JURONG OUTREACH - FEB 05

THE CARPENTER
6 Feb 05

A story is told of two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, but fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labour and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbour; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better."

"See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his PLACE or his FACE anymore!"

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails... and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you." The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a BRIDGE -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbour, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have MANY more bridges to build."*

In like manner, OUR sin has created an enormous chasm which has separated YOU and ME from our Heavenly Father (Isaiah 59:1-2).

But, because of His GREAT love for us, God sent His Son -- a carpenter -- to "build the bridge" whereby we may "return to God" -- to receive forgiveness for our sins and be reconciled to Him (Mark 6:3; John 3:16; Roman 5:8-10).

(Mark 6:3) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Roman 5:8-10). But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Building the bridge of forgiveness to close this tremendous gap cost the life of Jesus as He paid the price for our sins on the cross.

(1 Peter 1:18-19). We may "cross the bridge" through our obedient faith – believing in Jesus and trusting Him

(Acts 16:31), repenting of our sins (Acts 17:30-31),

confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10),

being baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38), and

faithfully following Him for the rest of our lives (1 John 1:7).

Jesus said, "I am the Way (the "Bridge"), the Truth, and the Life. No one comes ("crosses over") to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

Have YOU crossed the Bridge of forgiveness and reconciliation to God?

THE PRESENT
13 Feb 05

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over NO balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.

What would you do with such an account? Draw out every cent, of course!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, YOU and I are credited with 86,400 seconds. Every night, it writes off, as lost, the amount that we have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over NO balance. It allows NO overdraft. Each day, it opens a new account for us. Each night, it burns the remains of the day. If we fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is ours. There is NO going back. There is NO drawing against tomorrow.

How are YOU spending it?

Many today use the phrase "killing time" – but in contrast, we are instructed by God's Word to "redeem time" – to make the most of today!

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time - making the most of every opportunity - because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).

We must live in -THE PRESENT- on today's deposits. We must INVEST it so as to get from it the utmost in life! The clock is ticking . . . . . .

NOW is the time to make our lives right with God! "For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2)

TODAY can be the day of YOUR salvation if you will: place your trust in God (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), be baptized (immersed) into Christ so that your sins can be forgiven (Acts 2:38), AND commit the rest of your life to obeying God so that the blood of JESUS can continue to cleanse you from sin (1 John 1:7).

Yesterday is history ;
Tomorrow is a mystery ;
Today is a " GIFT"

  -- that is why it is called …… " THE PRESENT"

Make the most of it by submitting to the will of God TODAY!

Holy Alphabet

A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of Camp Complaining
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o “thank” is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e’ll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there’ll be good times, and yes, some bad, but…
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

DON'T WE ALL
20 Feb 05

Deep, profound truths often come from sources unexpected. Pay careful attention to one man’s experience and the marvellous truth that he learned…

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money.

"I hope he doesn’t ask me for any money," I thought. He didn’t.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn’t look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.

After a few minutes he spoke. "That’s a very pretty car," he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity about him. His scraggly blonde beard kept more than his face warm.

I said, "Thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened, something inside me said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched, grimy hand. He spoke three words that shook me.

"Don’t we all?" he asked.

How true! We ALL need help! No matter how much we have, no matter how much we have accomplished, we all need help. Each of us has a common problem: SIN. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

There is only one Solution to our common problem: JESUS CHRIST. Christ "bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

We may receive forgiveness for our sins if we will -

place our trust in God (Hebrews 11:6), repent of our sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38).

Christ will continue to cleanse us from sin as we continue to follow Him (1 John 1:7).

SALVATION IS FREE
By Chris Herd 

Salvation is free….if you want to take hold of it today
The choice is yours….will you choose to obey?

Salvation is waiting….but only you can save your soul
God wants you to be saved….but you are in control!

God has the ability….but you must heed His call
To obey...be baptized,,,take heed unless ye fall!

Salvation truly is the most precious gift for man
So seek out your salvation….by following God’s plan!

Salvation is wonderful….salvation is free
It’s yours for the taking….what will your answer be?

Philippians 2:12
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as In my presence only, but now much more in my absence, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

NO DAYSMAN
27 Feb 05

Many of you have probably heard of Job. He was a very wealthy man. Satan told God that Job only worshipped Him because he was given so many possessions by God. God allowed Satan to take all of them away. Job still worshipped God. Satan told God that Job only worshipped Him because he was healthy. So, God told Satan to do anything he wanted to Job's body but could not kill him.

Most of the book of Job is about the discussions Job has with four friends who come to comfort him. Instead of comforting him they accuse him of having sin in his life. Job insists that he has not lived a life of sin. He has done all that God has required of him.

However, Job is confused. He continues to pray to God for an answer to his situation. Job believes that God is doing all the bad things to him. But it is really Satan who is persecuting him. Job is not getting the answers from God that he wants.

Job says he no longer has any hope in this life (7:6). "As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more."

Later, in chapter nine, verse 33, Job states, "Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both."

That is a very interesting statement. Until Christ came to earth, died for us, and was raised from the dead there was no 'middle' man between God and man. Christ became our Mediator. He is our High Priest who fully understands all our infirmities, (Hebrews 4:15). "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Because of Jesus Christ, there is hope for all of us. Jesus has come to our rescue. He died on the cross to redeem us from sin (Ephesians 1:7) "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

He died so that we might live (1 John 4:10) "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

Because Jesus rose from the grave and lives, we have a " living hope" in Him!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a " living hope" through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).

Hope is available to THOSE who will:

place their trust in God (Hebrews 11:6), "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

repent of sin (Acts 17:30-31) "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."  

confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

AND live faithfully to Him until death (Revelation 2:10) "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

This is GOOD NEWS - SAVING NEWS!

"And the world is passing away [sinking], and the lust of it; BUT he who DOES the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17).

There is hope for YOU -IF- you will DO the will of God.