Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?

Psa 24:4  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

The Psalmist asks these questions: “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?” (Psa 24:3). They are important questions and they are questions many men today are still asking. The hill of the LORD and the holy place refer to the same place, the dwelling place of God, which is heaven. Men are forever asking the same question: “Who can go to heaven?”

The Psalmist gives the answer: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully” (Psa 24:4, ESV)

The answer is the same as given in Psalm 15:2. The psalms were written by a Hebrew to the Hebrews and hence, the question about faith is not an issue. The Psalmist was addressing to his own people.

From his answer, we see that the persons who shall stand in the palace of the living God are not distinguished by race, but by character; they are not only Jews, nor Gentiles only, nor any specific human race, but a people purified and who have made fit themselves to dwell in the holy hill of God.

Firstly, the person who can ascend to the hill of God must have clean hands. Our hands are the instruments by which we accomplish anything and make ourselves useful, and hence to have "clean hands" means to do honest and good things. But some use their hands to commit unrighteousness like stealing, fighting, committing murder and sexual acts; they can’t possibly dwell in the presence of God.

God wants His children to have holy hands; hands that do no evil. One of the conditions for men to lead in prayer is that they must have a pair of holy hands (1 Tim 2:8). It means he must be holy (1 Pet 1:15). A pair of clean hands means a life that is holy in the sight of God.

Secondly, the person who can ascend to the hill of God must have a pure heart. Not only the conduct must be upright, but the heart must also be pure. Our Lord says: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man” (Matt 15:19-20a). Solomon wrote: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Pro 23:7). What is in your heart?

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). Only a pure heart can see God. Therefore, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Pro 4:23).

Thirdly, the person who can ascend to the hill of God must not have lifted up his soul to vanity. It means that he has not set his heart on vain things, or that which is false. Probably, the Psalmist is referring to the desire for the vain things of this life.

Solomon, in spite of having enjoyed all the good things of this life concluded at the end of his life: “All is vanity” (Eccl 1:2). The prodigal son learned it the hard way that wealth and pleasures are deceitful (Luke 15:14-19). Wealth, pleasures, status, and all the certificates that we have earned cannot bring us to heaven. The godly man knows it and seeks after godliness: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim 6:6-7).

Lastly, the person who can ascend to the hill of God does not sworn deceitfully. He is a truthful and honest person. It means that he will still keep his promise even if he finds out later that it is not beneficial to him.

God hates falsehoods and this includes those who preach lies. Paul describes false teachings as doctrines of devils (1 Tim 4:1). He pronounces anathema (accursed) to anyone who preaches falsehood (Gal 1:6-9). It shows how serious God views lies and any form of falsehoods. The destination of all liars is in the lake of fire that burns forever (Rev 21:8).

Let us check ourselves: Do we have cleans hands and pure hearts, hate vanities and are honest? God desires us to be like Him in holiness. Let us be holy as He is holy (1 Pet 1:15).

Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Good News, or Bad Views and Spiritual Blues?

 There seems to be nothing new in the “news” these days. This in spite of the fact that the “news” is pumped around the world 24/7/365 in “real time” thanks to the wonders of modern communication technologies and tools! The week this little piece is being written (4/24-30/2016) the news is all about U. S. politics and personalities battling for the White House. And about the death of the singer and entertainer the world knew as “Prince.” And, oh yeah, maybe a smidgen of “news” about the Islamic extremists known as ISIS – you know, the terrorist group that wants to blow up anybody, anywhere who doesn’t think like they do about religion and about who ought to run the world – namely, themselves. These are the same folks who used to dominate the news until “news” about presidential politics and the death of the singer and entertainer the world knew as “Prince” proved to be newer news than them! It’s hard not to agree with a statement by Ron Dittenger – “In my opinion the nightly news on television is a big waste of time. It’s the same news every night. It just happens to different people.” Or this one by Elbert Hubbard – “An editor is a person employed on a newspaper, whose business it is to separate the wheat from the chaff, and to see that the chaff is printed.” Or yet again, this one by the late, great TV news-anchor David Brinkley – “The one function that TV news performs very well is that, when there is no news, we give it to you with the same emphasis as if there were.” So much of what we hear on the “news” these days is far from it – it’s just more sad views that quickly bring on the blues!

 How about down at church? What news are the folks down there into? Sometimes, sadly, it’s more sad views, only with a religious twist. In the name of “gospel preaching,” some preachers and members of the church major mostly on the mad, the sad, and the bad. Instead of concentrating energy and effort in pointing people to Jesus – “the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world” (John 1:9) – preachers and Christians too often are found using their tongues to “curse the darkness.” Instead of majoring on and testifying that “the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14), some focus intensely and even solely on the sin in our world. The result is that the church becomes more of a moral policeman than a proclaimer of the gospel – more a bearer of negative views and blues than the “good news” that saturated the sermons and preaching in the book of ACTS! Please don’t misunderstand me. Jesus never winked at sin. He preached on and condemned sin, as did Peter and Paul and all the Lord’s other inspired messengers. But they didn’t get hung up there. Whether in ACTS or the letters to the churches, again and again and again Jesus Christ is the main subject of their sentences and sermons! I’m not saying sin and false teaching and teachers must not be addressed and exposed as dangerous spiritual diseases. I’m saying what the Bible says in places like Romans 10:15 where the apostle Paul (referencing Isaiah 52:7) proclaimed that preachers and Bible teachers and soul- winners have “beautiful feet” because they “preach the gospel of peace” and “bring glad tidings of good things.” As Christ’s church, the message we broadcast ought to be saturated with good news – not just bad views and spiritual blues. Just saying.

Dan Gulley

How to be a better dad

Fathers: Principle Trainers of Children

"Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3) and as such should be considered gifts from God who have been placed in our hands to mold and fashion into worth-while citizens in his kingdom. Thus is laid on us the responsibility to "train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6). Note the word "train." Far too many times this is thought to be accomplished simply by telling how to act, etc. However, even a dictionary recognizes that such is not the case. It says, "to bring to a desired standard of efficiency or condition or behavior, etc. by instruction and practice" (Oxford American Dictionary).

Telling is definitely important. "These words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deut. 6:6-7). But practice and application are also required. This can be seen even in secular matters. One may attend school where he is told the information he needs, but then he needs on-the-job training, and some are hired as trainees. He needs the experience. Churches have training classes in which instruction is given, but training is gained by practice and experience.

This is brought out in the New Testament in Ephesians 6:4. It says, "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." There are several important points made in this passage:

1. Of utmost importance is the expression "of the Lord." This has religious and spiritual application. It is "the way he should go" (Prov. 22:6). It is not just nurture and admonition, but is nurture and admonition of the Lord.

2. The synonyms nurture and admonition are not easily defined but most seem to agree that the word "nurture" deals with training by act and discipline and the expression "admonition" is training by word (Expositor's Greek Testament). In his discussion of paideai (nurture) Thayer says: "1. the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now re-proof and punishment)."

3. Usually we husbands leave this to mothers, but in doing so we have neglected the fact that the passage explicitly gives this to the father! Thus, it is his responsibility to do the "nurture and admonition." He can do this by reading the Bible and Bible stories to and with his children and enabling them to make application of its truth to various aspects of life. He doesn't merely tell them but helps them in preparing their Bible class lessons. He is involved in training them when he sees to it that they go with him to church services and participate as much as possible in its activities. It is his responsibility that they are taught the word of God, to train them in proper behavior, and when needed he is to administer discipline, correction, and punishment, as he "chastens them betimes" (Prov. 13:24). If a father is not actively involved in this, he is neglecting his role as father. Thus he is the principal trainer of his children.

To be sure, his wife has a part in this. She is told to "guide (or rule, ASV) the home" (1 Tim. 5:14). Nevertheless, "the husband is the head of the wife as Christ also is head of the church" (Eph. 5:23). So, in addition to being involved in the actual teaching and training, it is his responsibility and God has given him the authority to see that all such, though done by others, is done properly. The following quotation from the Pulpit Commentary brings this out very well. In discussing the synonyms "nurture" and "ad-monition, it says, "It is difficult (but apparently impossible) to get words in the English language to represent the two words that are in the Greek original. They are in a general way to be distinguished as discipline by power and discipline by reason . . . It is rather all that drilling which a parent gives his children in virtue of the executive (magisterial) power which is placed in him. He has certain rules by which he goes in training his children, and he has got the power to enforce them. He makes them say `grace before meat' that they may learn betimes from whom all table comforts come. He makes them attend to their lessons, that they may know that they have got to work and not be idlers. He makes them be selective as to their companionships that they may not get out in evil associations. He appoints certain hours for the house, that they may learn order and punctuality. He does not ask them if they will go to church, but he makes them go to church with him. That is the kind of drilling that is meant here, and when it is necessary it must be backed up by chastening, or judicious punishment for good." It is interesting that in discussing admonition it says, "It is not necessary that a parent should always explain to a child the reasons of his procedure. But it is important that, as a rule, children should have explained to them the evil of the course they are asked to avoid, and the advantages of the course they are asked to follow." Again observe that the text places the responsibility to do this on the fathers.

The wording of this may seem somewhat harsh, but re-member the same verse (Eph. 6:4) lets us know that it is to be administered in such a way as not to provoke the children to wrath.

Conclusion
It seems fair to say that, in this regard, the Bible shows:
1. Children need the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
2. This involves much more than mere telling; it requires training.
3. God has specifically given this responsibility to fathers.

 - by Hiram Hutto

The Great Commission

 A preacher saw a friend at a workshop and asked, “Can you keep a secret?” The friend answered, “Yes. But the people I tell can’t.” People sometimes seem bent on telling things they should keep secret and keeping secret things they should be telling. The Bible passage known as “The Great Commission” makes it clear Jesus wants His church to be in the talking and telling business! In Matthew 28:18-20 that commission includes this directive –“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (King James Version). The New King James Version and other more recent translations say, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” Of course, to make disciples requires teaching. Mark’s parallel account of the commission at Mark 16:15 leaves no room for doubt that we have to tell he gospel – “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Francis of Assisi famously said, “Preach the gospel all the time. When necessary, use words.” Christians certainly do preach Christ with their lives, but the Great Commission makes clear we must get around to preaching it with our lips, too. In the words of Romans 10:17, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When the apostle Peter rehearsed the conversion of the Gentile centurion Cornelius and his household (which occurred in Acts 10), he told some fellow-Jews in Acts 11:14 that Cornelius had seen a vision and that a man named Peter would come and “tell you words by which you and your household will be saved.” Cornelius was earlier described as a man of sterling character (Acts 10:1- 2), but he was not saved until Peter came and taught him the gospel! Peter spoke words that meant the difference in heaven and hell for Cornelius and his family and friends. You can read the words Peter preached that saved Cornelius in Acts 10:34-48. They included the command to be baptized in water (Acts 10:47-48) – a command enjoined by Jesus in the Great Commission itself (Matthew 28:19b; Mark 16:16). The gospel is God’s power to save the soul (Romans 1:16) – and, bless our hearts, taking that gospel to lost people is the main thing Christ desires His church to do! The Great Commission includes a command for saints to tell the gospel. And it includes a command for sinners to believe that gospel and be baptized in order to be saved. As Acts 2:38 says, “repent and be baptized for the remission[forgiveness] of sins.” And in the words of Acts 22:16 (spoken to a believer who had prayed for three days [Acts 9:3-9]), “And now, why are you waiting? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Those words still save souls today when saints preach and when sinners obey!

 Whether Christians, preachers and congregations ever get around to it or not, the church’s mission is clearly defined. As John R. W. Stott wrote, “This [the Great Commission] is a very comprehensive com- mission. It represents Christ’s standing orders for His church. Unfortunately, many churches . . . have to a large extent neglected it. congregations and clergy seem committed to maintenance, not mission” (The Message of Matthew, p 323). The cross reminds us Christ was committed to His mission to seek and save the lost. God help His church have a rebirth of commitment to that same mission, not just maintenance.

Dan Gulley

Cerebral Palsy Swagger

A Long Walk

They call it the “Cerebral Palsy Swagger.”  Two brothers are making another long walk together to help raise awareness of cerebral palsy.  This year the walk is going to span 111 miles.

On Wednesday, Hunter Gandee, 16, set out from Temperance in southeastern Michigan carrying his 70-pound brother, 9-year-old Braden, who has cerebral palsy and can't walk without assistance.  The duo expects to reach the state Capitol in Lansing on Monday, stopping at schools along the way.  This year, Braden plans to complete the final half-mile using a walker.

The brothers have made similar walks over the past two years.  In 2014, Hunter carried Braden forty miles.  They traveled 57 miles together in 2015.

Included in the Associated Press article about the brothers was an overview of cerebral palsy: “Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that affects the body’s ability to move. It is caused by damage to the brain around the time of birth. Cerebral palsy affects the muscles, movement, and balance. Treatment plans involving therapy, medication, and surgery are used to reduce the impact of symptoms and support independence.”

The pair has also done other things to raise awareness and funding for those who suffer from the condition.  Two years ago, while being held in his brother’s arms, Braden tossed the ceremonial first pitch in Detroit’s game against the Colorado Rockies.  Hunter was also involved in a project last year to raise money for an accessible playground at Braden’s school. *

As these brothers make their long walk together, perhaps the elder brother would echo the sentiment from the old song sung by the Hollies:

“So on we go

His welfare is of my concern

No burden is he to bear

We'll get there

For I know

He would not encumber me

He ain't heavy, he's my brother.”

Jesus made a long walk for you and for me.  He made this long walk after being scourged though He was innocent of any wrongdoing.  In His physically weakened state, He carried a cross to Golgotha outside Jerusalem, where He would be nailed to that very cross.  And on that cross He bore our sins so that we might be saved and receive the gift of eternal life.  “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

So on He went

Our welfare was His concern

Our burden of sin

He bore for us

So that we could live with Him

Eternally.

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  Then, if we will continue to follow Him faithfully, He will continue to cleanse us from sin and lead us to an eternal home in heaven (1 John 1:7).

Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation and eternal life on His terms?

-- David A. Sargent

Band aids on lives

We had a man come into my place of work the other day and he immediately said, “I want to talk with the store manager”. The store manager wasn't available for awhile, so he told me his problem. It seems he had bought a lawnmower a little over a year ago and it just blew the engine. He wanted the store to give him a new one or credit towards a more expensive mower. In other words, to redeem the broken one and make it new in some way...that was a problem…

When the manager arrived he explained that the store policy is that we will refund or replace up to 60 days on mowers, but the manufacturer has a one year warranty (which was also past). I thought the manager did a good job of explaining all of this very patiently, but it was a problem with no cheap answer to make it right. I mean, that which regulates the transaction and responsibilities was clearly spelled out in the papers they were given…so what do you do?

This is similar to the problem each of us have today isn't it? We as humans are broken and unfixable by human standards. Each of us has the problem of sin in our lives. It may not be a BIG easily recognizable sin, but to God, sin is sin. If you don't obey his rules, then you can't be fixed. God's word tells us that all of us sin and fall short of God's Glory, (Romans 3:23). While we are told in 1John 1:7-10 that anyone who says they don't sin is calling God a liar and that His Word is really not part of their lives. That is a problem isn't it, because sin separates us form the source of life (eternally) God himself. When we sin, we are responsible for the cost for the damage to our lives, which is impossible for us to pay.

Fortunately, when God wrote his rules, he wrote in a redemption clause, an escape clause if you will. It's spelled out clearly in his rule book (the Bible) in more than one place. Places like Mark 16:15-16 and Romans 6:1-10. We are told that the redemption we can experience is not dependent upon our own ability, but upon the willingness of Christ to pay what was necessary for us. What was required was a payment in blood; a payment of sacrifice; a payment of suffering to fix what you broke and for which you were responsible. He paid the debt he did not own, because he loves you that much! In return he asks the you obey him and commit to living by His rules to the best of your ability.

Now the man who came into our store was helped with his problem. We actually gave him a loner mower until he could check with the manufacturer. Redeemed or fixed no; we were just kind of able to put a bandage on the sore spot in hopes he can get it fixed properly some place else.

I see a lot of people who are putting band aids on their lives, they cover up the sore spot, but something is missing, something is hurting, something is lacking in their lives. It is the healing that comes from God when we finally decide to follow the rules in His Book the Bible. To embrace the need to sacrifice some things in our own lives, to gain eternal life.

--Russ Lawson