Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/2/15

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/2/15

Mat 13:51  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

We are blessed to have the Word of God and to know the value of studying.  “Have you understood all these things?”  This chapter, Matthew 13, is a lot to hear at one setting but they were doing their best to understand it. 

Jesus asked the multitude:

Mat 13:1  The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

Mat 13:2  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

“Do you understand what I have said?”  They said, “Yes.”

Then He said, “Every scribe…”  Some would say, “Every teacher, pastor, or minister...”  I believe He was saying, “Every servant that is instructed in the kingdom of heaven is as a householder that brings out of his treasure things that are new and things that are old.”

We have treasures that are from the Old Testament and some that are from the New Testament. 

Old Testament prayers: when we are dealing with someone and ask them if they are praying, it is vital that we help them to know that David prayed earnestly in Psalms 51 for Forgiveness.  It is vital that people truly repent.

We are burdened for and to whatever degree are working with individuals that need to repent.  I talked to a man in the rest-home and asked if he was praying.  He said, “I should be.”

In the New Testament it speaks of two men that went up to pray and the one was a Pharisee that told God how good he himself was.  That Pharisee even thanked God that he was not a sinner like the publican that was praying next to him.

What a sad and pitiful prayer.  He had very little understanding.  We know from the scripture that every man that compares himself with someone else is a very unwise man. 

The publican would not even lift his head but prayed, “Lord be merciful to me a sinner.”  Jesus said, “This man went down to his house justified.”

As full as Matthew 13 is, Jesus in his discourse said to the multitudes, “Do you understand what I said?”  After they said, “Yes Lord.”  He said, “ A scribe, a teacher, a minister, a grandparent, (or any one that is saved that is trying to reach someone) is as a householder that goes into his treasure and brings out some things that are new and somethings that are old.”

There are things in our life that we will never quit thanking God for.

Isa 65:18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

You and I remember how God witnessed to our heart that we were saved and had a changed life.  We were a new creature in Christ Jesus.

The New Testament wealth brings to mind:

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus said, “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

It is wonderful to know what to rejoice about.  We have something to really rejoice in: Our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

There was a day coming that Jerusalem would be a land of rejoicing.  There are times that we must choose to rejoice.  (Isaiah 65:18)

There is a reason why God spoke to Isaiah in chapter 35: “The parched land, the wilderness, and the solitary places…” We live in a lonely world. 

I am not just talking about those that are married and don’t have a happy relationship with their companion.  There are a lot of married couples that are a great distance apart.  Lonely men and lonely women with husbands or wives and families.  We would be a very lonely couple or individual if we did not have God in our lives. 

With God, we are never alone.

Time alone with God:  I would like to write on this.  I have it in my mind a bit.

To be without God is to be alone without the care of brothers and sisters in Christ. 

New Testament wealth:

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

I don’t know whether to tell you if this is a treasure that is new or a treasure that is old to me.  There is something about God meeting with us!  He comes at times when we so desperately need Divine intervention.  He strengthens us.

There is no release through people from anxiety.  I need to preach again the message about being overwhelmed.  We live in a world where people are full of anxiety.  It mars their life and their relationships. 

If you have trouble with anxiety, then there is someone waiting for you in the Garden.  There is a place to go.  My wife cannot prop me up.  If you have someone that is challenged with whatever, you are not the ‘propper upper’.  God has to come on the scene.

Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.”

Abraham believed and it was counted to him for righteousness.

New Testament righteousness:

Rom 5:17  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

It is wonderful that through Jesus Christ we can be righteous.

Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Old Testament hunger:  David wrote, “As the hart pants after the water brooks… oh when can I appear before God?”

New Testament wealth:

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

It is ok to be thirsty but it is vital that you know where to come.

As I got up to have my devotions this morning an old song came back to me.  “The Beautiful Garden of Prayer.”

I hardly got started reading it and my soul was thrilled.

1.   There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
There’s a place that is wondrously fair;
For it glows with the light of His presence,
’Tis that beautiful garden of prayer.

o   Refrain:
Oh, the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,
Oh, the beautiful garden of prayer;
There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.

2.   There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And I go with my burden and care
Just to learn from His lips words of comfort,
In the beautiful garden of prayer.

3.   There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And He bids you to come meet Him there;
Just to bow, and receive a new blessing,
In the beautiful garden of prayer.

Eleanor A. Schroll