July 22, 2007
Scripture:
I just want to read a verse in Hebrews 10. I was sitting here with that very hymn—“Lord, we rejoice that Thou art gone,”—bubbling on my heart; I was thinking of how His sufferings are over. In v. 17 we read, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Oh, how they have been erased!
EG Hymn 96 – If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour, Prayer Today I’d like to talk about the wedding in Cana. At weddings, we know, the bridegroom and bride make serious commitments to each other. We read about this wedding in John 2:1–11. Jesus and his disciples were at this wedding, along with Jesus’ mother. We start the story during the feast, when it is discovered that there is no wine left. To make wine you take grapes, squeeze the juice out, and put it through a process that turns it to wine. Wine comes in different qualities; you can buy a bottle of wine for $10 or $1,000. So they ran out of wine and Mary told Jesus about it. Then she said something to the servants: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Do you think that was good advice? Do you think it is still good advice? Now, at the place this feast was being held, they had six stone waterpots, each able to hold two or three firkins (about 18–27 gallons). Jesus commanded that they be filled with water, and the servants did so. Then Jesus told them to take some of it and bring it to the governor of the feast. What had gone into those pots? Water. But what did the governor taste? Wine! Not only was it wine, it was the best quality of wine you could get. How did Jesus do that? Was it magic? No, it wasn’t sleight of hand; it was a miracle.
So what can we learn from this? I’m going to tell you a story. Once upon a time, I was a young boy in my parents’ house. Each evening we had readings and I would sit and listen to the Bible. I wasn’t the only one; my brother—Uncle Gord—and my sister were there too. We were like these waterpots, being filled with water. What was that water? It was the water of the Word. The most parents can do for their children spiritually is teach them the Bible, but it was because of that that I was saved—the Lord turned the water into the wine of joy. And now I’m here sharing it with you, filling your pots. Who put the water into the pots? Who took it out? The servants did. God gave the children of Israel water from the rock in the wilderness, but here He used servants to do His will. Still today He uses servants. Do you want to be His servant? Remember, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Then you will “manifest forth his glory.”
I Peter 1:17–21 In v. 14, we read that we should be obedient children. Now in v. 17 we find we can call God “Father.” This is a wonderful relationship. V. 17 starts with “And if …”; this could be better put “And since.” Israel had always called God “Jehovah.” But when the Lord met Mary Magdalene in the garden, he said, “My Father and your Father.” Peter brings up an important point here: that God “without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work.” We read that all judgement is given to the Son; that is the judgement of sins and sinners and the rewarding of crowns to believers. But when we are saved, God becomes our Father; one of the rolls of a Father is to judge his family in relation to their conduct. This judging is for when we are on earth: “the time of your sojourning here.” This follows on what we had last week: God looks for those who are holy. We have a faithful Father who wants us to be faithful as well. This is similar to the husbandman in John 15, who prunes his branches; why does he do that? Is he angry? No, he does it so that they will bring forth more fruit. It is a blessing to call Him “Father,” but it has responsibilities we cannot forget. God wants us to be building “gold, silver, [and] precious stones” and not “wood, hay, [and] stubble” (I Corinthians 3:12). To be faithful and build well, we need that pruning to remove hindrances. These could be things connected with the world, but not always. It could be something that you think is good, but, when tested against God’s standards, will burn. Maybe we are doing something good, but with wrong motives. It is all “wood, hay, [and] stubble.” Yet some small thing we do that doesn’t seem very much might be “gold, silver, [and] precious stones” to God. Are we seeking to serve the Lord? The Lord has a task for each one of His own. It is not always preaching or such; there are a multitude of things we can do for the Lord. But we get distracted; some of that “wood, hay, [and] stubble” might be something that is not wrong at all, but is using precious time in which we could work for the Lord. There is much to do for Him.
At the end of verse 17 we read, “Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” Are we to be scared of God? This actually means a reverence of God, and a fear of doing wrong.
As we have seen, vv. 1–12 were truths, doctrines to learn. V. 13 started with a “Wherefore,” and began some practical advice that the truths dictate. Now v. 18 begins “Forasmuch”; this section gives reasons why we should do what we have been exhorted to do. There are some precious reasons: the blood, the word, and the way Spirit of God brings fruit into our lives.
EG Hymn 31 – Precious, precious blood of Jesus, Prayer