June 27, 2010
Scripture:
Scripture:
Ministry
I just want to recall those words our brother read in Luke 17, and then add a passage.
Luke 17:15-16. Psalm 50:23
I’d just like to comment on that passage in Luke. There were ten lepers. All were healed. Only one turned back. Why did he? Why didn’t the others? They had their needs met, and went on their way. This man saw that he needed more than just healing of the body. He was touched with the love that had healed him. I trust that our hearts have been touched this morning as we’ve thought of Him who has saved us, brought us into a relationship with Him, and will have us with Him in Heaven for all eternity. I trust we have all given God glory in our hearts today.
Hymn 130 - To God be the Glory
Prayer
Today, we’ll talk about the Bull, and the Camel. First we’ll look at the Bull.
Leviticus 1:5. A bullock is a young bull. These were considered clean animals because they chewed the cud and divided the hoof. They could therefore be used for food and sacrifices.
Isaiah 1:11. The Lord was fed up with the Israelites’ sacrifices. Why? It was because their hearts weren’t in it. The same thing can happen to us. We can go to meeting, sing the hymns and look up the passages; but if our hearts aren’t in it, then it doesn’t please the Lord. He’s looking for someone who will obey His word.
Hebrews 9:13-14. This passage shows us that the blood of Christ was better than all the sacrifices in the Old Testament.
Psalm 22:12. This was prophetic of how the Lord would feel on the cross. Bashan was a kingdom that Israel defeated on their way to Canaan. Bulls of Bashan represent the enemies of Israel, or the enemies of God. Here they are a type of the religious leaders that crucified Jesus.
Bulls also respresent strength. Then they are a type of Christ’s strength as He broke the power of death.
Next let’s talk about the Camel. Genesis 24:10. Abraham’s servant took ten camels when He went to find a bride for Isaac. Camels are especially suited for the desert. They have a wide foot that won’t sink in the sand, and reservoirs in their body for storing water. They need the same amount of water as many other animals, but they can go for long periods without it because of these reservoirs. It is marvelously designed.
Job 1:3. Can you imagine having three-thousand camels? Camels were a symbol of wealth back in those days, so having three-thousand camels would be like having ten Mercedes! However, Satan came and killed or stole all Job’s animals and children. What was Job’s attitude? His wife told Him to curse God and die, but Job wouldn’t. His heart was in the right place with God.
Our things are important to us, but we’ll leave them all when we die. However, we won’t leave our love for the Lord. The most important thing you can have is a relationship with the Lord. I trust we all have one.
The name “Malachi” means “Messenger of the Lord.” This is interesting, because he follows Haggai and Zachariah. They were prophets during the time of Ezra, and Haggai was “the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people” (Haggai 1:13). It’s touching to see how God never gives up on His people, although they continually disappoint Him. He always helps them get back on track. Throughout history, God’s message to His people has changed; here, the message was given to Israel, as we read in the first verse. This is interesting, because not all Israel was here. There were originally twelve tribes of Israel; what we are looking at is a remnant of only two tribes: it’s just a small fraction. This fraction came to Judah with Zerubabbel and Ezra. Now, there is an even smaller remnant, in a day of great ruin. But God wants to reach out to them.
We can see a similar situation in the history of Christianity. After the dark ages, there was the Reformation; then around 1820, a remnant re-discovered the truths of the body of Christ. In 1860, Mr. Darby wrote a paper about the house of God. Now, here we are today, a very small remnant; it seems that the last truths to be recovered are always the first to be let go.
This remnant returned to Israel to build the house of God; yet, they were not upholding the truth they had come to re-instate. We can learn from this: may we not let go of the truth. For us, it is the body of Christ and the house of God. The body of Christ is an earthly people with a heavenly Head. The house of God is a people united in the Spirit, a dwelling-place for God.
God wanted these Jews to return and build Him a house; He miraculously made king Cyrus let them return to their land. They did so and restored Jerusalem … but so quickly it all faded. In Ezekiel 43:12, we find it was the law for the house of God to be holy. Psalm 93:5 tells us that holiness becomes the house of God, and yet they were not respecting it as they should have. How sad! They were so cold; yet, did God punish them? No, He reminded them of His love for them. But they didn’t see His love.
Think of all the things the Lord could have pointed at to answer their question “wherein?” He points to Jacob and Esau. He seems to be saying that He chose them by choosing Jacob. Read Romans 9:10 - 11. In a past eternity God designed a purpose; then, He fulfilled it by choosing Jacob. It served His purpose for Rebekah to have twins; He wanted to accept the second one, not the first. We can see God’s purpose in all that He does.
Hymn 380 - Standing by a purpose true
Prayer