Over the past 40 years of my ministry, I have heard and read much of the sufferings and anguish of the blessed Redeemer as He paid the eternal debt for all that would be with Him in glory.  I would in no way diminish His sufferings for had He not drank all the cup that was given Him, you and I could not enter glory or been given the power to become the sons of God.  Jn 1:12  “Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone, can change the leper’s spots, and melt the heart of stone.  Jesus paid it all…”

This was such a devastating event that human beings have not the mind to comprehend and the best we can do in considering His anguish and torture is but a small degree of what took place in the garden, the judgment hall, and on the cross. La 1:12  [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.

Mt 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. The word heavy used here is the strongest of the three Greek words (85, 916, 3076) in the NT for depression.  The other times this word is used has only to do with human heaviness or sorrow.  Mt 17:23…sorrow as referring to that of the disciples & Mt 26:43…heavy, as in the disciples’ eyes.

Paul said, 1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  If man has not the mind to perceive of those eternal things God has prepared, he certainly does not have the mind to grasp the cost the suffering Lamb of God paid to purchase unto God the eternal salvation of every believing soul.

One, in the past generation, said that God was always greater than anything that could be said about Him and no language was worthy of Him.  It is so apparent when we begin to consider or try to put in words the cost of salvation.  There is no wonder that the Apostle called it ‘great salvation’ and there was no escape if we neglected it.

What of the Father?

The verse stated above was of Jacob when he thought that Joseph had been slain by wild beasts and there was no comfort that his other sons or daughters could supply that would relieve him of the grief of Joseph being gone.

I know that some will say that he was only a man and this in no way could reflect upon that which was in the heart of God but where were those emotions and love derived?  Do not all things come from God, for man was made in His likeness?  If a man loves his children, it is from the Lord but one will say that a lost man can love his children as does a Christian.  That is true but only a Christian has the spiritual senses to relate that which is in the natural to the things that are spiritual.  Ro 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made…

Jesus said that Abraham saw His day.  He had no Bible or preacher to tell him these things but he did have the Spirit of God to take the visible things and teach him of those things that could not be seen.  He saw in his son the Lamb of God that was to be offered up as a sacrifice.  He took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac, his son, while he carried the knife that would slay him and also the fire in his hand.  Having built an altar, laying the wood in order, and binding his son; he stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  He not only saw the day of Christ but in his heart, he now knew something of the Father’s heart in offering His only begotten Son that his soul loved (Gen 22:2) and one that was by Him, as brought up with Him: and was daily His Father’s delight (Prov 8:30).

The Father not only determined the death of His Son but brought it to pass by giving wicked men a time and place to bring this about.  Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: There was far more involved than God giving His Son as a sacrifice.  He actually and literally was made a curse by His Father.  Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: He became the sin-bearer, carrying all the sins of all His people and nailing the hand writing of ordinance that was against us to His cross.  This not only entailed His bearing all our sins; it meant that God made Him, who knew no sin, to be made sin. 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

He had become such a sinful, repulsive sight that His Father turned His eyes from Him for God is too holy to look upon sin and for three hours darkness covered the land.  His Father heard those cries of desertion from His Son, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me, but there could be no rescue or deliverance.  Some beneath the cross said to leave Him alone in such agony so they could see if His Father would come to help.  No human being that was a father could believe this being on the cross could be the Son of God for no Father would leave His Son there in all that shame and agony.

What of the Father’s heart when we are told that it pleased (to delight or take pleasure in) the Father to bruise Him?

The nails in His hands and feet were painful as were the crown of thorns on His head and the tearing of His flesh by the Roman scourge but that which was unseen was His Father’s hand in making His soul an offering.

Joseph told his brothers not to be angry with themselves for what they had done unto him because it was God that had brought all that about to save them and their families alive so the Lord Jesus looked beyond the hands of wicked men and that which they had done unto Him, knowing it was ordained of His Father.

Religion speaks of the love of God, but to truly see and know a little of the love of God, one must peer into the heart of the Father in giving His dear Son for sinners.  Greater love hath no man than a man lay down his life for his friends but Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Would or could there be a father that would do that to his son for wicked, rebellious sinners?

Eph 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: And the church says amen; and all praise and honor unto Christ that became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, that we might be made the children of God.

How do children come to know something experimental of the heart of God the Father?  Is it not when little ones are born in their family and they take on the role of a parent?  It is the same principle of one knowing of the pity of God.  Ps 103:13 Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  You can know of a person by reading a biography or autobiography but you may never know them.  All the children will come to know God not because they have read about Him, but due to their walk with Him and the Spirit of God taking the precious things of Christ and revealing that to their hearts.  It not only is our walk with God but the role we have in life, which has brought about different relationships, such as a son and then as a parent; these have brought the invisible things of God to light and given us an understanding somewhat into the very heart of our Father and His only begotten and beloved Son.  BH

Having grown weary of a ‘gospel’ that was preached more for its appeal to the natural man and ‘worship services’ dedicated more to programs and the exaltation of man than to the honor and glory of Christ their Lord; they wanted to meet where the Scriptures were the sole authority and the exaltation of Christ their motive for forming a church..

Although they have adopted no creed, their beliefs and practices could best be stated by the London Confession of Faith or the 1689 London Confession of Faith.

In 1999, the congregation asked the pastor to leave his public employment and serve full time in the ministry. They also began construction on a building that same year which was completed in less than a year and has provided a comfortable place for them to meet each Lord’s Day and Wednesday nights.

One of the great concerns I have of Christendom, in this generation and the last, is the lack of growth and development in those that profess the name of Christ

The majority of those that make a profession of salvation, follow the Lord in baptism, and unite to a local assembly remain as they are and give no evidence of maturing from birth to a teenager and then into an adult.  It is evident in the Scriptures that there are varying degrees of maturity in the family of God for John speaks of little children, young men, and fathers in Christ.  1 John 2:12-14

Every thing that is in creation has something to tell us of God.  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Ro 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead…

If the visible things teach us of the invisible, how is it in nature that a child is born and then begins his/her growth & development and this is not evident in the spiritual realm in the family of God?  Was not marriage instituted by the LORD to show the relationship between Christ and His church?  Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.  31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This brings us to the opening verse in our lesson.  Hannah made a coat each year and brought it to her son.  Last year’s coat would have been outgrown and he would need another one for the coming year.  We have our children born in our families and in the church family and we watch them grow into young men and women.  The fact that God has set this before us to teach us of growth and development of the spiritual man is enough to make one ask what is wrong in the professing churches today.

A parent would get the child to a doctor if there was a loss of appetite for a period of time.  They know that something is wrong, for the child doesn’t want food or drink.  Can the Lord have children that have not a spiritual appetite for the things of Christ?  Are there children born in the family of God (Jn 3 ye must be born again) that never grow or develop?  Does last year’s coat still fit; not in a growing young man or woman.

The question needs to be answered by us all.  Am I growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior?

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

1Th 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.

He is not commending them but rather a rebuke because they are not developing as they should.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

The child can live upon milk for the first few months of life but for growth to continue as it should, they must begin a diet of solid foods.

Again, I would ask, “What is wrong with professing Christendom?”  Many churches have seen large increases in numbers, but what about the increase in spirituality?  Where are the congregations that have ‘fathers’ in them that have developed over the years from a new born child to fathers that have known HIM that is from the beginning? 1 Jn 2:13

What of you and me?  Do we know more of Christ today than 10 years ago?  Is He dearer to us today than last year?  Do we still have a hunger and thirst after righteousness.  As long as one is living; they will have an appetite which leaves us to wonder about the great number of professing Christians that have little or no interest in the Savior.

Lord, visit again Thy church in these days and revive her in the midst of years.

Hab 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, [and] was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

We ask in Christ’s Name.

Barrett Holloway

01/26/2011