The question should not be can we – but may we
> We are not the ones who have the authority to decide how church worship should be implemented
> The Israelites were also given very explicit instructions for worship and sacrifice. (Exodus – Leviticus)

> We do not need to follow the new ideas of many churches today
> When a church seeks out new novelties it is a sign of spiritual death within the church
> Let us follow what God has willed, for it is for our good
> God has chosen to teach us through the lively preaching of the word
- God sent Phillip to the Ethiopian Eunuch
> So let us go to the house of the Lord frequently

> The Lord needs heart worship – not lip service (Let not it be said of us like it is said in Mark 7:6 and Isaiah 29:13)-the older you get the easier it is to by a hypocrite
> But this day the Lord is looking for those who will worship Him with their hearts

“God be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:9-14)

(Young People discussion)
> Hearts are not changed by instruments and candles but by the work of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the word
> Man learns best by taking in messages through the mind and then the message may go to the heart, rather than sending the message to the emotions.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1119082137101

Sincerest apologies

I am so sorry for forsaking my blog. I really want to update it and continue on with my theme of the 10 commandments and I promice I will do so. however all I seem to be doing lately is working and after work I just lack all energy to do any serious thinking. but I have made a promice and like Reverand Schoeman said yesterday in church during his sermon on David and Mephibosheth, a promice must be kept.

I ask that you keep prodding me and pushing me to continue on.

The Christians Firm Bank

I have a never-failing bank,

A more than golden store;

No earthly bank is half so rich;

How, then, can I be poor?

’Tis when my stock is spent and gone

And I without a groat*,

I’m glad to hasten to my bank

And beg a little note.
[*An English coin worth four pence.]

Sometimes my Banker, smiling, says,

“Why don’t you oft’ner come?

And when you draw a little note,

Why not a larger sum?

“Why live so niggardly and poor?

Your bank contains a plenty.

Why come and take a one-pound note,

When you might have a twenty?

“Yea, twenty thousand ten times told

Is but a trifling sum

To what your Father has laid up

Secure in Christ, His Son.”

Since, then, my Banker is so rich,

I have no cause to borrow;

I’ll live upon my cash today,

And draw again tomorrow.

I’ve been a thousand times before,

And never was rejected;

Sometimes my Banker gives me more

Than asked for or expected.

Sometimes I’ve felt a little proud

I’ve managed things so clever;

But, ah! before the day is gone

I’ve felt as poor as ever.

Should all the banks in Britain break,

And that of England smash,

Bring in your notes to Zion’s bank;

You’ll surely have your cash.

And if you have but one small note,

Fear not to bring it in;

Come boldly to the bank of Grace;

Banker is within.

All forged notes will be refused;

Man-merits are rejected;

There not a single note will pass

That God has not accepted.

This bank is full of precious notes,

All signed and sealed and free,

Though many a doubting soul may say,

“There is not one for me.”

The leper had a little note—

“Lord, if You will You can”;

The Banker cashed this little note,

And healed the sickly man.

We read of one young man, indeed,

Whose riches did abound;

But in this Banker’s book of grace

This man was never found.

But see the wretched,

dying thief Hang by the Banker’s side;

He cried, “Dear Lord, remember me”;

He got his cash and died.

Reverand Lachlan Mackenzie

Commandment #1 - RIGHT GOD

Worshipping the Right God
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

LORDS DAY 34
Question 94 - What doth God enjoin in the 1st commandment?
Answer: that I, as sincerely as I desire the salvation of my own soul, avoid and flee from idolatry, sorcery, soothsaying, superstition, invocation of saints, or any other creatures; and learn rightly to know the only true God; trust in Him alone; with humility and patience submit to Him; expect all good things from Him only; love, fear, and glorify Him with my whole heart, so that I renounce and forsake all creatures, rather than commit even the least thing contrary to His will.

Question 95 - What is idolatry?
Answer: idolatry is, instead of, or besides that one true God who has manifested Himself in His word, to contrive, or have any other object, in which men place their trust

Scripture passage: Psalm 115, Deut 18:9-15

> What has first place in your heart?
- Money?
- Music?
- Boyfriend/girlfriend?
> Can we honestly answer this question before the Lord
> We all know that God must come 1st and everything else is an idol
> Let us, through prayer and by God’s grace work on this in our heart.

Putting God First

1. Fleeing all idolatry
2. Devotion to the one true God

* 1 *
> Today’s society does not put this commandment on the top as the most important
> However God does place it 1st
> He wants our hearts, and He deserves 1st place He has bound Himself to a needy people
> We can look at the picture of a marriage, it would be horrible for the wife to go chase after other men. Especially in the full view of her husband.
> We do the same to the Same to the Lord when we don’t place Him first in our heart

> When you sacrifice before other gods you are not sacrificing to idols but to the devils (1 Cor 10:19)
> Temples of idol worship are the homes and dwelling places for demon’s and behind each idol stands the devil.- the Hindu temple in Toronto comes to mind
> Horoscopes, palm reading, reading the stars, Harry Potter, and Twilight have taken the place of witches and wizards and sorcery of centuries past

> Anything that keeps our mind occupied and away from God is an idol.- we can make children and other people our idols

> God has given us so much, how can we take these gifts and talents and pour them into something other than Him?
> There will be a time when God will stop giving and start taking away

> We are given so much we begin to take it all for granted, thinking we deserve it all.

What must we do then?
> Break with all these loves and go back to our first love
> We need to stop giving the Lord the leftover of our life, money and gifts.

* 2 *
He wants our:
MIND – learn rightly to know him
> Ask important question- Who am I?- Who made me?- Are things right between me and the Lord?
> Search the scriptures- don’t allow your soul to suffer because your life is so busy- take a look at Daniel, King David (if any one lived busy lives, they did but they still took time for private prayer and time to rightly know their God)

HEART – that I may love Him
> God wants the deepest part of our being.- “love the Lord thy God will all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and with all thy strength...” (Matthew 22:37a)

WILL – submit myself to Him in humility and patience
> Lovest thou me _________, more than all these?- let us put our name in this blank instead of Peter’s

The following is the website where you can listen to the entire sermon http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=111108236110

The Holy Law of God

Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17

1. And God spake all these words, saying,
2. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage
3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: For I the Lord they God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6. And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.
8. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: it it thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, not thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
13. Thou shalt not kill.
14. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15. Thou shalt not steal.
16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17. You shalt not covet thy neighbours house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, not his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s.

The Importance of Time

author - anonymous

I had on new clothes,
New sneakers on my feet.
I was there for class on time,
Went to the back and took my seat.

Yeah, I'm moving up,
I'm already grown.
Soon I'll be graduating,
And out on my own.

I talked to some of my friends,
We were all having fun.
Said some things I shouldn't have said.
Did stuff I shouldn't have done.

I knew I was different.
I felt God touch my heart,
I knew I should set a standard,
But then I'd be set apart.

Walking to the bus,
I was not looking for strength.
I heard the car tires screeching,
But now it's too late.

I'm standing in this room,
And I can see the heavenly gate.
Oh no! I never prayed.
I thought I had time to get it straight!

An angel walked to me,
He had a book in his hand.
I knew it was the Book of Life,
When would this dream end?

I told him my name,
And he began to look.
Then he looked at me sadly and said,
Your name is not in this book.

Angel, this is a dream,
No, I can't be dead!
He closed the book and turned away,
He whispered - You cannot proceed ahead.

No...no this can't be real,
Angel, you can't turn me away.
Let me talk to God,
Maybe he'll let me stay.

He led me to the gate,
Jesus came to me.
He did not let me in but said,
Beloved what is your need?

Jesus, I cried, please,
Don't cast me away from you.
Tears ran down his face as he said,
You knew what you needed to do.

Lord, please I'm young,
I never thought I would die.
I thought I'd have plenty of time,
Death caught me by surprise.

Lord, I went to church,
Please Jesus, I believe.
He said you would not accept me,
My love you would not receive.

Lord, there were too many
hypocrites. They weren't being true.
He took a step back and asked,
What does that have to do with you?

Lord, my family claimed to be
saved, They weren't real. You know.
He said, I died for you,
Now I have to go.

I fell to my knees crying to Him,
Lord, I planned to be real tomorrow.
I couldn't make Him understand,
I had never felt such sorrow.

Then it hit me hard, I said,
Lord, where will I go?
He looked into my eyes
and said, dear child you already know.

Please Jesus, I begged,
The place is so hot.
It seemed to trouble and grieve him,
He whispered, DEPART FROM ME, I KNOW YOU NOT.

Lord, you're supposed to be love,
How can you send me to damnation?
He replied, With your mouth you said you loved me,
But each day you rejected my salvation.

With that in an instant,
Day turned into night.
I never knew such torture could be,
Now too late, I know the Bible is right.

If I can tell you anything,
Hell has no age.
It is a place of torture,
Separated from God and full of rage.

You know, I thought it was funny, a joke,
But this one thing is true.
If you never accept Jesus Christ,
HELL IS WAITING FOR YOU!

So please, ask Him into your heart.
Our time on earth is short
And when our life reaches its end
We must be prepared to meet our heavenly judge

Fighting against the worlds view of dating

I was listening to a fellow worker today talking with another girl. He was talking about this guy friend he knew who's mission has been to go out with all different girls with different last names so he could make a list from A - Z. the girl he was talking to replied, "he must have to really lower his standards sometimes" the guy replied, "ya probably but he said if he was dating say a C and he saw one that was way better he would just switch."
I stood there shaking me head in disbelief and disgust, "Are You Serious!!!"

As a response to this I decided to post some notes of a presentation I heard during one of our Young Peoples speaker evenings. It was given to us by Dr. D Murray and he titles it 10 Rules of Dating

1. Thou shalt not make marriage a god
- there is nothing wrong with wanting to be married
- but don't make it the most important and only thing
- this concept of marriage could cause for disaster as you may become impatient
- be content --> marriage is a gift from God
- your 1st love should be God and He deserves our utmost glory

2. Thou shalt not tour churches to find someone
- this means spending a little time in different churches looking for someone who sparks an interest
- you are more likely to start going to church for the wrong motivations and chances are God will not bless this

3.Thou shalt not start or major with the physical
- men --> don't base relationships on appearance
- woman --> don't encourage this behaviour with the way you dress
- remember what God values (are you following God or the world)

4. Thou shalt not go on vacation together before marriage
- your honeymoon should be special, why spoil it
- also this type of action leads to great temptation

5. Thou shalt not experiment
- don’t participate in "fish dating"
- someone will always get hurt (most likely the girl)
- trust most likely will be broken

6. Thou shalt take counsel from others
- parents, pastors, godly friends
- we should not go solo at such a young age

7. Thou shalt talk about expectations
- don't just talk about the wedding day, but move on to day 2
- find out what your opinions are:
· how woman should honour her husband
· the wife as housekeeper?
· how much should be we tithe
· what church should we attend
· how large of a family do you want

8. Thou shalt be patient/commit
- work through arguments and problems with ease, not through silent treatment or taking off
- don't leave a person hanging. be willing to commit to something

9. Thou shalt say sorry
- this word keeps many marriages together
- avoid if perhaps ... and maybe ....
- say sorry even if the blame is divided
- be sure to prove that you are sorry

10. Thou shalt love
- what needs does the other person have and how can i meet them
- it is not about what you receive but about what you can give
- this is the reason why there is a lack of true love in today's world
- in the end you will receive more than you ever gave

Benevolence

I have opened up this blog as a way to give. To give one of the most precious treasures any one could receive. Many charities are set up around the world to help the poor, the hungry, the weak, etc. But there is something man needs that is of far more importance than food, water, shelter, money and that is the Lord Jesus. In this blog I would like to post items I have read, heard or happened to come by that point to Jesus, His work on earth and in heaven, and how we can live in His example.

With my senior young peoples group we are studying a book called My Brothers Keeper by James W. Alexander. Last class we came to the chapter that is titled Benevolence. And I thought that posting this chapter would be an appropriate way to start this blog as it emphasizes Christian charity and having a giving spirit.

Here are several questions to think about at you read through it

1.What are good works?

2. How can we ourselves show Christian charity?

If I were to send you ten dollars to spend as you chose, after you had purchased such things as you need, what would you do with the remainder? I am sure you take much more pleasure giving it to some poor, starving family, than in laying it out upon toys and food. The satisfaction would last much longer. When miserable sufferers thanked you, it would give you delight; your own conscience would tell you that you had done right; and whenever you had thought of it afterwards, it would be with pleasure. But besides all this, there is the satisfaction in the very act of doing good. There is something delightful in the very feeling of love.

I wish you to think a little about this. The feeling of which I have just written is called benevolence, or good-will. It is the disposition to do good – to make others happy. It is what the Bible calls charity. And it always gives pleasure, for we cannot love any one sincerely without a degree of happiness for the moment. Just think of the times when you have felt most affectionate toward your dear parents. Was it not a delightful feeling? And when a kind mother presses her baby against he, does she not enjoy this ore than if someone did a favour for her? It is always so. And therefore, the more benevolent you are, the more happiness you will have. If you wish to be peaceful in your mind, do as much good as you can.

This is a great part of true religion. “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” And whenever this love or benevolence is in any one’s heart, it will make him do good. He will try to be useful, and to make everyone happy around him. Religion begins in the heart, but it does not end there. It leads persons to act. People may talk about religion, and tell how many good feelings they have, but if they never do good, if they are not active, there is reason to fear that they have no religion at all. And therefore the Scripture always makes this a mark of true piety. The Apostle James says, “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Is it not a contradiction to speak of a pious man who does no good? You see at once that it is. An idle Christian is no true Christian. We are all sent into the world to honour God, and we do this whenever we perform what is good.

Young persons ought to begin as soon a possible to put this into practice. There is such a thing as learning to do good, and forming a habit of doing good; and we cannot begin to soon. Perhaps you will say that you do not know where to begin. I will tell you. Begin with the very next person you meet; with those who are around you now; with your relatives and companions. Try to make everyone happy to the utmost of your power, Avoid everything, in your actions, your words, and your very looks, which could give unnecessary pain. Keep this up at all times. Thus you will constantly be cherishing an benevolent temper. If you are kind and affectionate in small matters, I am sure you will be so in those which are more important. There is an old saying about money matters which you may have heard, take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves. The meaning of this is, that people lose more by neglecting smalls sums of money, then by losing larger ones. Almost any man will take care of a hundred dollar note. He will carry it in is wallet for months, without losing it. But during the same time he will perhaps squander away so much little by little. If he had taken good care of these small sums, he might have saved a good deal. So it is with respect to benevolence. Almost any man will be benevolent when their is any dreadful suffering which he can relieve, or any great act of charity which he can do. But perhaps this very same man will all the time be unkind and irritable with his family, and will make every one near him feel unpleasantly. But if you begin with these little things, which are occurring every day and every hour, you will preserve a benevolent disposition the whole time, and will be more ready to do some greater act of charity when it is called for.

There have been some men so benevolent, that they have spent almost all their lives in trying to relieve the distressed. One of the most remarkable of these was John Howard, who for this reason is usually called the philanthropist, that is the “lover of mankind”. Howard was born in Clayton, in England, in the year 1727. His father left him a large estate, but his health was so frail during his youth, that he did not engage in much active business. He was a man of a kind and tender heart, and was always seeking to do good. When the dreadful earthquake took place which overwhelmed the city of Lisbon, he was so touched with pity that he undertook a voyage to Portugal, in 1755, to see if he could give any relief to the inhabitants. But he was taken captive by a French ship, and carried into Brest, where he remained some months as a prisoner. Here he began to learn firsthand how man distresses were suffered by those who are confined in jails, and his benevolent spirit longed to relieve them. When he returned to England, he made many inquiries on this subject, and began to examine all the prisons in England in order to reform them. He wrote books about this, and procured new laws to be passed by the Parliament.

But Howard was not content with lessening the sufferings of prisoners in England, He knew that their case was worse in other countries, and he determined to visit the continent of Europe. In this work he spent 12 years. Between 1775 and 1787 he went four times to Germany, five times to Holland, twice to Italy, besides visiting Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and the north of Europe. He often traveled night and day, visiting all the principal hospitals and prisons. He did not regard expense or danger, for his whole soul was taken up with the desire to do good. At Valladolid, in Spain, he became a prisoner himself for a month, in order to know the real truth of the conditions. And when he returned home, he published a large work, in which he gave an account of what he had seen. An in this way he did more than was ever done before, to render the condition of prisoners less miserable.

But this benevolent heart was not satisfied with this. The plague that was raging in many parts of Europe. This dreadful illness was worse than the yellow fever, and often destroyed thousands in a few weeks. Howard resolved to learn all about it, and find out how it might be cured. He had studied medicine in his youth, and he traveled, as a physician through various countries. In 1985 he went to Marseilles. Then he visited hospitals in Italy and Turkey, exposing himself to the greatest dangers. Whenever it was possible, he gave relief. In 1789 he published another work, giving an account of the plague. The same year he set out upon another journey to the eastern countries, but was seized with fever in the Crimea, and died in 1790.

Now, is not this a noble example? How much more does Howard deserve the name of a great man than Alexander, Caesar or Bonaparte! I wish you to think on these things, and earnestly to pray that you may be disposed to imitate such a course of life

Your affectionate brother
James

Some Bible passages that speak on Christian charity

- I Corinthians 13:4-8

- Romans 12:10 - 16

- II Peter 1:3-7