DESPISING THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS
Text: "Who hath despised the day of small things?’ (Zech. 4:10)
It is the nature of carnal men to think carnally, and to judge things materially instead of spiritually. They walk by sight and not by faith, and as they look upon outward appearances, they see the husk and not the corn, the shell but not the yolk. So, Naaman saw the Syrian rivers to be cleaner than the muddy Jordan –but God was glorified by the Jordan.
Men in their natural state despise small things and become infatuated with things that appear to be great. But while they reproach and condemn things that appear to them to be insignificant, "God’s thoughts are not their thoughts because His ways are not their ways." (Is. 55:8)
God often raises up great men from along the lowliest of men.
So, Saul saw elevated to be king when he was humble and shy, and when the day came for showing Israel their king, he was "hiding among the stuff." and, Israel was chosen by God when he was smallest among the nations. "Who hath despised the day of small things?"
The Kingdom of Heaven that now spreads her branches into all the earth began as a grain of mustard seed. (Matt. 11:32) And, the stone disallowed by the builders is become head of the corner. And, the cloud that appeared as a man’s hand in the days of Elijah soon filled the Heavens. "Who hath despised the day of small things?"
From Abraham, as good as dead, sprang Christ – even as a root out of a dry ground.
The Son of God had neither form nor comeliness that we should desire Him. Handsomeness eluded Him: neither did men like Him but they despised and rejected Him.
The Lord of Heaven, the King of every king was a man of sorrows and intimately acquainted with grief. And, although we esteemed Him not, yet surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.
Moses stood alone on coming out of Egypt. Aaron might have been his spokesman, but he was not a dependable man as seen in the rebellion of their sister Miriam, and again in the incident involving the golden calf.
Elijah stood alone in the days of Ahab. It is true there were 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal, but they were in hiding.
Isaiah stood alone in Jerusalem, and Ezekiel stood alone in Babylon. Each man of God must stand alone: he cannot rely upon others. This is the cross each must bear.
The reason God uses people who are lowly and despised is that no flesh should glory in His sight." He chose a shepherd, Amos, to be His prophet but He NEVER chose a priest or high priest: they were part of the problem on the religious scene.
In every age, saints have had to rebuke great men – kings and princes, priests, even scholars whose education was fully accredited. Who is this that darkens counsel by despising the day of small things?
Ambrose stood alone in his day; and when the world had embraced Arian Christianity, ancient Unitarianism, Athanasius stood alone in defense of the Word of God. The majority was wrong, as were they who were fully certified and installed to the chairs of higher learning.
One day, an enemy of the Gospel accosted the man of God.
"Do you not know the world is against you?" To whom Athanasius calmly replied, "Then I am against the world."
Augustine stood alone in a day when the largest portion of the professing Church embraced Pelagianism, or religious humanism --the forerunner of Arminianism. Among their tenets was a denial of original sin. God raised up Augustine, and he thundered the doctrines of grace that were enunciated by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul.
Paul affirmed to the Corinthians, "Not many wise men after the flesh are called; not many mighty are called; not many noble are called." God has chosen them whom the world considers to be foolish to confound them who deem themselves to be wise. He has chosen them whom the world despises as being weak and base to confound the mighty. These are the people God has chosen that no flesh should glory, or boast in His presence. (I Cor. 1:26-19)
Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, and chose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. He did it by faith--a faith that was a conviction.
By faith he esteemed the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. He had been groomed by the royal family to be Prime Minister of Egypt second only to Pharaoh. The reason he disassociated himself from royalty to identify himself with the enslaved Israelites was that he had respect unto the recompense of reward. (Heb. 11:24-26)
Consider the Apostle Paul. He was circumcised the 8th day, an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, "an Hebrew of the Hebrews." As touching the Law, he was Pharisee, and as touching the righteousness which is in the Law, he was blameless. But he counted these things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. He counted them as dung, so long as he might have Him. (Phil. 3:3-8)
Unlike other ministers of Christ, Paul was in labors more abundant than they. He suffered stripes above measure and was more frequently in prisons. He was often in death.
Five times the Jews beat him 39 stripes. Three times he was beaten with rods. Once he was stoned. He suffered shipwreck 3 times and spent a night and a day in the sea.
He undertook many journeys, and was subjected to the dangers of highwaymen. He suffered at the hands of his own countrymen as well as at the hands of the heathen. He experienced danger in the cities where there is congested living and a concentration of evil, and he experienced dangers in the wilderness where there was none to help.
Paul risked his life and his high birth and chose instead to suffer fatigue, pain, hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness. And, all the while he felt the care of the churches and of the brethren. Yet he said that if he must glory, he would glory in his infirmities. (II Cor. 11:18-30)
Consider Christ’s commission to His disciples that they "provide neither gold nor silver nor brass" in their purses, nor script for their journey, neither 2 coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: "for the workman is worthy of his meat."
"Behold," Jesus said, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues, and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake for a testimony against then and the Gentiles." (Matt. 10:5-10, 16-18) But, "Who hath despised the day of small things?"
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Himself the Son of God made Himself of no reputation, but took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the cross. (Phil. 2:5-8)
"Who hath despised the day of small things?" "Who?"-–Who dares to do it? "Who?" but carnal, natural men who walk by sight and not by faith, "Who?" but them who look upon the outward appearance and who have no better understanding than to judge things materially and according to the standards of this world? Who does it? --not wise men, but fools.
Text:"...Thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and...My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hosts." (Jeremiah 2:19b) "...These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation." (Justice David Brewer in Holy Trinity Church v United States, 1892, p.471)
This was a Landmark Supreme Court decision because it was the "Opinion of the Court" and not the opinion of one Justice. Armed with this case, Justice George Sutherland declared,
"...We are a Christian people..." (United States V MacIntosh, 1931, p.575)
Question no.1 -- "In what sense did Justice Brewer mean 'this is a Christian nation?'"
Answer-- Justice Brewer cited Chancellor James Kent in People V Ruggles as proof that America is a Christian nation. Speaking as Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court Chancellor Kent said, "The people of this state, in common with the people of this country, profess the general doctrines of Christianity as the rule of their faith and practice.... The free, equal and undisturbed enjoyment of religious opinion, whatever it may be, and free and decent discussions on any religious subject is granted and secured; but to revile with malicious and blasphemous contempt the religion professed by almost the whole community is an abuse of that right. Nor or we bound by any expressions in the Constitution as some have strangely supposed, either not to punish at all, or to punish indiscriminately the like attacks upon the religion of Mahomet or of the Grand Lama; and for this plain reason, that the case assumes that we are a Christian people, and the morality of the country is deeply ingrafted upon Christianity, and not upon the doctrines of worship of those imposters."
Question no.2--"What about the First Amendment to the Constitution?" Answer-- In A Familiar Exposition of the Constitution of the United States, Harvard Law professor and Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story wrote,
"We are not to attribute this prohibition of a national religious establishment to an indifference to religion in general, and especially to Christianity, (Which none could hold in more reverence than the frames of the Constitution)..." (First Amendment, p. 259) "...Probably at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, and of the amendments to it, now under consideration, the general, if not the universal sentiment in America was that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the State, so far a such encouragement was not incompatible with the private rights of conscience and the freedom of religious worship. An attempt to level all religions, and to make it a matter of state policy to hold all in utter indifference would have created universal disapprobation, if not universal indignation." (ibid., p.261)
And again he wrote,
"The real object of the First Amendment was not to countenance, much less to advance Mahometism, or Judaism, or infidelity by protrasting Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects and to prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment which should give to an hierarchy the exclusive patronage of the national government."
Question no.3--- "Is this the way the Constitution is currently being interpreted?" Answer-- No, it is not; because to our shame we have forsaken the God of our fathers.
A Call to Repentance by
THE PILGRIM'S BIBLE CHURCH
Timothy Fellows, Pastor 638 Crawford Ave Telephone: 737-8570
JULY 9, 1755
Pennsylvania. The French and Indians defeat General Edward Braddock. George Washington has joined the General as an aide. An eyewitness who observed Mr. Washington declared, "I expected him every moment to see him fall. Nothing but the superintending care of Providence could have saved him."
An Indian chief, probably a Shawnee, singled out Mr. Washington with his rifle and commanded others to follow his example. Consequently, Mr. Washington had two horses shot from under him, and four bullets entered his coat --yet he escaped without a wound. "Some potent manitou protects his life," the chief observed.
The disasters of the year caused alarm, and a new expedition was planned. "Come to the help of the Lord against the mighty," was the cry raised. "You that value our holy religion and our liberties will spare nothing even to the one-half of your estates."
In every village the prayers of God’s people ascended that they "might be crowned with victory to the glory of God;" for the war with France was understood to be a war for Protestantism and freedom.
(You need "OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY." 3 vols. -$ 45.)
OF MUSIC AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
From the Preface to the 1824 Primitive Methodist Hymn Book --
"None should be suffered to take any part in leading the singing service but such as can ‘sing with grace in their hearts unto the Lord.’ These are the people whom the Lord calls into this service; and their faith and piety is a blessing to all the people. (Page vi)
"...Great caution should be used in admitting musical instruments into public worship. And none but decidedly pious persons should on any account be allowed to play on any musical instrument in the congregation during the time of worship.... But whenever they admit any person whose life does not adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour to play on any instrument in the congregation, or to take any part in leading the singing service, they may at once say, THE GLORY IS DEPARTED." (Page xii)
-submitted by Mrs. Carris Kocher