Grace Community Church, Milwaukee, WI

There are, these days, many who do not make a connection between daily behaviors and the affects they have upon worship. Read on and consider what the Scripture and voices of the past can teach us which is well worth consideration.

The Connection Between Worship and Conduct 

 Scripture Reading : Psalm 15: 1-5

Application from Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary:

“Here is a very serious question concerning the character of a citizen of Zion. It is the happiness of glorified saints, that they dwell in the holy hill; they are at home there, they shall be for ever there. It concerns us to make it sure to ourselves that we have a place among them. A very plain and particular answer is here given. Those who desire to know their duty, will find the Scripture a very faithful director, and conscience a faithful monitor. A citizen of Zion is sincere in his religion. He is really what he professes to be, and endeavors to stand complete in all the will of God. He is just both to God and man; and, in speaking to both, speaks the truth in his heart. He scorns and abhors wrong and fraud; he cannot reckon that a good bargain, nor a saving one, which is made with a lie; and knows that he who wrongs his neighbor will prove, in the end, to have most injured himself. He is very careful to do hurt to no man. He speaks evil of no man, makes not others ‘faults the matter of his common talk; he makes the best of every body, and the worst of nobody. If an ill-natured story be told him, he will disprove it if he can; if not, it goes no further. He values men by their virtue and piety. Wicked people are vile people, worthless, and good for nothing; so the word signifies. He thinks the worse of no man’s piety for his poverty and mean condition. He reckons that serious piety puts honor upon a man, more than wealth, or a great name. He honors such, desires their conversation and an interest in their prayers, is glad to show them respect, or do them a kindness. By this we may judge of ourselves in some measure. Even wise and good men may swear to their own hurt: but see how strong the obligation is, a man must rather suffer loss to himself and his family, than wrong his neighbor. He will not increase his estate by extortion, or by bribery. He will not, for any gain, or hope of it to himself, do any thing to hurt a righteous cause. Every true living member of the church, like the church itself, is built upon a Rock. He that doeth these things shall not be moved for ever. The grace of God shall always be sufficient for him. The union of these tempers and this conduct, can only spring from repentance for sin, faith in the Savior, and love to him. In these respects let us examine and prove our own selves.”

And from Henry Law’s Commentary :

“Here is a beautiful picture of the holy man. Holy Spirit, mold us into this blessed form!

‘Lord, who shall abide in Your tabernacle? who shall dwell in Your holy hill?’

Profession is not always real. Many may cry, “Lord, Lord,” who shall at last be outcasts. Hence it is all-momentous to escape deception, and to know assuredly our state. Here is the question put. Here is the answer given. He who alone reads well the heart, He who discerns the wheat from chaff, hears the appeal and gives reply. Who then maintains communion with the Lord, who talks with God upon His mercy-seat, who shall forever dwell with Him in the new heavens and the new earth, who shall receive the welcome, “Come, you blessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world?” Who will be Zion’s inhabitants when the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and shall be their God? The reply forbids mistake. God’s people are all righteous. Holiness is written on their brow. Holiness pervades their heart. Holiness directs their steps, supplies their words, and is the very essence of their being. They are newborn by the Spirit’s power. The divine nature is implanted. Let not, however, this decisive test mislead. Our holiness presents no title at God’s bar; it blots out no sin; it pays no debt; it arrests not condemnation; it weaves no justifying robe; it presents no shadow of a claim. Christ, and Christ only, justifies; His blood alone can cleanse from sin; His death alone appeases wrath. His pure obedience, placed to our account, is the only robe for heaven. Holiness is not our title, but it is assuredly our character. It is the evidence before God and man that we are really Christ’s. It is the test of union with the Lord; it is the proof that we are one with Him. By faith we have an interest in Christ and all Christ’s work. By works we prove that the gift of faith has been received. With earnest prayer that godliness may be our element of life and fitness for the new Jerusalem, let us now ponder the beautiful portrait drawn by the Spirit’s hand.”

Scripture Reading : Job 1 : 13 – 22 

Some contextual comment from the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary:

v 20. Job arose– not necessarily from sitting. Inward excitement is implied, and the beginning to do anything. He had heard the other messages calmly, but on hearing of the death of his children, then he arose; or, as EICHORN translates, he started up (2Sa 13: 31). The rending of the mantle was the conventional mark of deep grief (Ge 37: 34). Orientals wear a tunic or shirt, and loose pantaloons; and over these a flowing mantle (especially great persons and women). Shaving the head was also usual in grief (Jer 41: 5; Mic 1: 16).

v 21. Naked– (1Ti 6: 7). “Mother’s womb” is poetically the earth, the universal mother (Ec 5: 15; 12: 7; Ps 139: 15). Job herein realizes God’s assertion ( Job 1: 8 ) against Satan’s ( Job 1: 11 ). Instead of cursing, he blesses the name of JEHOVAH (Hebrew). The name of Jehovah, is Jehovah Himself, as manifested to us in His attributes (Isa 9: 6).

v 22. nor charged God foolishly– rather, “allowed himself to commit no folly against God” [UMBREIT]. Job 2: 10 proves that this is the meaning. Not as Margin “attributed no folly to God.” Hasty words against God, though natural in the bitterness of grief, are folly; literally, an “insipid, unsavory” thing (Job 6: 6; Jer 23:13, Margin). Folly in Scripture is continually equivalent to wickedness. For when man sins, it is himself, not

God, whom he injures (Pr 8: 36). We are to submit to trials, not because we see the reasons for them, nor yet as though they were matters of chance, but because God wills them, and has a right to send them, and has His own good reasons in sending them.

A note of application from  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary:

“Vs. 13- 19: Satan brought Job’s troubles upon him on the day that his children began their course of feasting. The troubles all came upon Job at once; while one messenger of evil tidings was speaking, another followed. His dearest and most valuable possessions were his ten children; news is brought him that they are killed. They were taken away when he had most need of them to comfort him under other losses. In God only have we a help present at all times.

Vs. 20- 22: Job humbled himself under the hand of God. He reasons from the common state of human life, which he describes. We brought nothing of this world’s goods into the world, but have them from others; and it is certain we can carry nothing out, but must leave them to others. Job, under all his losses, is but reduced to his first state. He is but where he must have been at last, and is only unequaled, or unloaded rather, a little sooner than he expected. If we put off our clothes before we go to bed, it is some inconvenience, but it may be the better born when it is near bed- time. The same who gave hath taken away. See how Job looks above instruments, and keeps his eye upon the First Cause. Afflictions must not divert us from, but quicken us to religion. If in all our troubles we look to the Lord, he will support us. The Lord is righteous. All we have is from his gift; we have forfeited it by sin, and ought not to complain if he takes any part from us. Discontent and impatience charge God with folly. Against these Job carefully watched; and so must we, acknowledging that as God has done right, but we have done wickedly, so God has done wisely, but we have done very foolishly. And may the malice and power of Satan render that Savior more precious to our souls, who came to destroy the works of the devil; who, for our salvation, suffered from that enemy far more than Job suffered, or we can think.”

Now that is something worth thinking about!

Grace and Peace,

Elder Dale

Scripture Reading : 2 Chronicles 29 : 20 – 36

A word of application from Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary:

“As soon as Hezekiah heard that the temple was ready, he lost no time. Atonement must be made for the sins of the last reign. It was not enough to lament and forsake those sins; they brought a sin-offering. Our repentance and reformation will not obtain pardon but in and through Christ, who was made sin, that is, a sin-offering for us. While the offerings were on the altar, the Levites sang. Sorrow for sin must not prevent us from praising God. The king and the congregation gave their consent to all that was done. It is not enough for us to be where God is worshipped, if we do not ourselves worship with the heart. And we should offer up our spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, and devote ourselves and all we have, as sacrifices, acceptable to the Father only through the Redeemer.”

From the Scripture and application we see that the subject of atonement is clearly inferred. Let us consider what is meant by that as defined in Easton’s Bible Dictionary :

Deuteronomy 6 : 10 – 15: 

“So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn- out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.” NKJV

“Here are means for maintaining and keeping up religion in our hearts and houses:

1. Meditation. God’s words must be laid up in our hearts, that our thoughts may be daily employed about them.

2. The religious education of children. Often repeat these things to them. Be careful and exact in teaching thy children. Teach these truths to all who are any way under thy care.

3. Pious discourse. Thou shalt talk of these things with due reverence and seriousness, for the benefit not only of thy children, but of thy servants, thy friends and companions. Take all occasions to discourse with those about thee, not of matters of doubtful disputation, but of the plain truths and laws of God, and the things that belong to our peace.

4. Frequent reading of the word. God appointed them to write sentences of the law upon their walls, and in scrolls of parchment to be worn about their wrists. This seems to have been binding in the letter of it to the Jews, as it is to us in the intent of it; which is, that we should by all means make the word of God familiar to us; that we may have it ready to use upon all occasions, to restrain us from sin, and direct us in duty.

We must never be ashamed to own our religion, nor to own ourselves under its check and government. Here is a caution not to forget God in a day of prosperity and plenty. When they came easily by the gift, they would be apt to grow secure, and unmindful of the Giver. Therefore be careful, when thou liest safe and soft, lest thou forget the Lord. When the world smiles, we are apt to make court to it, and expect our happiness in it, and so we forget Him who is our only portion and rest. There is need of great care and caution at such a time. Then beware; being warned of your danger, stand upon your guard. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God; neither by despairing of his power and goodness, while we keep in the way of our duty; nor by presuming upon it, when we turn aside out of that way.”

Grace and Peace,

Elder Dale 

I found this devotional is from The Old Time Gospel website and was encouraged.

I trust you will be too!

Grace and Peace,

Elder Dale

Seven Great Changes By D. L. Moody   Justification     A change of standing.     Before God.   Repentance      A change of mind.          About God.   Regeneration   A change of nature.        From God.   Conversion       A change of life.            For God.   Adoption          A change of family.        In God.   Sanctification   A change of service.       Unto God.   Glorification     A change of place.         With God. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”       — Philippians 4:8

How many today would answer the question like this:

“The gospel of Christ in general is this: It is the good tidings that God has revealed concerning Christ. More largely it is this: As all mankind was lost in Adam and became the children of wrath, put under the sentence of death, God, though He left His fallen angels and has reserved them in the chains of eternal darkness, yet He has thought upon the children of men and has provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himself again…Namely, the second person of the Trinity takes man’s nature upon Himself, and becomes the Head of a second covenant, standing charged with sin. He answers for it by suffering what the law and divine justice required, and by making satisfaction by keeping the law perfectly, which satisfaction and righteousness He tenders up to the Father as a sweet savor of rest for the souls that are given to Him…And now this mediation of Christ is, by the appointment of the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nation or rank, freely offering this atonement unto sinners for atonement, requiring them to believe in Him and, upon believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sins, but that they shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness shall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they shall through Him be received into the number of those who shall have the image of God again to be renewed unto them, and they they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.”

Jeremiah Burroughs, 1600 – 1646 

Grace and Peace,

Elder Dale

Here is some excellent teaching from Scripture and Charles Spurgeon:

‘But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And  they that understand among the people shall instruct many.’ Daniel 11:32–33

Suggested Further Reading:  Ezra 7:1–10

“Search the Scriptures. Do not merely read them—search them; look out the parallel passages; collate them; try to get the meaning of the Spirit upon any one truth by looking to all the texts which refer to it. Read the Bible  consecutively: do not merely read a verse here and there—that is not fair.  You would never know anything about John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress  if  you opened it every morning and read six lines in any part and then shut it up  again; you must read it all through if you want to know anything about it. Get  those books, say Mark or John; read Mark right through from beginning to  end; do not stop with two or three verses, or a chapter, but try to know what  Mark is aiming at. It is not fair to Paul to take his epistle to the Romans and  read one chapter: we are obliged to do it in public service; but if you want to  get at Paul’s meaning, read the whole epistle through as you would another  letter. Read the Bible in a commonsense way. Pray after you have read it as  much as you like. When you are reading it, if you come to a knotty point, do  not skip it. You all have some Christian friend who knows more than you do;  go to him and try to get the thing explained. Above all, when you have read  any passage, and do understand it, act it out, and ask the Spirit of God to  burn the meaning into your conscience till it is written on the fleshy tables of  your heart.”

For thought and action: Daily readings should supplement Bible study, not replace  it. Have you ever tried to read the Bible in a year? Try the reading schedule the Elders have chosen to help you. It may be hard work, especially the first time, but many have been so blessed that they have resolved to read the whole Bible every year.  But beware of it becoming an academic exercise. Note Ezra’s example—his  desire was to study God’s word, to do it and to teach it—in that order (Ezra 7: 10). His aim was not to practice what he preached, but to preach what he practiced!

Grace and Peace,
Elder Dale

A timely devotional from the pulpit of C.H. Spurgeon, edited by Terence Peter Crosby:

‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.’ John 17:20–21
Suggested Further Reading: Ephesians 4:4–16

“If you would promote the unity of Christ’s church, look after his lost sheep, seek out wandering souls. If you ask what is to be your word, the answer is in the text—it is to be concerning Christ. They are to believe in him. Every soul that believes in Christ is built into the great gospel unity in its measure, and you will never see the church as a whole while there is one soul left unsaved for whom the Saviour shed his precious blood. Go out and teach his Word! Tell out the doctrines of grace as he has given you ability. Hold up Christ before the eyes of men, and you will be the means in God’s hand of bringing them to believe in him, and so the church shall be built up and made one.  Here is work for the beginning of the year; here is work till the end of the year. Do not sit down and scheme and plot and plan how this denomination may melt into the other; you leave that alone. Your business is to go and ‘tell to sinners round what a dear Saviour you have found’, for that is God’s way of using you to complete the unity of his Church. Unless these be saved, the Church is not perfect. That is a wonderful text, ‘That they without us should not be made perfect.’ That is to say, saints in heaven cannot be perfect unless we get there. What! the blessed saints in heaven not perfect except the rest of believers come there? So the Scripture tells us, for they would be a part of  the body and not a whole body; they cannot be perfect as a flock unless the rest of the sheep come there.”

For meditation: God’s instrument for furthering and completing true unity is spiritual—the ongoing addition of souls to his kingdom through the proclamation of Christ crucified. Man’s instrument for promoting organisational unity is political and carnal. Unity, just like the new birth, is ‘not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God’ (John 1:13).

Sermon no. 668, 7 January (1866), Metropolitan Tabernacle

Grace and Peace,
Elder Dale

“Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly, with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your profession.”
-Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748, English hymn writer, theologian, and logician)

“Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Grace and Peace,
Elder Dale

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

“Everybody wants to be happy. That is the great motive behind every act and ambition, behind all work and all striving and effort. Everything is designed for happiness. But the great tragedy of the world is that, though it gives itself to seek for happiness, it never seems to be able to find it. The present state of the world reminds us of that very forcibly. What is the matter? I think the answer is that we have never understood this text as we should have done: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.” What does it mean? Let me put it negatively like this. We are not to hunger and thirst after blessedness; we are not to hunger and thirst after happiness. But that is what most people are doing. We put happiness and blessedness as the one thing that we desire, and thus we always miss it; it always eludes us. According to the Scriptures happiness is never something that should be sought directly; it is always something that results from seeking something else.”
-D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Grace and Peace.
Elder Dale