Benhar Evangelical Church

• Home
• Statement of Faith
• Services
• Online Ministry
  • Gospel Sermons
  • Teaching Sermons
  • The Benhar Banner
• Sunday School & Bible Class
• Greenrigg Evangelical Mission
• Benhar Evangelical Men's Group
• Events
• Location
• Visitors' Guide
• History
• The Covenanters
• The Christian Life
• Baptism
• Links
• Contact
• Privacy

• The Benhar Banner - Back Copies

THE BENHAR BANNER

16^th Edition

‘Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it

may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.’

(Psalm 60:4)

~

11^th July 2020

Previous Banners are available here

~

SERMON FOR SUNDAY

The following is chapter twenty-five and twenty-six of the Rev. William S. Plumer’s book, ‘The Christian.’

XXV. THE CHRISTIAN’S SORROW (CONTINUED)

The Scriptures as frequently and as urgently call on the righteous to rejoice, as they call on the wicked to weep and mourn.

It is not sinful to be sad. Blessed be God for that! ‘Jesus wept.’[1] Tears have often been the food and drink of God's people day and night. Sorrow is natural to men. It may become sinful, but it is not necessarily sinful. In fact, it is often a blessing, and does more good than gladness itself. Hear the wise man: ‘Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.’[2] The day of desperate sorrow seems to be reserved to the wicked (Isaiah 17:11). To saints, no night is without its morning. ‘Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.’[3] ‘…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.’[4] Blessed is he who has the hope of salvation to cheer him along!

David sometimes complains that his sorrow is daily, and sometimes that it is continual. Grief is often great and dries up the blood and spirits. Job says, ‘Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.’[5] We ought never to allow our sorrow to become turbulent, leading us to behave like the bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. This seems to have been one of the errors into which the man of Uz once fell (Job 6:8-11).

Frequently sorrow is incurable. When it is felt to be so, we are in danger of sinking into sullenness, or of making our hearts like a stone – both very dangerous states of mind. A much better way, the right way, is in meekness to bear it, uttering no foolish words against God or man. ‘It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.’[6] Let the sorrowful commit their ways to the Lord. ‘…all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come’[7], was one of Job's wise sayings.

Stoicism is not a virtue. When God calls us to weeping, we ought to weep. Insensibility is never pleasing to God – hardness of heart under judgments is very vile. ‘…in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: And behold joy and gladness…’. (Isaiah 22:12-13). To despise the chastening of the Lord is to despise the Lord Himself.

But sorrow may be excessive. It is right to mourn when God calls us thereto; but it is wicked to faint when we are rebuked by Him. Our moderation should be as clearly known in grief as in joy. God's people may not mourn the death of even great and godly men, as those who have no hope, or as the heathen do (Leviticus 19:28; Deuteronomy 14:1; 1^st Thessalonians 4:13). We should pray that we may not have ‘…overmuch sorrow’[8], ‘…sorrow upon sorrow’[9], or "sorrow without hope,"[10] as the Bible uses those phrases.

Nor are we any more at liberty to let our sorrow become excessive, than we are at liberty to indulge mirth to wildness. The tendency of sorrow is to break the spirit (Proverbs 15:13). But we must encourage ourselves in the Lord our God. When our sorrow is excessive, it is ‘…the sorrow of the world…’[11]. Yet who can stand when God dispenses sorrow in anger? (Job 41:10).

It is only by the Gospel that ‘…sorrow and sighing…’ are effectually made to ‘…flee away.’[12] Only by faith can men in this life enter rest. Believers, and only they, can be ‘…sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing…’. (2^nd Corinthians 6:10). To such God is indeed a stay and a friend. Hear Him: ‘…I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.’ (Jeremiah 31:25). By faith He, who was the ‘…man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…’[13], becomes our solace and our stay. Oh, ‘…consider him…’! (Hebrews 12:3; 2^nd Timothy 2:11-13).

Our great resort in times of sorrow must be the throne of grace. ‘Is any afflicted? let him pray…’[14]. David found this the best way (Psalm 116:3-4).

Reader, are you tender and pitiful to the children of sorrow? You ought to be. ‘To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend…’. (Job 6:14). Oh, be tender, and avoid all harshness in dealing with the sorrowful.

XXVI. THE CHRISTIAN'S HATRED OF ERROR

Truth is light. It makes manifest. It is one. It is harmonious. No truth contradicts any other truth. Truth has in it no jars, no discords, no contradictions. Like its Author, it is simple, eternal, and immutable. It came from God, ‘…that cannot lie…’[15], cannot deceive, cannot be mistaken, cannot be outwitted. Sin and holiness never were the same, and to all eternity they shall be different. Right and wrong cannot agree, because one is conformity to truth and the other is at war with truth. One is ‘…from above…’; the other is ‘…from beneath…’[16]. Truth is the opposite of fiction, fable, falsehood.

All truth is equally true, but all truth is not equally important. The axioms of geometry are as true as the first principles of the Gospel, yet a man may be happy, holy, and saved without knowing any mathematical truth whatever; but eternal life depends on our knowing ‘…God and Jesus Christ, whom (He) hast sent.’[17] In the arts and sciences a truth may be of great value to one man, while to him whose calling or profession is different, it is of no considerable value. But all Christian truth is of great price to every man. On it depends his eternal well-being. We cannot give too much for it. ‘Buy the truth and sell it not…’[18]. The wise men of the East took a long journey to see Him who is ‘…the way, the truth, and the life…’[19]; and they gained their object. They went on no fool's errand. It was with a great sum that the chief captain obtained the freedom of a Roman citizen. It was a grant worth having; but it reached not beyond this life. Many who had it not, lived virtuously and piously, and were happy beyond the grave. But he who has the truth is blessed forever and ever.

No deficiency is so appalling as to be left destitute of God's mercy and truth. All else is bearable. This is intolerable misery. Hezekiah justly thought it would be well with him if peace and truth were in his days. When the Messiah rides ‘…prosperously…’, it is because of ‘…truth and meekness and righteousness…’[20]. When God would pronounce a blessing on philanthropists and benefactors, He says, ‘…mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.’[21] Nor is there ever a sadder state of things in a community, than when ‘…truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.’[22]

On the other hand, a lie is the opposite of truth. It misleads, deceives, and beguiles, just as far as it is received. It is the progeny of the wicked one. When men ‘…delight in lies…’, ‘…they curse inwardly.’[23] The sentence of God is, ‘…he that speaketh lies shall perish.’[24] If any doubt God's abhorrence of lies, in the shape of falsehood to men, let them read the awful history of Gehazi. And if any doubt God's abhorrence of lies uttered to Himself, let him read the appalling story of Ananias and Sapphira.

Lies, in the shape of religious error, are greatly displeasing to God. False teachers cause the people to err by their lies. By the same means they make the heart of godly men sad. They thus afflict whom God would comfort. When men speak lies ‘…in hypocrisy…’, you may know that ‘…their conscience (is) seared with a hot iron’[25]. Just as sure as a man loves God's Word, he hates and abhors lying. Nothing is more offensive to God than false doctrine. It is a slander on the Almighty. It is a deadly poison. It eats like a cancer.

It is astonishing how bitter is the malignity of men against all who are grieved by their false doctrines. ‘A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it…’[26]. The basest passions were indulged against all the prophets and apostles and intrepid friends of truth by all the patrons of wicked dogmas.

‘…no lie is of the truth.’[27] That is, no lie is a part of the truth. No false doctrine is any part of Christianity. Pool (the Bible Commentator) said, "Any part of false doctrine does so ill match and square with the frame of Divine truth, that judicious Christians may discern they are not of a piece."

Remarks.

1. It is a solemn duty to be ‘…valiant for the truth…’[28]. Men whose profession, office, or station calls them to be so, and are not, are justly condemned of the Lord, and are put down among the greatest enemies of God and man (Jeremiah 9:3). Over a people in such a state the bitterest tears may be justly poured out. If they cannot be changed, they are utterly undone.

2. God's peace and God's truth go together. We cannot have the former without the latter. Holy writers often unite them. Why should we foolishly try to separate them? They are closely united in all good governments, in all happy families, in all virtuous people.

3. No lie has any sanctifying power. It comes from wickedness. It leads to wickedness. God may save us notwithstanding some errors, but He will not save us by means of our errors. ‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.’ (John 17:17).

4. True liberty is by the power of truth in the hands of the Holy Spirit. ‘…the truth shall make you free.’[29] All error is wicked. It enslaves. It degrades. It debases. It opposes the God of truth and the Spirit of truth.

5. The truth may be held ‘…in unrighteousness’[30]. Many have done so. It is bad not to know the truth. It is ruinous to know the truth and not obey it. Practice is the very life of piety. ‘…Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice’[31], says Christ. ‘Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.’[32][33]

A HYMN OF HOPE - tune

He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound – his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labour night and day to be a pilgrim.[34]

A CALL TO PRAYER

Continue to pray for the revival of the Church, the awakening of the lost, and a merciful deliverance from the Coronavirus Pandemic at 3 pm, in your own homes, on the Lord’s Day.

POINTS FOR PRAYER

Pray for our Queen, our governments, our National Health Service, our key workers, our country, our community, our church, and our families.

Pray for churches, missions, missionary organisations, and the persecuted church.

MEMORY VERSE

‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ (Matthew 5:9).

SPURGEON’S CATECHISM

16. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery (Romans 5:18).

PLAIN REASONS FOR KEEPING TO THE AUTHORISED VERSION

ONE, THE AUTHORISED (KING JAMES) VERSION IS BASED ON A BETTER TEXT

By “text” is meant the Hebrew and Greek wording of the Bible, from which translations are made into English and other languages. A good text is one that can be trusted as a faithful copy of the words which God originally inspired. The text of the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament is available in printed editions, which are in turn based on handwritten copies known as “manuscripts.”

The Hebrew and Greek editions which were used by the Authorised Version translators were based on only a few manuscripts. In the centuries which have passed since 1611, when the Authorised Version was published, several thousands of manuscripts have been discovered which were not used by the early translators. The majority of such manuscripts have been proved to be substantially in agreement with the Authorised Version, and the general reliability of the text used for this version has been confirmed.

From the 18^th century onwards, scholars have made increasing use of a few very old Greek manuscripts which contain a different form of text. The two best known such manuscripts are the “Codex Vaticanus,” found in the Papal Library in Rome, and “Codex Sinaiticus,” discovered at a monastery on Mount Sinai. Most modern Bible translations leave out or alter many verses to make them agree with these 4^th century manuscript copies. The assumption behind this change of text is that “the oldest manuscripts must be the best.” However, the age of a manuscript is not at all a proof of its quality. The early copies which have survived reflect a form of text which was used in Egypt during the 3^rd and 4^th centuries, and there is a grave danger that the text suffered from local influences. By following this form of text, the modern versions have revived ancient errors. Hundreds of words in the New Testament have been omitted, as well as two lengthy passages (Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:53-8.11) and dozens of complete verses.

The mass of later manuscripts, on the other hand, are undoubtedly faithful copies of the form of text which was handed down over hundreds of years in the many areas where Greek was spoken. This is known as the “majority text” or “traditional text.” The Authorised Version is largely based on this form of text, which is the safest and most trustworthy.[35]

READING THE BIBLE

I. READ THE BIBLE WITH AN EARNEST DESIRE TO
UNDERSTAND IT.

Do not be content to just read the words of Scripture. Seek to grasp the message they contain.

II. READ THE SCRIPTURES WITH A SIMPLE,
CHILDLIKE FAITH AND HUMILITY.

Believe what God reveals. Reason must bow to God's revelation.

III. READ THE WORD WITH A SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE
AND SELF-APPLICATION.

Apply what God says to yourself and obey His will in all things.

IV. READ THE HOLY SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY.

We quickly lose the nourishment and strength of yesterday's bread. We must feed our souls daily upon the manna God has given us.

V. READ THE WHOLE BIBLE AND READ IT IN AN ORDERLY WAY.

‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:’[36]

I know of no better way to read the Bible than to start at the beginning and read straight through to the end, a portion every day, comparing Scripture with Scripture.

VI. READ THE WORD OF GOD FAIRLY AND HONESTLY.

As a rule, any passage of Scripture means what it appears to mean. Interpret every passage in this simple manner, in its context.

VII. READ THE BIBLE WITH CHRIST CONSTANTLY IN VIEW.

The whole Book is about Him. Look for Him on every page. He is there. If you fail to see Him there, you need to read that page again.[37]

BIBLE QUIZ

QUESTIONS FROM THE BOOK OF FIRST SAMUEL (PART ONE)

1. What were the names of Eli’s two sons?
2. What did Eli tell Samuel to say in answer to God’s call?
3. What did Phinehas’ wife name her child when she heard that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and husband were dead?
4. What happened the statue of Dagon when the ark was placed before it?
5. Where did Israel turn back to God under Samuel’s ministry?
6. Where were Israel’s elders when they insisted on having a king?
7. Where was Saul proclaimed king?

 

ANSWERS FOR LAST WEEK’S QUIZ

1. Elimelech (Ruth 1:2)
2. Orpah (Ruth 1:14-15)
3. At the beginning of barley harvest (Ruth 1:22)
4. Boaz (Ruth 2:1-3)
5. Six (Ruth 3:14-17)
6. He took it off and gave it to his neighbour (Ruth 4:7)
7. David (Ruth 4:17)

 

Rev. Ian S.D. Loughrin
The Evangelical Manse, 59 Baillie Avenue, Harthill, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5SY
benharpastor@live.co.uk
01501751887

~

• Benhar Evangelical Church
• Covenanter Road
• Eastfield, Harthill
• North Lanarkshire
• ML7 5PB

01501751887
Email Us