Wednesday 25 May 2016

Desmond Tutu's daughter to give up ministry after gay marriage - premier

Desmond Tutu's daughter to give up ministry after gay marriage - premier: Archbishop Desmond Tutu's daughter is to give up ministry after entering a gay marriage.




Archbishop Desmond Tutu's daughter is to give up ministry after entering a gay marriage.

Revd Canon Mpho Tutu-Van Firth said she was forced to leave her role in the Anglican Church
because it does not recognise same sex marriages.

Clergy are forbidden from entering a gay marriage and she would have likely been stripped
of her licence to practice had she not stood down herself.

It was a "dignified" exit from the Church, she said.

"Because the South African Anglican Church does not recognise our marriage, I can no
longer exercise my priestly ministry in South Africa.

CC






Monday 23 May 2016

The Lord our Banner





I was at my Church last night,  we’re having 3 days of Prayer and Fasting,  and during this time,  on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings,  having public meetings for prayer and praise.

We have a number of national flags and banners at Church, which people can wave during the service,  yes there’s a Welsh Flag there, which I’ve been known to wave especially when Wales win at Rugby!, yes you can take a man out of Wales,  but you can’t take Wales out of a man
.
We have the Union Flag or Jack also at Church, and last night at the end of the service,  one of my friends,  who is an ex-soldier pointed out to me that the Union Flag (Jack) was upside down which he told me was the sign of distress, because for hundreds of years British Soldiers, Sailors and Airman have stood underneath the Union Jack, and many of those have died in the field of Battle,  and when they have died, they have been returned home and their coffins have been covered with Union Jack, my friend and I decided that we needed to fix the Union Jack and it’s now in the right position.

I was watching the Powell and Pressburger Classic War Film  The Battle of The River Plate,  where the British Royal Navy Ships,  HMS Ajax, HMS Exeter and the New Zealand Royal Navy Ship, HMS Achilles faced and defeated the German Ship The Graf Spee, has the British Ships went forward to engage the enemy,  HMS Exeter raised it’s Battle Flags.

When the people of Israel faced the Amalekites in Exodus 17:5 Moses raised the Standard or Battle Flag and called it YHWH  Nissi ,  (Yahweh or Jehovah Nissi) or in English the Lord Our Banner.

 For many years British Army Infantry Regiments  have carried Regimental Colours,  which signify a rallying point and where the commander is located,  The Lord is our Banner,  although I’m honoured to be both British and Welsh, and look to my national flags with a sense of pride and respect, when it comes to my ultimate loyalty, support, commitment, respect and pride,  The Lord is my Banner,  it’s to my Lord I look for my identity,  it’s under The Lord My Banner that serves as my rallying point because he’s my Lord, Redeemer, Saviour and Commander.

I said earlier that British Army Infantry Regiments carry Regimental Colours, these  are made up of two different Flags,  The National Flag or the Union Jack and the Regimental Colour , The Regimental Banner, can you imagine  a soldier saying that because my Regiment has a history and I think it’s dull and unexciting,  and my friends in this new Regiment say that there more opportunities and we’re more exciting why not join us, sometimes it’s easier to move to newer & greener pastures,   however it’s better to stay where you’re planted.





Wednesday 18 May 2016

Don't Give Up on God's Calling

This article was featured in our free email publication, SpiritLed Woman e-Magazine, sign up here.

Don't Give Up on God's Calling 9:00AM EDT 5/29/2013 GEORGE D. WATSON



 

Each one of us is to believe that we have a place in the mind of God and in His creation, separate and distinct from every other creature, and that He loves us with a private, personal love. He has assigned to each of us a special mission and service which no one else can do in just the way that God wants us to do it. If we do not believe this, then we do not believe that God is the Infinite One whom the Bible reveals, and we do not believe in our destiny as revealed in Scripture.

The Bible contains numerous passages proving that each person has a special vocation in the providence of God and that if he or she is yielded in obedient faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, that special vocation will be carried out. We are told that "the stars in their courses fought against Sisera," from which we learn that God appoints to every star a special circuit along which it is to move.

Then we read that God appoints every man to his work (see Mark 13:34). And again, that John the Baptist fulfilled his course.

Before Jesus died, He prayed to the Father, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (John 17:4). Paul said he wanted to finish his course with joy. We are each one told to "run...the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).

The Bible is full of this thought, that for each one of us there is a course, a race, a work, an individual life to be lived. To this end we have been created and redeemed, and for this purpose there is ample provision of grace and inspiration.

Let's look at our personal vocation from God's side. Our relation to God must come first of all.

The reason we are created and the significance of all our labor, trials, difficulties, successes, failures and in fact everything that belongs to us must be looked at first of all in light of our relation to God. It is certain that because He formed us and redeemed us, He must take more interest in us and have a greater regard for us than all other creatures combined. And again, it is evident that God has given us a mission to fill in His own mind that is in proportion to our special makeup and that He foresees for each of us possibilities that we do not see and that our fellow creatures would never suspect.

Most of the lives in the human race are lived in obscurity and never known beyond a circle of a few acquaintances. Of the millions on Earth, only a small percent ever come into public notice or form a part of recorded history.

Of that number most live only for self and sin and amount to almost nothing in the purpose of God, and are total failures, perhaps, on God's side. In fact, it is likely that the number of human beings who are known in public life and to history are just as few in proportion as the number of water-drops that are visible in the sea. Hence it is certain that God has not made all the human souls as a mere parade but that they are made for Him, to love and serve Him, to fill a private mission in His love and will which we do not understand.

Many wonder what God gave them an existence for, as they are so obscure, so helpless, so hedged about. But if such souls could only know enough to abandon themselves to God's will, they would see that they are capable of living unto God and glorifying Him with a private worship and obedience that will satisfy the divine purpose in their creation. And in the end they will find that they filled the sphere of God's plan for them.

If one soul fails to do its part in the purpose of God, He will miss that work from His universe. It is said of a certain musician who was conducting a great orchestra that when one instrument failed to strike one note in the program, the master's keen ear detected the absence of that one note in the performance.

God is so infinite that if one little soul living in obscurity in some hid-away place fails to fill its mission, He will miss that note in the vast orchestra of the universe, which is perpetually sounding forth His praise. It is not any mere action that God would miss so much as the love and confidence of some trusting soul.

The highest mission any creature can fill is to love the Lord with all the soul, mind and will. And this secret mission to which we are called takes rank above all outward action, public history or splendid performance in the eyes of our fellow creatures.

We must also look at our vocation on the man side, or in relation to our fellow creatures. God has arranged countless threads of relationship between each one of us and all other creatures, and so multiplied, so intricate are they as to be beyond all our calculations. In one sense we may say that God is weaving out a vast fabric in human history and that each soul forms a thread or a stitch in the enormous pattern.

God is using us creatures in our life-work to touch thousands of others and influence them, as well as to have thousands of others touch us by word or influence or personal presence. Thus creatures are blended with creatures in a tangled maze of ministry for help or for trial, for joy or for sorrow, for happiness or for disappointment, so that our special mission is related to the special mission of others, in order to make one whole, and yet not interfere with each of us filling our appointed place.

As every creature that walks or crawls on the earth leaves its print in some form or other, so every responsible soul in passing through life leaves an imprint on other souls. But that imprint can only fulfill God's will when such souls are living under the guidance of His Spirit.

In many ways that would not be according to our choice, we need the ministry of our fellow creatures, and God often uses them to wound us or correct us or disappoint us to serve a purpose in our lives. And then again He will use others to encourage or comfort or instruct us, so that could we see our life mission in the clear light of faith, we would receive all things that come into our lives as designed for our good and accept all things as from God to us. It is evident that our life mission must be interwoven with those of our fellow creatures for the benefit of all parties in ways unknown to us.

In the next place, we should seek to discover what our life mission is. There are some who from childhood have a strong intuition as to what their vocation is to be, and this applies to people of the world, as well as to those who are Christians.

But I speak now with reference to the children of God, who are living mainly for life in the future world. And those who live mostly for the future life are the ones who live best in the present life and who best fulfill their vocation in this world.

It is an inspiration to any soul when he has a clear view of his special life-work and an ideal vision of what God wants to accomplish in and by his life. There is a peculiar thrill when we even suspect some special mission God has for us. But when it becomes a settled conviction as to what our work is then our heart runs out in the work, if we are willing and obedient, and everything in our lives from that time on becomes tributary to that one supreme vocation.

In order to do our life-work in the best way, we must have a clear apprehension of it, and then we must love it and put all our heart in it and watch God's dealings with us in relation to it. The most significant things in our lives, such as our dreams, our meditations, our inspirations, the peculiar leadings of God's providence, will come to us right along the line of our special vocation.

Oftentimes other people will be led to speak to us words of special import or encouragement along the line of our life work. For instance, when God designs a child to be a preacher of the gospel, that child will have premonitions of it, and along in his life other persons will speak to him on this matter. And as life goes on the various providences and the various incidents, both in his mind and outer life, will all seem to point in that direction.

This same truth will apply to any other vocation. People who have no definite view as to their life-work are apt to beat the air. They work at random; they run like the man in Scripture, without a message; they waste a great deal of energy in doing nothing.

You may ask, "How shall I find my special vocation?" I answer, "By a life of prayer." Not by simply saying prayers, but by living a life of continued talking with God, by a perfect surrender to Him through Jesus, a perfect willingness to give up your own thoughts, plans, and prejudices and being willing for God to possess you and lead you in the way He chooses for you to go.

You are to believe that God loves you with an eternal love, that God has a place for you and a mission for you to fill. Then, on the basis of His Word, plead with Him to open up to your mind your special mission, whether it be in the private or public forum, and feel sure from the teachings of Scripture that it is God's will to give you such a sufficient insight into your vocation as will satisfy you. With that insight there will come a loving ardor and a tireless zeal to accomplish the task.

Sadly, there are many Christians who miss their true mission in life. Although they may be saved in the end, yet because of lack of perseverance or the influence of other people's opinions, they frustrate the special vocation to which they were called. They have been gifted in many ways and evidently have been called of God for various kinds of service or usefulness or holy character and have been sidetracked, or have given up their work, and thereby frustrated the plan of God.

To be faithful to our calling in life is the greatest thing in all human character. It is not so much the size of our abilities, or the conspicuousness of our life-work, but that hidden, deep, settled obedience to God, that humble faithfulness to His calling day by day, moment by moment, in the place where we are that will tell in the ages to come and mark our rank in the kingdom of God when the crowns are distributed.



George D. Watson (1848-1923) was a holiness evangelist and the author of several books, including Bridehood Saints, from which this excerpt was taken.

More Than Enough: Kensington Temple

Church Leadership, The Load Bearing Walls of the Church









Can you imagine the scene ?,  the young, eager and very enthusiastic disciples gather around the young anointed leader, and they discuss amongest themselves and through pray and prophecy that they will become a new but different expression of church in the location they live,  they continue to prophesy  to themselves that God has called them and He will bless them,  and off they go.

They decide that the expression of Church that they spent their formative years in, is no longer relative and is outmoded, they criticise that expression of church, and say we’re better than them because we’re God’s Joshua Generation,  and we will unlike our forefathers or the Moses’s generation  will cross into the promised land, and they continue to prophesy to themselves.


We don’t need another “ new “ expression of Church, being built  out  of people’s own sense of importance ,  and because of their misguided zeal  they will attempt to draw followers after themselves  from established churches, offering false promises and prophecies and they tell  people that if join us, the grass will be greener, unfortunately these “ new “ expressions of  church have no foundations and no covering,  because they think that we will build our own foundations and we will become our own covering,  we need to be built up together as one church,  and not be separated into another tribe or grouping. 

People start coming and joining in,  because they want to be inclusive all are welcome,  and it seems there is an “ anointing” from the Lord there, so  other Christians from various other church backgrounds join them , some fully commit to this wonderful new church and others have one foot in this new expression of church and keep one foot in their home church.


Perversion of the Gospel

Galatians 1 6F
 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you [c]by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel [d]contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be [e]accursed!As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel[f]contrary to what you received, he is to be [g]accursed!

10 For am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

How many new churches are planted out of people’s need or desire for fame and/or recognition and is built not on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets, but built on the people’s selfish ambition?


We, the Church are the visible representation of God’s Kingdom Rule and Reign here on Earth, we are his messengers of hope, love and compassion, salvation & restoration, the people we see every day are the people for whom Jesus died on the Cross for, we are the ones who are to bring hope and healing to our communities.

I’ve been a Christian for over 30 years, having been raised in a Pentecostal Church in South Wales  and for the last 20 years I’ve been part of the New Church/Restoration movement because when I was a student in Bible School saw something about Church in my Bible and couldn’t see that expressed in that Pentecostal Church at that time,  I stayed for as long as possible and I tried to see things changed, but I felt increasingly like a square peg in a round hole, feeling frustrated and confused , I visited another church in my home town during the Toronto Blessing phase that was happening at the time, just to get refreshed and go back to my home church,  however the Lord had other plans for my life,  and I’ve been part of the Restoration Movement and the Pentecostal Movement for just over 30 years,  in many ways the Pentecostals and the Restoration Movement are very similar and time will not allow to go through the differences.

A number of years ago, some good friends of mine, decided to launch an evening service from the Church we were part of, into a nearby town, I wasn’t keen and said I would pray for them, but I wouldn’t join in,  I noticed that for the want of a better word, misfits and other people who felt that the churches they were part of weren’t recognising their gifting/ministries/anointing or calling joined in the new service my friends were leading.  I visited a few times, and I noticed at one service,  two ladies who had a “ prophetic gifting”  were having a” prophetic dual “to see who could bring the most “ anointed prophecy” ! I and several others had concerns and so did the elders of my church, and they later  pulled the plug for various reasons on this new service ,  two of our elders visited the service to explain why it was being closed down,  one of the ladies who was having the prophetic dual a few weeks earlier,  while we were praying for each other and my friends who were disappointed that what they thought were God’s plans had ended before they saw success,  this lady prophesied over my friend to say God had called him to shepherd the people of the new church,  my elders were there, and in fairness to them,  they didn’t take offence over this prophesy although both of them have pastoral gifting and serve as Pastors,  nothing came of this new church and my friend left the church sometime later  the church over personal issues.

I was watching a TV programme called Rip Off Britain some time ago,  and in this particular programme,  a  young couple had bought a cottage in the town of Ifracombe in North Devon,  due to unforeseen circumstances they have been unable to move into their new home because it was uninhabitable , the previous owner had decided unwisely to make the separate kitchen and dining room into one room and had removed a wall,  the only problem this was a loadbearing wall, and the first floor of the house indeed the entire house could collapse . Some of us have decided to remove the loadbearing walls of the church because we want to be relevant and inclusive.

The Church is built on Biblical Foundations and Principles see  Luke 6:46-49 New American Standard Bible,

46 “(AW)Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 (AX)Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and [ac]acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who [ad]dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the [ae]torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the [af]torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

1 Corinthians 3 New American Standard Bible.

Foundations for Living

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to (A)spiritual men, but as to (B)men of flesh, as to (C)infants in Christ. 2 I gave you (D)milk to drink, not solid food; for you (E)were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is (F)jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking [a](G)like mere men? 4 For when (H)one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere (I)men?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? (J)Servants through whom you believed, even (K)as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 (L)I planted, (M)Apollos watered, but (N)God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will (O)receive his own [b]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s (P)fellow workers; you are God’s [c](Q)field, God’s (R)building.

10 According to (S)the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder (T)I laid a foundation, and (U)another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a (V)foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 (W)each man’s work will become evident; for (X)the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will (Y)receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet (Z)so as through fire.

16 (AA)Do you not know that (AB)you are a [f]temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [g]temple of God, God will destroy him, for the [h]temple of God is holy, and [i]that is what you are.

18 (AC)Let no man deceive himself. (AD)If any man among you thinks that he is wise in (AE)this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For (AF)the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is (AG)the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “(AH)The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then (AI)let no one boast in men. For (AJ)all things belong to you, 22 (AK)whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or (AL)life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and (AM)you belong to Christ; and (AN)Christ belongs to God.

Acts 2:42-47 New American Standard Bible

42 They were (BF)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to (BG)the breaking of bread and [ao](BH)to prayer.

43 [ap]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (BI)wonders and [aq]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [ar]were together and (BJ)had all things in common; 45 and they (BK)began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 (BL)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and (BM)breaking bread [as]from house to house, they were taking their [at]meals together with gladness and [au]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (BN)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (BO)was adding [av]to their number day by day (BP)those who were being saved.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New American Standard Bible

16 (AU)All Scripture is [h]inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for [i]training in righteousness; 17 so that (AV)the man of God may be adequate, (AW)equipped for every good work.

Yes, our Foundation Is Christ,  yet there are Biblical Leadership Structures set forward in Scripture,  Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers and Elders and Deacons,  these are what I like to call the load bearing walls of The Church, if we remove these structures because they don’t fit in with our views/opinions/perspectives of the church or with our accepted modern or indeed post  - modern perspectives of the Church, we can end in trouble such as heresy,  erroneous teaching and practice or deception.

Ephesians 4:11-16 New American Standard Bible

11 And He (V)gave (W)some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as (X)evangelists, and some as pastors and (Y)teachers, 12 (Z)for the equipping of the [d]saints for the work of service, to the building up of (AA)the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to (AB)the unity of the faith, and of the [e](AC)knowledge of the Son of God, to a (AD)mature man, to the measure of the stature [f]which belongs to the (AE)fullness of Christ. 14 [g]As a result, we are (AF)no longer to be children, (AG)tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by (AH)craftiness [h]in (AI)deceitful scheming; 15 but [i]speaking the truth (AJ)in love, [j]we are to (AK)grow up in all aspects into Him who is the (AL)head, even Christ, 16 from whom (AM)the whole body, being fitted and held together [k]by what every joint supplies, according to the [l]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself (AN)in love.

2 Peter 1:16-21 New American Standard Bible

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised (AP)tales when we made known to you the (AQ)power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were (AR)eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honour and glory from God the Father, such an [h](AS)utterance as this was [i]made to Him by the (AT)Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this [j]utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the (AU)holy mountain.

19 [k]So we have (AV)the prophetic word made more (AW)sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to (AX)a lamp shining in a dark place, until the (AY)day dawns and the (AZ)morning star arises (BA)in your hearts. 20 But (BB)know this first of all, that (BC)no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for (BD)no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men (BE)moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Words for the Wise, Labourers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20:1-16 Nasb



 


Matthew 20:1-16New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Labourers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like [a]a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the labourers for a [b]denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the [c]third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. 5 Again he went out about the [d]sixth and the ninth hour, and did [e]the same thing. 6 And about the [f]eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7 They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

8 “When evening came, the [g]owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the labourers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ 9 When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a [h]denarius. 10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; [i]but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye [j]envious because I am [k]generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary

We have two things in the parable; the agreement with the labourers, and the account with them.

(1.) Here is the agreement made with the labourers (Matt. 20:1-7); and here it will be asked, as usual,

[1.] Who hires them? A man that is a householder. God is the great Householder, whose we are, and whom we serve; as a householder, he has work that he will have to be done, and servants that he will have to be doing; he has a great family in heaven and earth, which is named from Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:15), which he is Owner and Ruler of. God hires labourers, not because he needs them or their services (for, if we be righteous, what do we unto him?), but as some charitable generous householders keep poor men to work, in kindness to them, to save them from idleness and poverty, and pay them for working for themselves.

[2.] Whence they are hired? Out of the market-place, where, till they are hired into God’s service, they stand idle (Matt. 20:3), all the day idle (Matt. 20:6). Note, First, The soul of man stands ready to be hired into some service or other; it was (as all the creatures were) created to work, and is either a servant to iniquity, or a servant to righteousness, Rom. 6:19. The devil, by his temptations, is hiring labourers into his field, to feed swine. God, by his gospel, is hiring labourers into his vineyard, to dress it, and keep it, paradise-work. We are put to our choice; for hired we must be (Josh. 24:15); Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. Secondly, Till we are hired into the service of God, we are standing all the day idle; a sinful state, though a state of drudgery to Satan, may really be called a state of idleness; sinners are doing nothing, nothing to the purpose, nothing of the great work they were sent into the world about, nothing that will pass well in the account. Thirdly, The gospel call is given to those that stand idle in the market-place. The market-place is a place of concourse, and there Wisdom cries (Prov. 1:20, 21); it is a place of sport, there the children are playing (Matt. 11:16); and the gospel calls us from vanity to seriousness; it is a place of business, of noise and hurry; and from that we are called to retire. “Come, come from this market-place.”

[3.] What are they hired to do? To labour in his vineyard. Note, First, The church is God’s vineyard; it is of his planting, watering, and fencing; and the fruits of it must be to his honour and praise. Secondly, We are all called upon to be labourers in this vineyard. The work of religion is vineyard-work, pruning, dressing, digging, watering, fencing, weeding. We have each of us our own vineyard to keep, our own soul; and it is God’s and to be kept and dressed for him. In this work we must not be slothful, not loiterers, but labourers, working, and working out our own salvation. Work for God will not admit of trifling. A man may go idle to hell; but he that will go to heaven, must be busy.

[4.] What shall be their wages? He promises, First, A penny, Matt. 20:2. The Roman penny was, in our money, of the value of a seven pence half-penny, a day’s wages for a day’s work, and the wages sufficient for a day’s maintenance. This doth not prove that the reward of our obedience to God is of works, or of debt (no, it is of grace, free grace, Rom. 4:4), or that there is any proportion between our services and heaven’s glories; no, when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants; but it is to signify that there is a reward set before us, and a sufficient one. Secondly, Whatsoever is right, Matt. 20:4-7. Note, God will be sure not to be behind-hand with any for the service they do him: never any lost by working for God. The crown set before us is a crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge shall give.

[5.] For what term are they hired? For a day. It is but a day’s work that is here done. The time of life is the day, in which we must work the works of him that sent us into the world. It is a short time; the reward is for eternity, the work is but for a day; man is said to accomplish, as a hireling, his day, Job 14:6. This should quicken us to expedition and diligence in our work, that we have but a little time to work in, and the night is hastening on, when no man can work; and if our great work be undone when our day is done, we are undone for ever. It should also encourage us in reference to the hardships and difficulties of our work, that it is but for a day; the approaching shadow, which the servant earnestly desireth, will bring with it both rest, and the reward of our work, Job 7:2. Hold out, faith, and patience, yet a little while.

[6.] Notice is taken of the several hours of the day, at which the labourers were hired. The apostles were sent forth at the first and third hour of the gospel day; they had a first and a second mission, while Christ was on earth, and their business was to call in the Jews; after Christ’s ascension, about the sixth and ninth hour, they went out again on the same errand, preaching the gospel to the Jews only, to them in Judea first, and afterward to them of the dispersion; but, at length, as it were about the eleventh hour, they called the Gentiles to the same work and privilege with the Jews, and told them that in Christ Jesus there should be no difference made between Jew and Greek.

But this may be, and commonly is, applied to the several ages of life, in which souls are converted to Christ. The common call is promiscuous, to come and work in the vineyard; but the effectual call is particular, and it is then effectual when we come at the call.

First, Some are effectually called, and begin to work in the vineyard when they are very young; are sent in early in the morning, whose tender years are seasoned with grace, and the remembrance of their Creator. John the Baptist was sanctified from the womb, and therefore great (Luke 1:15); Timothy from a child (2 Tim. 3:15); Obadiah feared the Lord from his youth. Those that have such a journey to go, had need set out betimes, the sooner the better.

Secondly, Others are savingly wrought upon in middle age; Go work in the vineyard, at the third, sixth, or ninth hour. The power of divine grace is magnified in the conversion of some, when they are in the midst of their pleasures and worldly pursuits, as Paul. God has work for all ages; no time amiss to turn to God; none can say, “It is all in good time;” for, whatever hour of the day it is with us, the time past of our life may suffice that we have served sin; Go ye also into the vineyard. God turns away none that are willing to be hired, for yet there is room.

Thirdly, Others are hired into the vineyard in old age, at the eleventh hour, when the day of life is far spent, and there is but one hour of the twelve remaining. None are hired at the twelfth hour; when life is done, opportunity is done; but “while there is life, there is hope.” 1. There is hope for old sinners; for if, in sincerity, they turn to God, they shall doubtless be accepted; true repentance is never too late. And, 2. There is hope of old sinners, that they may be brought to true repentance; nothing is too hard for Almighty grace to do, it can change the Ethiopian’s skin, and the leopard’s spots; can set those to work, who have contracted a habit of idleness. Nicodemus may be born again when he is old, and the old man may be put off, which is corrupt.

Yet let none, upon this presumption, put off their repentance till they are old. These were sent into the vineyard, it is true, at the eleventh hour; but nobody had hired them, or offered to hire them, before. The Gentiles came in at the eleventh hour, but it was because the gospel had not been before preached to them. Those that have had gospel offers made them at the third, or sixth hour, and have resisted and refused them, will not have that to say for themselves at the eleventh hour, that these had; No man has hired us; nor can they be sure that any man will hire them at the ninth or eleventh hour; and therefore not to discourage any, but to awaken all, be it remembered, that now is the accepted time; if we will hear his voice, it must be to-day.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

5438 parables

Stories told to convey a general truth or spiritual message, often requiring explanation or interpretation. They were used by the prophets and featured extensively in Jesus Christ’s ministry.
Parables in the OT

Told by prophets Hos 12:10 See also 2Sa 12:1-10; 1Ki 20:35-42; Eze 17:1-18; Eze 20:49; Eze 24:3-13

Told by others Ps 78:1-2 See also Jdg 9:7-20; 2Sa 14:4-14; 2Ki 14:9-10 pp 2Ch 25:18-19; Pr 1:5-6
Parables in the ministry of Jesus Christ

Reasons for Jesus Christ’s use of parables Mt 13:10-15 pp Mk 4:10-12 pp Lk 8:9-10 See also Isa 6:9-10

Examples of parables told by Jesus Christ Mt 13:3-8 pp Mk 4:3-8 pp Lk 8:5-8 See also Mt 7:24-27 pp Lk 6:47-49 the wise and foolish builders; Mt 13:24-30,31-32 pp Mk 4:30-32 pp Lk 13:18-19 the mustard seed; Mt 13:33,44-50; Mt 18:12-14 pp Lk 15:4-7 the lost sheep; Mt 18:23-35; Mt 20:1-16; Mt 21:33-41 pp Mk 12:1-9 pp Lk 20:9-16 the tenants; Mt 22:1-14; Mt 25:1-13,14-30; Mk 4:26-29; Mk 7:14-15; Lk 10:25-37; Lk 12:16-21,35-48; Lk 14:16-24; Lk 15:8-32; Lk 18:9-14; Lk 19:12-27

Interpretations of parables given by Jesus Christ Mk 4:33-34 See also Mt 13:18-23 pp Mk 4:14-20 pp Lk 8:11-15; Mt 13:36-43; Mk 7:17-23

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