Sydney Communion August/September 2019

At our recent communion, we were privileged to have the assistance of Rev J D Smith of our Auckland congregation.

On Thursday morning we looked at the solemn subject of the danger of following the sins of others. The example was from 2 Kings 13:1-2 in relation to Jehoahaz, one of the kings of Israel. Sadly, as with so many of the kings of Israel, before and after him, he ‘followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin’. The particularly solemn matter of those who lead others into sin by founding false religion was noted. Sadly, we read that Jehoahaz, ‘departed not therefrom.’ Repentance unto life is a saving grace, which only God can grant.

At the evening service on Thursday, we considered The Song of Solomon 1:5-6. Rev Smith had three heads of sermon. 1. The Condition of the Believer. 2. The Confession of the Believer. 3. The Comeliness of the Believer. The sinner saved by grace is black but comely. Black with sin, but, as found in Christ – most comely.

On the day of self examination, Rev Smith preached again from the Song of Songs. This time in chapter 7 and verse 4, ‘Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.’ Marks of grace were identified. Fundamentally, there is a sweet relationship between Christ and the believer, which the Song of Solomon brings out in such exalted language.

On Saturday, a great question was placed before us, as it had been before others during the ministry of Jesus. In Matthew 22:41-46 we find Him interacting with the Pharisees. They and others have been seeking to entangle him in His talk. They failed. Jesus, finishes the matter by posing a question to them, “What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?” Here precious doctrine of the divinity of Christ is brought out from Scripture. The One who asked them was the Son of God and the true Christ. He still is, and this should be considered when He commands His people, “This do in remembrance of Me.”

The Communion Sabbath morning is a special occasion. The truth before us was solemn and profound, the words of Pilate concerning Jesus – “Behold the man!” The Appointment of Christ, The Humanity of Christ and the Beholding of Christ were the three divisions in the sermon. The suffering Saviour was preached, the One who is God and man, Emmanuel, God with us. The necessity of the true humanity of Jesus was pointed out. He could only suffer in His human nature, but suffer He must, being the substitute and sacrifice for His people’s sin.

On the evening of the Lord’s Day, we looked at the subject of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The builders were manifesting great pride in their disobedience to the will of God, which was for them to spread abroad in the earth. They much preferred to make them a name in the earth by building a city and a tower the top of which was to rise to heaven. This spirit is still found among men. So, by way of gospel application, we need to be brought out of the way of seeking heaven by our works and closed in to Christ who declared, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

The Monday evening service marked the close of the communion and again the love of Christ to the Church was highlighted. The text was chapter 4:8 from the Song of Solomon, “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.” The believer is traversing the dangerous mountains of life and has much need of obedience to the voice of the Beloved. Christ says, “Come with Me…” and the child of God is to do so. His or her comfort and security lies much in cleaving to Christ.

The communion having ended it becomes us to pray for a blessing to follow the Word and Sacrament, desiring the glory of God in the salvation of sinners and the strengthening of His people.

G B Macdonald

sydneyfpchurch.org.au

Advice for Christians from an Apostle of Jesus

In his epistle, James has much practical advice for Christians. One example of such advice can be found in James 5:13 “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

Here he highlights two conditions in which Christians may be found. Some may be afflicted, while others may be merry or, of good cheer. Indeed, the same believer can at one time be afflicted and at another much uplifted in spirit. In any condition the believer may be in, they have their Christian duty.

Here, James suggests two leading duties, one in each condition. For the afflicted – prayer. For the merry – singing of psalms. Note that in both conditions, there is an answerable  duty. This does not mean of course, that the afflicted ought not to sing psalms or the merry to pray, but surely the apostle identifies the leading duty in each case. As Matthew Henry writes, ‘Not that prayer is to be confined to a time of trouble, nor singing to a time of mirth; but these several duties may be performed with special advantage, and to the happiest purposes, at such seasons.’

Surely, when so good advice is given from a Spirit-inspired apostle of Jesus, we have reason to hope that if we follow it, then God will grant a blessing. As Matthew Henry comments, ‘Afflictions should put us upon prayer, and prosperity should make us abound in praise.’ And might we not hope that such prayer will be answered and praise heard?

Thus, the practical advice of the apostle James should be heeded. He was one who was a godly man himself and knew many of the Lord’s people in the early Christian church. The advice he suggests is still relevant today.

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

G B Macdonald

sydneyfpchurch.org.au

 

Two Rich Promises

We read of two rich and wonderful promises made over to the people of God in the closing verse of Psalm 29. “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” This is what David had learned by personal experience.

The first promise – “The LORD will give strength unto his people…” Is this not a comfort? His people may be assured of two things by their Christian experience. First, that they are weak and second, that their God is of infinite strength. Furthermore, He is able and willing to give strength unto His people. He may suffer them to be tried, but they may be assured that when they call upon Him in trouble, He is able to save them by His mighty hand and stretched out arm. This is such a wonderful promise that C H Spurgeon writes, “Why are we weak when we have divine strength to flee to?”

The second promise – “…the LORD will bless his people with peace.” Not only strength but also peace! And what a blessing peace is. Matthew Henry comments, ‘…peace is a blessing of inestimable value, which God designs for all his people.’ And this peace comes through Jesus Christ, who is the ‘Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9:6) Peace is very much associated with Jesus. When the angels in that ‘multitude of the heavenly host’ praised God for the birth of Christ, it was in the following terms, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward me.” When Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His assembled disciples, it was with the words, “Peace be unto you.” God will bless His people with peace. This is a sure promise. Peace through the Cross of Christ. Peace through justifying faith in the Son of God. As Paul writes, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Thus, the people of God may derive great comfort from Psalm 29:11. Not one, but two,  rich and precious divine promises:

“The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.”

G B Macdonald

sydneyfpchurch.org.au

A Comforting Scripture from the Pen of Peter

In his first epistle, Peter writes many precious things to encourage those Christians to whom he wrote. They were exposed to the malice and scorn of the world. God’s people in our day may also suffer for their Christian profession.

One of the glorious truths Peter writes is found in chapter 5 and verse 7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Let us look at the latter part of the verse first. “…He careth for you.” Doubtless Peter cared for them, but of course he does not refer to himself, but to God. In verse 6 he had said, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” Thus we know, that the One who cares for believers is none other than the Most High God. One who is of infinite power and majesty. What a privilege to have God to care for us. This is the blessing of the believer in Christ! The mighty hand of God strengthens and protects the child of God. No real evil can befall such. Yes, like Stephen, their life may be taken from them, but, as with Stephen, shall they not be then ushered into glory? Matthew Henry writes, “…all shall be so ordered that no hurt but good, shall come unto you.”

Is it any wonder then, that such as could be assured that God cared for them, could also be encouraged to cast all their care upon Him? What a happy duty. What a great privilege. All kinds of care, to be cast upon God. Small or great. Pressing and immediate or of long continuance. That endured by ourselves, or burdens we are mindful of in our loved ones’ providence, but which weigh on us. As Matthew Henry writes, “The best remedy against immoderate care is to cast our care upon God, and resign every event to the wise and gracious determination.”

How happy they are who, having Christ as their Mediator, can cast their care upon the Most High, ever coming unto God through Christ and finding great relief in the thought, “…he careth for you.”

G B Macdonald

sydneyfpchurch.org.au

More Than Conquerors

In Romans chapter 8, among other comforting words, the inspired apostle Paul writes, “…we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” With this superlative expression, “more than conquerors,” Paul indicates the tremendous degree of comfort that he and and his readers in Rome could take, even in times of great persecution, in the hope of their overcoming adversity through Christ.

Christians in this world have suffered and still do suffer. The world hates the true Church of Christ. In verse 35 of Romans 8, Paul poses the question, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?“ These were the kinds of difficulties Paul and those to whom he addressed his epistle suffered. Doubtless, Christians suffering such like things in our day can take a measure of comfort in the knowledge that Paul, and those addressed in Rome, trod the same path. Suffering for Christ’s sake is no indication that one is not a true disciple. In our day too, the Lord’s people may still be accounted by some wicked persons as no more than ‘sheep for the slaughter.’ To outward appearance in may seem that the persecutors are triumphant, but in reality, it is not so. Robert Haldane, in commenting on this passage writes, ‘In the world, persecutors and oppressors are judged as the conquerors; but here, those are pronounced to be such, who are oppressed and persecuted.’ (Haldane Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans p.422 Banner of Truth Trust)

In God’s word we may safely rest. It is through Christ that the tried saint triumphs. As Robert Haldane notes, ‘It is not by our own loyalty and resolution, but through Him that loved us, that we are more than conquerors’ (Haldane Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans p.423 Banner of Truth Trust). What rich comfort this passage then affords to the distressed and persecuted Christian, who is troubled for Christ’s sake, perhaps even daily at times. He or she is more than a conqueror, through Him that loved them.

Paul notes in verse 39 that even ‘things to come’ would not be able to separate the true Christian from “…the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” At that point in time, such persecuting influences as we see manifested in our own day were not known (though others were). Thus it is a comfort, that whatever things may be, or may yet come to be, the promise is sure to the true believer that:

“…we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.“

G B Macdonald

sydneyfpchurch.org.au

 

 

Simon Peter’s Commitment to Christ

Towards the end of John chapter 6 we read of a very sad event. Some, who had been disciples of Jesus, went back and walked no more with Him. A sad sight indeed, when we consider that the One whom they left had just said of Himself, “I am the bread of life.” There was nothing wrong with the doctrine of the Saviour. There was nothing wrong with the moral uprightness of His character. There was of course, no fault in Him at all. Yet they left Him. It is quite solemn to think that some among them may well have partaken of the loaves and fishes, when the multitude were fed by Jesus. Perhaps they had said with others at that time, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14). Yet they went back and walked no more with Jesus.

In commenting upon this passage, Matthew Henry notes, “When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the word and works of Christ, and conceive insinuations tending to their reproach, we are entering into temptation.”

Instead of going after those who left Him, the Saviour turned to those that remained and asked a serious question, “Will ye also go away?” This brought forth a wonderful statement from the lips of Simon Peter. He replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter recognised that what he found in Christ – The Bread of Life, he could find nowhere else. There was no other Christ, than Jesus of Nazareth. There was no other who could save his soul and feed his soul than the Saviour, who said in John 6:37

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Is our response that of Simon Peter?

G B Macdonald

sydneyfpchurch.org.au

New Zealand Youth Conference

In January 2019, the Asia Pacific Presbytery organised a youth conference which was held at the scenic location of Hunua Falls Camp south of Auckland. Around 20 young people from Australia and New Zealand attended. I was privileged to attend as a speaker.

 

(Hunua Falls Camp, New Zealand – G B Macdonald)

The following is a brief summary of the papers which were presented:

The first paper was from Mr Hank Optland, on Lessons from the Life of Joseph. Mr Optland presented the information by way of a talk and some attractive slides on PowerPoint. The history of Joseph has many lessons, especially for young people. We can learn the great blessing of having been taught from our youth about the One living and true God, as Joseph was. We can also be reminded how vital it is to have the Lord with us in the trials of life, as He was with Joseph. Again and again we read of Joseph, that ‘the LORD was with Joseph’, thus he was favoured and upheld in difficult trials. One of the richest lessons from Joseph’s life is to recognise him as a wonderful type and foreshadowing of the Saviour.

The second paper was presented by the writer. This was a look at The Rev Alexander Duff – the First Church of Scotland Missionary to India. Even as a young boy, Alexander Duff was taught about the spread of the gospel. Converted at 12 years old, he knew from a young age the value of the atoning blood of Christ and the preciousness of the message of the Christian gospel. At university, Duff was influenced by Rev Thomas Chalmers and was instrumental in the St Andrews University mission society. Ultimately, in the providence of God, Duff was to labour in Calcutta, India. His work there met with a degree of success in the conversion of a number of Hindu youths. One solemn and striking providence that affected Duff was a shipwreck off South Africa, where his only possessions that were recoverable, having washed ashore were a carefully wrapped Bible and psalm book. Duff took this as a sign he should go on to India and should make especially sure in educating the young that the Bible would be the chief source of instruction.

The third paper, was a talk on the important place of Creeds and Confessions by Rev C Hembd. Whilst some may decry the need for such statements of faith, the Church has a duty to be forthright in setting forth its belief in the doctrines of the Bible. One great example of an eminently useful confession is the Westminster Confession of Faith. We are to confess the Christian Faith and confessions and creeds may serve a useful purpose in witnessing to the world and also within the visible Church. Confessional statements can serve a useful purpose in holding ministers and elders to doctrinal account.

The fourth paper was presented by Rev D Ross, a deputy of the Synod appointed Overseas Committee. His subject was Resisting Temptation. As fallen creatures, we are subject to temptation and trial in this life. Joseph when tempted fled from the place where the temptation was. Mr Ross spent some time examining the Fall of man and acknowledged the mystery of Adam sinning against God by succumbing to temptation. he also looked at different kinds of temptation that we may be faced with in this life. Self-trust is a great danger. The Saviour’s words to his disciples in the garden remain relevant to us, ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.‘ (Matthew 26:41)

The final paper of the conference was given by Rev C Hembd. It was on The Covenanters: What they Teach us Today. Mr Hembd began by recounting the example of the renowned Scottish martyr Margaret Wilson, who was drowned with her friend Margaret McLachlan in the Solway Firth of South West Scotland in 1685. They had refused to acknowledge James VII as head of the Church and take the Abjuration Oath renouncing the Covenant. Mr Hembd went on to note that  personal covenanting is a long established practice. In two nations, Israel and Scotland, there have been national covenants. The Covenanters in Scotland were determined in their faith. One reason appears to be the very fact they had covenanted and were given grace to hold to these promises made to God. In the so-called ‘Killing Times’ many were put to death for their refusal to deny the Kingship and Headship of Christ in His Church. Given that persecuting times may arise again, in Scotland and elsewhere, the example of the Covenanters, which has been much studied, is to be treasured.

The question and answer sessions following the papers provided an opportunity for more analysis of the topics.

Thanks are especially due to Rev J D Smith who acted as Chairman and the housemothers who kindly gave of their time to attend and perform this important role. We pray that those who attended may lay to heart the lessons noted and be raised up in their own lands to be faithful witnesses on the side of the Christ.

G B Macdonald

sydneyfpchurch.org.au