March 10, 2013
Let’s turn to Isaiah 9:6. These amazing words were spoken prophetically. Darby likes to put “everlasting Father” as “the Father of Eternity.” Just think of this five-part name: each one has such a fullness that requires the deity of this Person to accomplish what each one means. This five-part name is represented in the New Testament in the five letter “Jesus.” “Jesus, how much thy name unfolds.”
Hymn 282 - What a Friend we have in Jesus
Prayer
We have been going through the life of Elisha. Last time, we read about how Elisha was invited for a meal at a Shunemite family’s house. From then on, this was a favourite spot for Elisha. Out of love for Elisha, this family built another room on their house so that Elisha would have a special spot to stay when he came. In return, Elisha prayed that they would have a child.
In a Christian’s life, faith and prayer are two key things. Prayer is when we talk to God. There are very many ways to that we can talk to God: in thanks, in praise, or in request, for example. Then, faith is our trust in God. David showed amazing faith when he went out and fought the giant Goliath.
2 Kings 4:18 - 37
One day, while working in the field with his father, this son’s head started to hurt very badly. His father had one of the servants to bring him home to his mother. Sadly, after sitting on his mother’s lap until noon, he died. His mother took him to Elisha’s room and laid him on the bed.
After placing her son on the bed, she asked one of the servants to get a donkey ready for her: she was going to see Elisha. Without even telling her husband that their son had died, the woman left for Elisha. When her husband asked why she was going to see Elisha, all she said was, “all will be well.” She had faith that even though her son had just died, all would be well.
So she went to Elisha. Elisha saw her coming and sent out his servant to ask her if all was well. She continued to have the faith that all was going to be well. She finally reached Elisha and she fell down at his feet. After hearing the situation, Elisha sent his servant with his staff to place it on the child. Elisha hoped this would raise the child, but it didn’t.
When Elisha arrived at the house he went into his room and lay on the child. As he lay there he felt the body of the child become warm. Elisha got up and paced back and forth in the house and I can just imagine that he was praying as he paced. In James, we read that the prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elisha then returned to the room and lay on the child again. This time, he was able to bring him back to life and return him to his mother. Hebrew 11 is about faithful men and women. Verse 35 tells us about women that received their sons from the dead. You might remember that Elijah also brought a child back to life. These women had great faith.
We have seen prayer and faith are two things we need to have in our lives. This story had a sad beginning; but with prayer and faith, it had a happy ending.
Luke 22:1-30
We pass on to a new section in this chapter: our Lord’s last few days before the cross. Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread were approaching. The Passover was a type of the Lord, but it had become just a ritual to the Jews.
The chief priests and scribes plotted to kill the Lord, but they didn’t want any trouble from the people; with whom the Lord was popular. They didn’t realize that they were going to be killing the real Passover: the Lamb of God. Judas, the disciple, wanted to make some cash; so he negotiated with them, and they agreed to give him money. This was Satan’s opportunity to get involved. He would do anything to help destroy the One that would bruise his head.
Judas went his way—not the Lord’s way. Instead of acknowledging the Lord in all his ways, like Proverbs 3 tells us to, he did what he wanted to do. Jesus said, “Not my will but Thine be done”, but Judas said, “Not Thy will but mine be done”. Perhaps he thought that Jesus wouldn’t be captured but would escape as at other times.
Verses one through six give us the setting for this chapter. Starting at verse seven we get the Lord’s thoughts. While everyone else was making plans against Him, He didn’t think about Himself, but rather of His disciples. He comforted them, but He was the One that needed comfort. “I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” (Psalm 69:20).
The Lord transferred the remembrance feast from the Passover to the Lord’s supper. It wasn’t an annual feast, but rather a feast through which to remember Him when He had gone. Peter and John asked Jesus “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover?” The question for us today is: “Where does the Lord want us to remember Him?” We can glean some answers to this from verses 9–12.
The City — A geographic area where the saints live and attend the local meeting. The Lord ties all these points together with the city.
The Man — The Holy Spirit; Whose presence, action, and authority are recognized. He carries:
The Pitcher of Water — The Word of God—Divine truth, the only basis and ground for gathering. The place that we gather must be based on Scripture. It is the only foundation that we can have.
The House — A Divinely gathered assembly of saints will have the characteristics of the “House of God” and the “The Body of Christ”. All believers are represented there by the bread.
The Goodman — God the Father, who inhabits His “house”.
The Master — The Lord Jesus Christ.
The Passover — The memorial feast being celebrated.
With My Disciples — The Lord in the midst.
The Guest Chamber — The meeting room where the Lord is the host.
A Large, — Embracing all the Lord’s people.
Upper, — Holy, heavenly, spiritual. Reached by a stairway—narrow, admitting only those who are saved and walking in the truth.
Room — The place in the “house” where the Lord has set His name and is host. Separated, without the camp, etc.
Furnished — The Lord’s supper set on the Lord’s table. The latter can only be founded on the divine ground of gathering.
Make Ready — The physical preparation of the place, and the individual preparation of the heart. This is very important. Have we prepared ourselves to worship the Lord? Paul says, “Let a man examine himself and so let him eat.” We must be in the right spiritual state to have the liberty of the Spirit.
We don’t boast that we are the place where the Lord has set His name. We seek to be where He is according to the best of our knowledge of Scripture, and trust that we are in His will.
The Lord does tell us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, but in obeying that we must make sure we don’t neglect the precious privilege of being able to remember Him. We have it for the time that we remain down here, and we must gather on the right ground so that the Lord will come into the midst.
Hymn 338—I love my Saviour, my precious Saviour
Prayer