Just when the spiritual paralysis, crept into the pulpits of the Free Presbyterian Church, could be a matter of conjecture; however, the symptoms were very apparent, from the time that the DUP signed up to the Belfast agreement. As Rev Ian Paisley's church preached against compromise, and held strictly to the doctrine of separation, one would have expected that such convictions, would have prevented the party which he lead, from compromising its' original position.
There was no opposition, from the Free Presbyterian Church, against the suggested political framework of the Good Friday agreement; there seemed to be a kind of spiritual paralysis, which prevented the customary church protests; there was little evidence of days of prayer and fasting to seek divine intervention, in order for the agreement to be smashed, as in the time of the Anglo Irish agreement.
The spiritual paralysis, spread farther in the Free Presbyterian Church at the signing of the St Andrews agreement; no opposition, no cries of duplicity or treachery, as in the past. By now it was evident that, the plague of politics in the pulpits, had caused this spreading spiritual paralysis. The voice which once thundered against apostasy, immorality, ecumenism and compromise was growing weaker and weaker.
When the Free Presbyterian Church learned, that its founder and moderator was going into the power assembly as first minister, they considered the work load would be too much for their moderator, and allowed him to stand down. There was no protest from the church when their political wing entered into the power sharing executive, no denunciation, not a word from the pulpits; what a change from the days of Mr O'Neill, Mr Clark, Mr Faulkner, Mr Molyneaux and Mr Trimble; these were times when political sermons and cries of, compromise, Pope head, apostate, Judas, etc, abounded; may I add that, this was far from God glorifying.
Now, even when Rev Ian Paisley is no longer leader of the DUP, even when he is no longer First Minister, the Free Presbyterian Church is still silent, the spiritual paralysis has infected the whole body. Presently, during this political turmoil, when the moral high ground, once occupied by the DUP has been swept away without trace, when humanism and atheism are abounding, when civil and religious liberty is being destroyed, there is not a word from Paisley's pulpits on these matters as there once was.
Christians need to awake to this reality; this spiritual paralysis is incurable, it hinders growth and progress, it genders division and isolation, it destroys fellowship and encourages doubt, it brings down and demands surrender, it discredits and destroys all that it infects. This spiritual paralysis is highly contagious and has no known antidote, therefore take note and keep clear.
If such a circumstance as has been outlined here had presented itself to Rev Ian Paisley some years ago, I wonder what he would have called this spiritual paralysis? Would he have called it apostasy?
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Thursday 28 January 2010
Monday 25 January 2010
'If The Foundations Be Destroyed'
‘If the foundations be destroyed’
The psalmist wrote, ‘if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do’? (Ps11:3) We have watched as the political foundations of Ulster are being systematically destroyed, piece by piece. Then, there is the systematic and sustained destruction of the social foundations, as the machinery of humanism and atheism are hard at work.
However, there is another foundation which is precious to God’s redeemed people; it is the foundation of civil and religious liberty. The destructive attack here is not so much open and obvious, but rather covert in nature. The forces of darkness are attempting to destroy this fundamental foundation.
Sadly, this destructive process has been evidenced of late in the fiasco which has embroiled the Free Presbyterian Church and its political wing, the DUP. The former moderator of the church and leader of the political party had once championed the cause of civil and religious liberty, but since the political agreements in Belfast and St Andrews were signed, that entire foundation is under attack.
In such a circumstance, God’s people have been looking for leadership; they have been looking for support, in such a time of crisis. They watch on helplessly, as criminals have been handed a get out of jail free card, in order to achieve someone’s political ambition. They watch in horror as supporters of terrorism are invited into government position. They listen to the cries of the bereaved and suffering, as their assailants go free, which makes a mockery of God’s Word.
Furthermore, many of God’s people feel let down as leaders that served them in the past, have abandoned their former principles. A new political dispensation is being implemented without due respect or regard being given to the foundation of civil and religious liberty. The difficulty for many of God’s people, is to have had sat, under the separatist ministry of the Free Presbyterian Church, and then to witness their church do the very opposite themselves.
The hard work of laying foundation upon the principles and teachings of God’s Word in the past, has profited little when those that sought to build thereon, have been destroyed by reproach and compromise.
‘If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ They can separate unto Christ, the sure and solid foundation, and lay the foundation of civil and religious liberty once more, without the camp of compromise and error.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
The psalmist wrote, ‘if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do’? (Ps11:3) We have watched as the political foundations of Ulster are being systematically destroyed, piece by piece. Then, there is the systematic and sustained destruction of the social foundations, as the machinery of humanism and atheism are hard at work.
However, there is another foundation which is precious to God’s redeemed people; it is the foundation of civil and religious liberty. The destructive attack here is not so much open and obvious, but rather covert in nature. The forces of darkness are attempting to destroy this fundamental foundation.
Sadly, this destructive process has been evidenced of late in the fiasco which has embroiled the Free Presbyterian Church and its political wing, the DUP. The former moderator of the church and leader of the political party had once championed the cause of civil and religious liberty, but since the political agreements in Belfast and St Andrews were signed, that entire foundation is under attack.
In such a circumstance, God’s people have been looking for leadership; they have been looking for support, in such a time of crisis. They watch on helplessly, as criminals have been handed a get out of jail free card, in order to achieve someone’s political ambition. They watch in horror as supporters of terrorism are invited into government position. They listen to the cries of the bereaved and suffering, as their assailants go free, which makes a mockery of God’s Word.
Furthermore, many of God’s people feel let down as leaders that served them in the past, have abandoned their former principles. A new political dispensation is being implemented without due respect or regard being given to the foundation of civil and religious liberty. The difficulty for many of God’s people, is to have had sat, under the separatist ministry of the Free Presbyterian Church, and then to witness their church do the very opposite themselves.
The hard work of laying foundation upon the principles and teachings of God’s Word in the past, has profited little when those that sought to build thereon, have been destroyed by reproach and compromise.
‘If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ They can separate unto Christ, the sure and solid foundation, and lay the foundation of civil and religious liberty once more, without the camp of compromise and error.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
The Prolonged Silence from Paisley's Pulpit.
The Prolonged Silence from Paisley’s Pulpit.
In the past, public denunciations against immorality, political compromise, ecumenism and apostasy, poured from the Free Presbyterian pulpits, like white hot lava from a volcano. Now there is an ominous silence, as the words ‘never, never, never’ drift further and further away into the confusion of the past.
What has happened to the once strong voice of Protestantism?, where are all the cries of spiritual and political sell out now? Could this silence be the precursor of eventual recantation? Maybe, the present moderator does not share the position that his predecessor had once taken?
Could this deafening silence in the pulpit, have anything to do with two differing political parties, now occupying the pews? Perhaps the pulpits have been infected by the virus of compromise or pragmatism?
So many possibilities appear, but whatever the reason, Paisley’s pulpit is no longer able to proclaim the separatist message, ‘come out from among them and be ye separate’. This is particularly sad, at a time when society is being destroyed with humanism and atheism; a time when church testimonies are being ruined by compromise; and at a time when God’s people are discouraged, disillusioned and discredited.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb 13:6)
In the past, public denunciations against immorality, political compromise, ecumenism and apostasy, poured from the Free Presbyterian pulpits, like white hot lava from a volcano. Now there is an ominous silence, as the words ‘never, never, never’ drift further and further away into the confusion of the past.
What has happened to the once strong voice of Protestantism?, where are all the cries of spiritual and political sell out now? Could this silence be the precursor of eventual recantation? Maybe, the present moderator does not share the position that his predecessor had once taken?
Could this deafening silence in the pulpit, have anything to do with two differing political parties, now occupying the pews? Perhaps the pulpits have been infected by the virus of compromise or pragmatism?
So many possibilities appear, but whatever the reason, Paisley’s pulpit is no longer able to proclaim the separatist message, ‘come out from among them and be ye separate’. This is particularly sad, at a time when society is being destroyed with humanism and atheism; a time when church testimonies are being ruined by compromise; and at a time when God’s people are discouraged, disillusioned and discredited.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb 13:6)
The changing path of the Free Presbyterian Church
The Changing Path of the Free Presbyterian Church
The church, founded by Rev Ian Paisley, declares itself ‘separatist in practice’ and has the motto, ‘the Scriptures only’.; however, it is difficult, if at all possible, to steer a path of spiritual separation, whilst simultaneously navigating a democratic political one. The moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church has tried this, from the time when he took leadership of the DUP.
When the political party opposed past power sharing attempts, the church prayed for the downfall of such institutions; when the DUP was faced with difficulty of any kind the church called for divine intervention. On the other hand, when the church protested against a lowering of spiritual standards in society, then the political wing offered its support. Everything appeared to be prospering, both in political party and in the church.
However, when the path of the Democratic Unionist Party led into the political agreements at Belfast and St Andrews, then the great test came for the church which preached separation. Rather than breaking with the party back then, the Free Presbyterian Church widened its path to accommodate compromise. It had the opportunity then, to take the advice that it had offered to others in the past, and to ‘come out from among them’.
Next, when the DUP entered into power sharing, the Free Presbyterian Church stood down its moderator, in what seemed to be a damage limitation exercise. On the emergence of the TUV, it was clear, that tensions prevailed within the party. In the church, two distinct wings are now visible, the DUP wing and the TUV wing.
After, driving recklessly on the rough ground of politics, crashing at the dangerous bends of compromise and duplicity, Free Presbyterianism has ended in the breakers yard of error. It is now decision time for God’s people.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb 13: 6)
The church, founded by Rev Ian Paisley, declares itself ‘separatist in practice’ and has the motto, ‘the Scriptures only’.; however, it is difficult, if at all possible, to steer a path of spiritual separation, whilst simultaneously navigating a democratic political one. The moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church has tried this, from the time when he took leadership of the DUP.
When the political party opposed past power sharing attempts, the church prayed for the downfall of such institutions; when the DUP was faced with difficulty of any kind the church called for divine intervention. On the other hand, when the church protested against a lowering of spiritual standards in society, then the political wing offered its support. Everything appeared to be prospering, both in political party and in the church.
However, when the path of the Democratic Unionist Party led into the political agreements at Belfast and St Andrews, then the great test came for the church which preached separation. Rather than breaking with the party back then, the Free Presbyterian Church widened its path to accommodate compromise. It had the opportunity then, to take the advice that it had offered to others in the past, and to ‘come out from among them’.
Next, when the DUP entered into power sharing, the Free Presbyterian Church stood down its moderator, in what seemed to be a damage limitation exercise. On the emergence of the TUV, it was clear, that tensions prevailed within the party. In the church, two distinct wings are now visible, the DUP wing and the TUV wing.
After, driving recklessly on the rough ground of politics, crashing at the dangerous bends of compromise and duplicity, Free Presbyterianism has ended in the breakers yard of error. It is now decision time for God’s people.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb 13: 6)
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Consequences of Compromise.
There will undoubtedly, always be consequences in the wake of any compromise; none greater than when that compromise is in the political or religious realm. However, when compromise is reflected in both these areas simultaneously, then the consequence takes on a very potent edge.
Now to put this into the present context; any political party that turns away from a former, aspired spiritual or scriptural principle, cannot realistically expect continued support from evangelicals. Christians will become, perplexed and offended at compromise of this sort, which, they feel undermines the authority of the Word of God. It is foolish, for any political party to expect God's people to support hypocrisy; it is precisely in this context where the DUP would do well to reflect before they compromise any further at Stormont.
There is another plane, where the consequences of compromise are all too painful; it is to the realm of church, to which I allude here. When any church is linked in any way to scandal, then the testimony of that church is brought into critical focus; though many in that church may be appalled at the scandal that prevails, they are themselves, implemented in some way by association and feel the stigma of reproach. The scandal in the Catholic Church in Ireland reflects this very point; there are countless catholics offended and hurt by what has happened, and rightly so. It is patently obvious that when any Christian denomination compromises Biblical principle, then they cannot expect support from their membership or sympathy from other Christians. Compromise of Scriptural testimony will always be met with ruinous consequences.
The Free Presbyterian Church, once renowned for its separatist stand against compromise, ecumenism and apostasy would do well to reflect on its present compromised position. When it called for days of prayer and fasting to oppose political power sharing in the past, how can it now expect its members to support a complete compromise of its former position; this compromise makes a mockery of the scriptural separation which they had imbibed from the pulpit. It is mind blowing, to try to understand any church that preached, 'come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord', and then to be found, itself, compromising that self same message. Does this not leave its members and supporters deeply confused and divided? Silence from its pulpits, as compromise runs through its foundations, will hardly bring stability in the pews.
This double edged sword of compromise has hurt, scarred, offended and discouraged many evangelicals, not only in Ulster but further a field. Evangelicals in general, certainly this writer in particular, cannot support such regrettable compromise, which leads to ruin and surrender of every principle that God's people hold dear.
Yours in Christ,
Mervyn Cotton (Heb 13 : 6 )
Now to put this into the present context; any political party that turns away from a former, aspired spiritual or scriptural principle, cannot realistically expect continued support from evangelicals. Christians will become, perplexed and offended at compromise of this sort, which, they feel undermines the authority of the Word of God. It is foolish, for any political party to expect God's people to support hypocrisy; it is precisely in this context where the DUP would do well to reflect before they compromise any further at Stormont.
There is another plane, where the consequences of compromise are all too painful; it is to the realm of church, to which I allude here. When any church is linked in any way to scandal, then the testimony of that church is brought into critical focus; though many in that church may be appalled at the scandal that prevails, they are themselves, implemented in some way by association and feel the stigma of reproach. The scandal in the Catholic Church in Ireland reflects this very point; there are countless catholics offended and hurt by what has happened, and rightly so. It is patently obvious that when any Christian denomination compromises Biblical principle, then they cannot expect support from their membership or sympathy from other Christians. Compromise of Scriptural testimony will always be met with ruinous consequences.
The Free Presbyterian Church, once renowned for its separatist stand against compromise, ecumenism and apostasy would do well to reflect on its present compromised position. When it called for days of prayer and fasting to oppose political power sharing in the past, how can it now expect its members to support a complete compromise of its former position; this compromise makes a mockery of the scriptural separation which they had imbibed from the pulpit. It is mind blowing, to try to understand any church that preached, 'come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord', and then to be found, itself, compromising that self same message. Does this not leave its members and supporters deeply confused and divided? Silence from its pulpits, as compromise runs through its foundations, will hardly bring stability in the pews.
This double edged sword of compromise has hurt, scarred, offended and discouraged many evangelicals, not only in Ulster but further a field. Evangelicals in general, certainly this writer in particular, cannot support such regrettable compromise, which leads to ruin and surrender of every principle that God's people hold dear.
Yours in Christ,
Mervyn Cotton (Heb 13 : 6 )
Saturday 16 January 2010
Paisley's Platform Perishes.
Paisley’s Platform Perishes.
In 1971 the marriage between the Free Presbyterian Church and the then Protestant Unionist Party ended with the dissolution of the Party. So the Church went in pursuit of another lover and found the newly formed DUP pleasing to the eye. The scriptural analogy of the ‘Big Man’, Samson, chasing after the daughters of the Philistines, could well be appropriate.
Judges 14
1And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
2And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
As Samson of old, had made a wrong decision in pursuing a secular rather than a spiritual path, so too has the Free Presbyterian Church. Samson was found in an unequal marriage with the Philistines, who were the enemies of God’s people, and as a consequence brought nothing but trouble, heart ache and sorrow which was to last for years. The marriage between the Free Presbyterian Church and her political bride, the DUP, has brought nothing but compromise, confusion, division and sorrow amongst God’s redeemed people for quite some time.
The Free Presbyterian Church in the past, has punctuated all the political decisions of the party, with days of prayer and fasting, while at the same time, using its pulpits for political pronouncements against all opponents. Political messages were preached against anything and anyone that opposed party or church. Protests were arranged against anything that opposed Free Presbyterianism and were justified by implying that the word protest was a derivative of protestant.
For a time the Word of God was the sole rule of faith and practice in the Church and there can be no doubt that the Free Presbyterian Church was honorable and faithful in preaching the whole counsel of God; however, the political marriage had been made and the party, with it’s secular appetite, had to be pleased at the same time. Because of its association with the Free Presbyterian Church, the DUP wrapped itself in the robes of self righteousness and immediately claimed the moral high ground; this great marriage appeared to be successful while Church and Party attracted a higher membership.
It is worth pointing out that the Free Presbyterian Church claimed to stand opposed to ecumenism and spiritual apostasy; so any slippage that it detected in other denominations in the direction of Roman Catholicism, would have been viewed as spiritual adultery. At the same time the DUP would have translated this message into political denunciation of its opponents.
Even though the Free Presbyterian Church preached against the unequal yoke as revealed in God’s Word;
2Cor ch6. 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Though this was their profession, it is virtually untenable in their present estrangement with the DUP. The marriage vows of the Free Presbyterian Church with the DUP have been seriously questioned on more than one occasion, yet the association holds strong. When the Civil Rights movement emerged, both church and party united in opposition. When the Sunningdale Agreement came into focus, the Free Presbyterian Church claimed victory for its lover when this political venture failed.
However the real tests commenced with the Belfast or the Good Friday agreement back in 1998. It was at this hurdle that the marriage between the Free Presbyterian Church and the DUP started to get into difficulty. You see there had been an underlying enigma to this unhappy marriage; while the DUP craved the popular vote, the Free Presbyterian Church condemned the voters’ religious persuasion. For example, the DUP welcomed votes from all denominations, while the Free Presbyterian Church condemned these denominations as apostate and Romeward in outlook. At the Belfast Agreement the DUP signed up to power sharing with all that it entailed, while the Free Presbyterian Church watched in silence. Is this not duplicity in the extreme?, a church that takes the separatist position does not object, when the party that it wholeheartedly supports, is abandoning all its avowed principals and promises in order to be in power.
It appears that a Humanist agenda had been set by the British and Irish governments, equality and human rights with political correctness became the social goals, and God’s Word had been shelved altogether. This is exactly where the Free Presbyterian Church, which could be rightly paralleled with the ‘House of Saul’, was seen to fall.
In The Old Testament, Saul, Israel’s first king made a fundamental mistake by refusing God’s Word and bowing to political pressure. The passage in 1 Samuel 15 describes what happened;
20And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
As the Lord had rejected Saul for his rebellion and compromise of God’s Word, so too the Free Presbyterian Church falls into such condemnation. In grave spiritual peril, the Free Presbyterian Church sailed under DUP power closer to the rocks, on to the shore line of the St Andrews Agreement. By now the writing was upon the wall, the DUP were destined to enter a power sharing executive; the silence was deafening from the pulpits of the Free Presbyterian Church, not even a single protest. Everything that Free Presbyterians had prayed for, everything their church had stood for was to be compromised, was to be rejected on the grounds of political expediency, to achieve political advantage.
On the 8th of May 2007 the power sharing executive was set up, while at the same moment the credibility of the Free Presbyterian Church was destroyed. The moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church ,and leader of the DUP, surrendered totally to former principles in order to secure a high political position. Such a circumstance could not be seen to damage the Church’s position, so a damage limitation measure was put in place where the moderator stood down from church office. However, at this point there were no disciplinary measures executed against those that had lead the church into such compromise and shame, no church commissions were ordered to examine the destructive circumstances.
The Free Presbyterian Church would have been first to protest if such were the circumstances in any other denomination; did they foolishly think that this hypocrisy would not be exposed?, did they not think that such a marriage as they entered into with the DUP would result in devastation and hurt?. In a further damage limitation exercise, this time, it was the turn of the DUP, when it allowed its leader to stand down in 2008.
Now in the sad circumstances of the present, the Free Presbyterian Church stands idly by as its political party is pulled apart by sin and moral duplicity. The pulpits are silent as politics have robbed the church of its authority and commission; the pews are filled with political foes who demand church sensor against one another, while those who formed the spiritual backbone of the church are discouraged, disillusioned and fearful of their own positions.
Clearly it is time for those that are saved by grace, and find themselves in such a church, to cry to God for direction, to where they will find grace and help to rebuild their spiritual lives again, without political entrapment which always causes compromise.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
In 1971 the marriage between the Free Presbyterian Church and the then Protestant Unionist Party ended with the dissolution of the Party. So the Church went in pursuit of another lover and found the newly formed DUP pleasing to the eye. The scriptural analogy of the ‘Big Man’, Samson, chasing after the daughters of the Philistines, could well be appropriate.
Judges 14
1And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
2And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
As Samson of old, had made a wrong decision in pursuing a secular rather than a spiritual path, so too has the Free Presbyterian Church. Samson was found in an unequal marriage with the Philistines, who were the enemies of God’s people, and as a consequence brought nothing but trouble, heart ache and sorrow which was to last for years. The marriage between the Free Presbyterian Church and her political bride, the DUP, has brought nothing but compromise, confusion, division and sorrow amongst God’s redeemed people for quite some time.
The Free Presbyterian Church in the past, has punctuated all the political decisions of the party, with days of prayer and fasting, while at the same time, using its pulpits for political pronouncements against all opponents. Political messages were preached against anything and anyone that opposed party or church. Protests were arranged against anything that opposed Free Presbyterianism and were justified by implying that the word protest was a derivative of protestant.
For a time the Word of God was the sole rule of faith and practice in the Church and there can be no doubt that the Free Presbyterian Church was honorable and faithful in preaching the whole counsel of God; however, the political marriage had been made and the party, with it’s secular appetite, had to be pleased at the same time. Because of its association with the Free Presbyterian Church, the DUP wrapped itself in the robes of self righteousness and immediately claimed the moral high ground; this great marriage appeared to be successful while Church and Party attracted a higher membership.
It is worth pointing out that the Free Presbyterian Church claimed to stand opposed to ecumenism and spiritual apostasy; so any slippage that it detected in other denominations in the direction of Roman Catholicism, would have been viewed as spiritual adultery. At the same time the DUP would have translated this message into political denunciation of its opponents.
Even though the Free Presbyterian Church preached against the unequal yoke as revealed in God’s Word;
2Cor ch6. 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Though this was their profession, it is virtually untenable in their present estrangement with the DUP. The marriage vows of the Free Presbyterian Church with the DUP have been seriously questioned on more than one occasion, yet the association holds strong. When the Civil Rights movement emerged, both church and party united in opposition. When the Sunningdale Agreement came into focus, the Free Presbyterian Church claimed victory for its lover when this political venture failed.
However the real tests commenced with the Belfast or the Good Friday agreement back in 1998. It was at this hurdle that the marriage between the Free Presbyterian Church and the DUP started to get into difficulty. You see there had been an underlying enigma to this unhappy marriage; while the DUP craved the popular vote, the Free Presbyterian Church condemned the voters’ religious persuasion. For example, the DUP welcomed votes from all denominations, while the Free Presbyterian Church condemned these denominations as apostate and Romeward in outlook. At the Belfast Agreement the DUP signed up to power sharing with all that it entailed, while the Free Presbyterian Church watched in silence. Is this not duplicity in the extreme?, a church that takes the separatist position does not object, when the party that it wholeheartedly supports, is abandoning all its avowed principals and promises in order to be in power.
It appears that a Humanist agenda had been set by the British and Irish governments, equality and human rights with political correctness became the social goals, and God’s Word had been shelved altogether. This is exactly where the Free Presbyterian Church, which could be rightly paralleled with the ‘House of Saul’, was seen to fall.
In The Old Testament, Saul, Israel’s first king made a fundamental mistake by refusing God’s Word and bowing to political pressure. The passage in 1 Samuel 15 describes what happened;
20And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
As the Lord had rejected Saul for his rebellion and compromise of God’s Word, so too the Free Presbyterian Church falls into such condemnation. In grave spiritual peril, the Free Presbyterian Church sailed under DUP power closer to the rocks, on to the shore line of the St Andrews Agreement. By now the writing was upon the wall, the DUP were destined to enter a power sharing executive; the silence was deafening from the pulpits of the Free Presbyterian Church, not even a single protest. Everything that Free Presbyterians had prayed for, everything their church had stood for was to be compromised, was to be rejected on the grounds of political expediency, to achieve political advantage.
On the 8th of May 2007 the power sharing executive was set up, while at the same moment the credibility of the Free Presbyterian Church was destroyed. The moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church ,and leader of the DUP, surrendered totally to former principles in order to secure a high political position. Such a circumstance could not be seen to damage the Church’s position, so a damage limitation measure was put in place where the moderator stood down from church office. However, at this point there were no disciplinary measures executed against those that had lead the church into such compromise and shame, no church commissions were ordered to examine the destructive circumstances.
The Free Presbyterian Church would have been first to protest if such were the circumstances in any other denomination; did they foolishly think that this hypocrisy would not be exposed?, did they not think that such a marriage as they entered into with the DUP would result in devastation and hurt?. In a further damage limitation exercise, this time, it was the turn of the DUP, when it allowed its leader to stand down in 2008.
Now in the sad circumstances of the present, the Free Presbyterian Church stands idly by as its political party is pulled apart by sin and moral duplicity. The pulpits are silent as politics have robbed the church of its authority and commission; the pews are filled with political foes who demand church sensor against one another, while those who formed the spiritual backbone of the church are discouraged, disillusioned and fearful of their own positions.
Clearly it is time for those that are saved by grace, and find themselves in such a church, to cry to God for direction, to where they will find grace and help to rebuild their spiritual lives again, without political entrapment which always causes compromise.
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
Thursday 7 January 2010
'Follow me', into 2010
The Dawn Of A New Day 2010
John 21
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Two simple words, from the lips of God the Son, captured in this New Testament passage, are all that is sufficient to lead us into this new year of 2010. These words are found in verse 19 ‘Follow me.’ and were addressed to Simon Peter.
The context is given in verse 14 ‘14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.’ The dark shadows of Calvary’s Hill hang in the background, where the Saviour of sinners offered Himself a sacrifice for sin; a little more recent the glories of the empty tomb declare the acceptance of such a sacrifice, thus bringing justification to those that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
So it was, that these seven disciples had followed the Saviour to the cross, there, they witnessed Christ’s substitutionary death, the shedding of His precious blood and heard His victorious cry from the cross, ‘it is finished.’ Their sins had been atoned for, they had been saved by the grace of God and they were justified before God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Here were seven men, whose sins had been covered, their hearts were cleansed by the power of Christ’s blood, and they had a perfect standing in Christ.
Now what about you? Has the weight of sin and guilt that hangs about your immortal soul, ever concerned you? Does the prospect of, one day, receiving sin’s wages, ever trouble you? ‘the wages of sin is death’ What about that conscience of yours, that never lets go, that never ceases to remind you of a sinful past, will it’s incessant cries go unheeded through life and then mock as you wail in a lost eternity?
Perhaps you already know something of God’s precious Word, or maybe this is the first time that you have been exposed to the general call of the gospel , as the Saviour calls out to you from the sacred page of scripture, ‘Follow me’.
Simon Peter heard that gospel call as he worked beside the sea of Galilee, he left all and followed the Saviour to the cross; it was there that he found salvation, it was there that he found peace with God through the substitutionary death and the bodily resurrection of Christ. Quite simply, he followed the only One that is ‘the way, the truth and the life’; he responded to the Word of God, ‘Follow me’ and was found a new creature in Christ.
Will you receive the message of SALVATION that the words ‘Follow me’ convey and enter this New Year without the burden of sin’s heavy load?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The words ‘Follow me’ carry another message, this message is for those that are saved, for those that have been to the cross and are cleansed from their sin through the blood of Christ. ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin’ Believers collectively are depicted in the seven disciples here, while the individual believer is typified by Peter.
The disciples were at very low ebb in their walk with God, doubt, fear, uncertainty, discouragement and opposition, had all joined forces to impede their progress on the pilgrim path. Peter decides to go back to his old trade as a fisherman and to leave off following the Lamb of God for a season; his actions had an effect on the rest of his company, they decide to go with him .What happened was, that Peter started following his intuition, while leaning on his own understanding, and the rest of the disciples turned away from following Christ and started to follow Peter.
The walk of the individual believer has a profound effect upon others of like precious faith, for good or for ill; does your walk as a believer encourage others to follow the Lamb, if not, then, why not? Christ’s commandment never alters, He saith ‘Follow me’, to follow a mere man is to turn outside of God’s will; a path such as this will lead to discouragement, weakness, loss and despair.
Look what happened when the disciples, left off following the Lord; they were very busy, very active in the work, they showed enthusiasm and dedication but the work was theirs and not God’s. They were now fisher men, just as they had been before they had started to follow the Lord, they had lost the vision for the souls of men. They laboured all night and caught nothing; ‘and that night they caught nothing’ In the morning the Lord stands on the shore and asks them; ‘Children, have you any meat? There was nothing different about their relationship with Christ, as the term, ‘Children’, proves; they were still the children of the Lord. What had changed was, themselves; they were empty and void of blessing, their fellowship with their Saviour was broken; they were weary on the boat while He was on the shore.
This paints a very moving, yet a very familiar picture of all those that have allowed circumstances to come between them and the Lord. Perhaps you, as a believer, are found just like this; out on the rough and tumultuous sea of life, empty and with very little to offer to God.
Here is exactly where Christ imparts STRENGTH, for the troubled saint of God. The Saviour always stands on the shore line of your troubles, weakness, emptiness, temptation, bereavement, loss, sorrow, fear, doubts, failure, discouragement, anxiety and the shoreline of your care. Has He not promised, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’. From such a position the Saviour sends His word right to the very point of the believer’s need; it is always a Word of direction, so that the believer is guided out of their particular problem and into close fellowship with Christ. This is what happened here; the disciples received God’s Word, ‘cast the net on the right side of the ship’ the Word of God gave them clear direction; the Word of God brought them promise, ‘and ye shall find’ here was real encouragement; the Word of God always brings fulfillment, ‘Bring of the fish which ye have now caught’ now the disciples had something to offer unto God; the Word of God always extends an invitation to the needy, ‘Come and dine’ a response to such an invitation always brings the believer into fellowship again with their Saviour.
Only when fellowship is properly restored with Christ can the believer be strengthened to follow the Master. Every believer needs to be strengthened, in order for them to obey those familiar words, ‘Follow me’; that strength only comes from the infallible and inerrant Word of God.
--------------------------------------------------------------
After they had dined with Christ, and had been strengthened by His Word, after their hearts had been warmed by the power of His presence and the nearness of His person, the Lord conveyed His Word directly to Peter. So far the passage has revealed how the Lord speaks to people in general, but now the Saviour addresses the individual.
Peter had been following the Lord afar off in the past, now, this attitude of heart was to be examined under the spot light of God’s Word. Here the believer’s SERVICE is to be examined by the Master.
‘15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.’
When the Lord spoke, Peter would have remembered back to the time when Christ had said, ‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not’ These words came at a time of extreme temptation and difficulty in Peter’s Christian life; it was just after the last supper, when fellowship and communion with Christ would have been heart warming; interestingly it was just before the time when Peter denied the Lord. When the Lord called Simon Peter by name, Peter would have remembered his failings in the past, the fire of coals by Galilee’s lake would have brought back into focus how he had denied his Saviour that night as he warmed himself at another fire. When Peter’s Christian walk and service was now under examination before the Word of God there was somewhat lacking.
The phrase, ’Simon son of Jonas’ would have cut like a knife into Peter’s heart; he would have been reminded of the run away prophet in the old testament; of how Jonah had stopped following the Lord and had ran away down the path of self will and personal desire. Peter could easily identify with Jonah’s failure, but he could also see how that Jonah’s life was rebuilt by the Word of God, and how that God had helped Jonah the second time, to engage in God’s work.
Next the Saviour examines Peter’s love for God. Here the ‘Good Shepherd’ probes the depths of Peter’s heart with three deepening questions. With each answer, Peter recognizes that the Lord knew and was well able to read his heart. So Peter was brought to examine his motives for Christian service, in the presence of the Saviour, with knowledge of his past failures and with the encouragement of God’s Word.
The ‘Good Shepherd’ commands Peter to feed and care for the weak and vulnerable of the flock, ‘Feed my lambs’. Peter’s service as a believer was not over, he is commanded to feed, not criticize, those who were weaker in the faith.
Peter is also commanded to feed the erring and the straying of the flock, of which he has personal experience, ‘Feed my sheep’. He would have to help the fallen, to encourage the faint and comfort the distressed amongst the believers.
Out of a heart of love for his Saviour, Peter would have to feed and support his co workers in the Gospel, ‘Feed my sheep’. It is only after this personal encounter with the Risen Saviour that Peter hears the words of this text, ‘Follow me’. This means that he is now equipped to step away from the past and all his failures. He has been reminded of SALVATION in Christ; he has been STRENGTHENED by God’s Word; he has been reequipped for SERVICE and now steps out to follow Christ by faith.
May God be pleased to use these thoughts, so that you would be encouraged to step away from past and present difficulties, and to follow the Lord Jesus Christ into 2010,’Follow me’.
John 21
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Two simple words, from the lips of God the Son, captured in this New Testament passage, are all that is sufficient to lead us into this new year of 2010. These words are found in verse 19 ‘Follow me.’ and were addressed to Simon Peter.
The context is given in verse 14 ‘14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.’ The dark shadows of Calvary’s Hill hang in the background, where the Saviour of sinners offered Himself a sacrifice for sin; a little more recent the glories of the empty tomb declare the acceptance of such a sacrifice, thus bringing justification to those that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
So it was, that these seven disciples had followed the Saviour to the cross, there, they witnessed Christ’s substitutionary death, the shedding of His precious blood and heard His victorious cry from the cross, ‘it is finished.’ Their sins had been atoned for, they had been saved by the grace of God and they were justified before God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Here were seven men, whose sins had been covered, their hearts were cleansed by the power of Christ’s blood, and they had a perfect standing in Christ.
Now what about you? Has the weight of sin and guilt that hangs about your immortal soul, ever concerned you? Does the prospect of, one day, receiving sin’s wages, ever trouble you? ‘the wages of sin is death’ What about that conscience of yours, that never lets go, that never ceases to remind you of a sinful past, will it’s incessant cries go unheeded through life and then mock as you wail in a lost eternity?
Perhaps you already know something of God’s precious Word, or maybe this is the first time that you have been exposed to the general call of the gospel , as the Saviour calls out to you from the sacred page of scripture, ‘Follow me’.
Simon Peter heard that gospel call as he worked beside the sea of Galilee, he left all and followed the Saviour to the cross; it was there that he found salvation, it was there that he found peace with God through the substitutionary death and the bodily resurrection of Christ. Quite simply, he followed the only One that is ‘the way, the truth and the life’; he responded to the Word of God, ‘Follow me’ and was found a new creature in Christ.
Will you receive the message of SALVATION that the words ‘Follow me’ convey and enter this New Year without the burden of sin’s heavy load?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The words ‘Follow me’ carry another message, this message is for those that are saved, for those that have been to the cross and are cleansed from their sin through the blood of Christ. ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin’ Believers collectively are depicted in the seven disciples here, while the individual believer is typified by Peter.
The disciples were at very low ebb in their walk with God, doubt, fear, uncertainty, discouragement and opposition, had all joined forces to impede their progress on the pilgrim path. Peter decides to go back to his old trade as a fisherman and to leave off following the Lamb of God for a season; his actions had an effect on the rest of his company, they decide to go with him .What happened was, that Peter started following his intuition, while leaning on his own understanding, and the rest of the disciples turned away from following Christ and started to follow Peter.
The walk of the individual believer has a profound effect upon others of like precious faith, for good or for ill; does your walk as a believer encourage others to follow the Lamb, if not, then, why not? Christ’s commandment never alters, He saith ‘Follow me’, to follow a mere man is to turn outside of God’s will; a path such as this will lead to discouragement, weakness, loss and despair.
Look what happened when the disciples, left off following the Lord; they were very busy, very active in the work, they showed enthusiasm and dedication but the work was theirs and not God’s. They were now fisher men, just as they had been before they had started to follow the Lord, they had lost the vision for the souls of men. They laboured all night and caught nothing; ‘and that night they caught nothing’ In the morning the Lord stands on the shore and asks them; ‘Children, have you any meat? There was nothing different about their relationship with Christ, as the term, ‘Children’, proves; they were still the children of the Lord. What had changed was, themselves; they were empty and void of blessing, their fellowship with their Saviour was broken; they were weary on the boat while He was on the shore.
This paints a very moving, yet a very familiar picture of all those that have allowed circumstances to come between them and the Lord. Perhaps you, as a believer, are found just like this; out on the rough and tumultuous sea of life, empty and with very little to offer to God.
Here is exactly where Christ imparts STRENGTH, for the troubled saint of God. The Saviour always stands on the shore line of your troubles, weakness, emptiness, temptation, bereavement, loss, sorrow, fear, doubts, failure, discouragement, anxiety and the shoreline of your care. Has He not promised, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’. From such a position the Saviour sends His word right to the very point of the believer’s need; it is always a Word of direction, so that the believer is guided out of their particular problem and into close fellowship with Christ. This is what happened here; the disciples received God’s Word, ‘cast the net on the right side of the ship’ the Word of God gave them clear direction; the Word of God brought them promise, ‘and ye shall find’ here was real encouragement; the Word of God always brings fulfillment, ‘Bring of the fish which ye have now caught’ now the disciples had something to offer unto God; the Word of God always extends an invitation to the needy, ‘Come and dine’ a response to such an invitation always brings the believer into fellowship again with their Saviour.
Only when fellowship is properly restored with Christ can the believer be strengthened to follow the Master. Every believer needs to be strengthened, in order for them to obey those familiar words, ‘Follow me’; that strength only comes from the infallible and inerrant Word of God.
--------------------------------------------------------------
After they had dined with Christ, and had been strengthened by His Word, after their hearts had been warmed by the power of His presence and the nearness of His person, the Lord conveyed His Word directly to Peter. So far the passage has revealed how the Lord speaks to people in general, but now the Saviour addresses the individual.
Peter had been following the Lord afar off in the past, now, this attitude of heart was to be examined under the spot light of God’s Word. Here the believer’s SERVICE is to be examined by the Master.
‘15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.’
When the Lord spoke, Peter would have remembered back to the time when Christ had said, ‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not’ These words came at a time of extreme temptation and difficulty in Peter’s Christian life; it was just after the last supper, when fellowship and communion with Christ would have been heart warming; interestingly it was just before the time when Peter denied the Lord. When the Lord called Simon Peter by name, Peter would have remembered his failings in the past, the fire of coals by Galilee’s lake would have brought back into focus how he had denied his Saviour that night as he warmed himself at another fire. When Peter’s Christian walk and service was now under examination before the Word of God there was somewhat lacking.
The phrase, ’Simon son of Jonas’ would have cut like a knife into Peter’s heart; he would have been reminded of the run away prophet in the old testament; of how Jonah had stopped following the Lord and had ran away down the path of self will and personal desire. Peter could easily identify with Jonah’s failure, but he could also see how that Jonah’s life was rebuilt by the Word of God, and how that God had helped Jonah the second time, to engage in God’s work.
Next the Saviour examines Peter’s love for God. Here the ‘Good Shepherd’ probes the depths of Peter’s heart with three deepening questions. With each answer, Peter recognizes that the Lord knew and was well able to read his heart. So Peter was brought to examine his motives for Christian service, in the presence of the Saviour, with knowledge of his past failures and with the encouragement of God’s Word.
The ‘Good Shepherd’ commands Peter to feed and care for the weak and vulnerable of the flock, ‘Feed my lambs’. Peter’s service as a believer was not over, he is commanded to feed, not criticize, those who were weaker in the faith.
Peter is also commanded to feed the erring and the straying of the flock, of which he has personal experience, ‘Feed my sheep’. He would have to help the fallen, to encourage the faint and comfort the distressed amongst the believers.
Out of a heart of love for his Saviour, Peter would have to feed and support his co workers in the Gospel, ‘Feed my sheep’. It is only after this personal encounter with the Risen Saviour that Peter hears the words of this text, ‘Follow me’. This means that he is now equipped to step away from the past and all his failures. He has been reminded of SALVATION in Christ; he has been STRENGTHENED by God’s Word; he has been reequipped for SERVICE and now steps out to follow Christ by faith.
May God be pleased to use these thoughts, so that you would be encouraged to step away from past and present difficulties, and to follow the Lord Jesus Christ into 2010,’Follow me’.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)