Web Chapel

Category: A Word With Friends

These are short devotional studies based on a single word or short phrase. Most are observations and lessons discovered in the life my family and me.

  • Suffering

    SUFFERING FOR CHRIST

    North 56th Street Gospel Chapel
    11/26/2023
    John Bromfield

    Suffering is to be Expected
    Acts 9:16 “The things he must suffer”
    2 Corinthians 11:23-27
    Philippians 1:29

    Suffering Promotes Character
    Romans 5:1-5

    Suffering Promotes Courage
    Acts 4:19-29

    Suffering Promotes Confidence (Boldness)
    Philippians 1:19-21

    Suffering Promotes Godliness
    2 Timothy 3:11-12

    Suffering Promotes Joy
    Acts 16:22-25

    Suffering Provides Rewards
    Romans 8:18

    Pray for those Suffering
    Hebrews 13:3

    Suffering Promotes Patience
    1 Peter 2:20

    Suffering for Well Doing
    1 Peter 3:15-17

    Suffering Glorifies God
    1 Peter 4:14-16

    Suffering is the better Choice
    Hebrews 11:24-27

  • On My Side

    “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6)

    At first, this verse may bring an “Amen” from those that read it. The LORD is on my side! What could be better than that? It reminds of what Paul told the Romans in Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

    The second half of this verse may also give rise to agreement. That is, until we discover first-hand what man can do unto us. History reveals that men can be and have been very cruel unto their fellow men. Psalm 118 is among the writings of the Jews who believed on the LORD. The history of mankind with the Israelites is not kind, and ought to be an embarrassment. The things that they have endured, even in the Old Testament times, are harsh beyond description. “…what can man do unto me?”

    But hear what Jesus told His disciples as recorded in Luke 12:4 and 5, “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” This is what the writer of Psalm 118 expressed. The fear of the LORD is more important than the fear of man. Jesus told them, and us today, that they were not to fear men.

    What can man do unto us? Plenty! But the worst that they can do is to kill the body. This is something we do fear. Perhaps not while we are sitting and reading our email. But at those times when we feel that we are threatened we do fear. As someone once said, “It’s not that I am afraid to die. Just, how fast!” But Jesus said that after they have done so, there is nothing else that men can do. And, the death of the body is not the end. Jesus said that the One we should fear is the One Who has the power to cast into Hell. When He was on earth, Jesus spoke more often about Hell than He did about Heaven. It is a real place, and to be avoided.

    Consider how mankind treated Jesus, as told in Mark 14:65 and Mark 15:19, “And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.”, “And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.” He was also arrested by a mob, beaten with whips, and subjected to a mock trial, hung on a cross by nails, and much more. It is no wonder that He prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39) Certainly the LORD, His Father, was on Jesus side, and He went eyes-wide-open to the cross, fearing His Father more than man.

    The writer of this psalm spoke of the LORD being on his side. The worst men can do is to kill the body. As he put it, “What can man do unto me?” As awful as mankind can be in their treatment of their fellow man, eternal things are waiting, and to be headed for Heaven is eternally better than what this life has to offer. With the LORD on his side, he need not fear eternal torment in Hell.

    That mankind will treat His followers the way treated Jesus is seen in Luke 6:22, 23 where Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Rejoice, He told His disciples, because your reward in heaven is great!

    When the sacrifice of the LORD Jesus Christ is applied to the lives of believers, God is on their side. Our eternal state is secure and is glorious beyond our knowing. What can man do unto me? They can kill the body, but after that there is nothing more that they can do. Eternal blessings are as certain as God’s promise. As Paul wrote in Romans 8:38, 39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    In 1 Corinthians 15:50, 53-57 Paul wrote, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. …this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

    The Lord appears my helper now,
    Nor is my faith afraid
    What all the sons of earth can do,
    Since Heav’n affords its aid.

    ’Tis safer, Lord, to hope in Thee,
    And have my God my friend,
    Than trust in men of high degree,
    And on their truth depend.

    Like bees my foes beset me round,
    A large and angry swarm;
    But I shall all their rage confound
    By Thine almighty arm.

    ’Tis through the Lord my heart is strong,
    In Him my lips rejoice;
    While His salvation is my song,
    How cheerful is my voice! (Isaac Watts)

  • He Forgave

    “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.” (Psalm 78:38)

    Psalm 78 refers to the release of Israel from Egypt by God’s hand. In it, Israel’s unfaithfulness to the LORD is shown. For example, verses 35-37 say, “And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.” Though the LORD had been gracious to them, and had mightily delivered them from Egypt, yet they turned from Him and worshipped idols.

    But the wonderful thing in the above verse is what it tells about God’s character. It is revealed in how He reacted to their treatment of Him. And verse 39 explains why He did what He did, “For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”

    First, we are told that He is full of compassion. Or, He is merciful. Mercy is extended only where offense has occurred, it is not necessary for someone who is innocent. He was merciful to them in their sin against Him. Had God not been merciful, His justice would require punishment for their sin. Again, verse 39 explains the immediate reason for His compassion. Psalm 103:14 puts it this way, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”

    Then, because of His mercy, He forgave their iniquity. Since God is the offended party in all sin, He is the only one that can forgive it. It is wonderful to know that God is willing to forgive. When Jesus taught about forgiveness, He and Peter had a discussion. In Matthew 18:21, 22 we read, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” This kind of forgiveness is not just for us to offer. He, too, forgives to beyond 490 times. The fact is that we have all offended God so many more times than that.

    Then we are told that He did not destroy them. God had made promises to Israel about the inheritance which He would give them. Had He destroyed them because of their sin, He would have been unable to keep those promises. Before He made them, He knew in what way they would sin against Him. He made a plan by which He would be able to forgive their sin. Because of this plan He did not destroy them, though surely they deserved it, and even though He had every right to do so.

    Many times He turned away His anger. This is one side of a coin concerning God’s dealings with His people. He deferred His anger. We have all endured when someone, even of our family, has done something that has caused us to be angry. But as we consider what was done, and who it was that had done it, we set aside our anger for their sake. It is something we choose to do. As noted before, Jesus spoke of forgiving, and told Peter that he should forgive many times. Here, God turned away His anger many times. He deferred His righteous anger against them.

    And, many times He did not stir up all His wrath. This is the other side of the coin. When He did move with anger, He did not stir up all His wrath. In Ezra 9:13, Ezra said, “And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this…” Judah was back in the land that God had given them after seventy years of captivity. Ezra brought up the obvious. They had received less than what their iniquities deserved.

    God says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is not only physical death, but it is also spiritual death, or separation from Him in Hell. This is why Jesus died. He took in mankind’s place the punishment that they deserve for sin. This was God’s plan from before the foundation of the world. And on this basis God can show the mercy and forgiveness that is His nature. Since His wrath was poured out on Jesus, His justice was satisfied. Sadly, not everyone receives the sacrifice of Jesus as being for them. But, for those that do there is mercy, grace, forgiveness, and assurance of eternal life.

    In Romans 5:6-10 Paul said, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 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.”

    As David said in Psalm 32:1, 2, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

    This is Who God is, compassionate, gracious, and forgiving. It is He that planned, even before creating us, to reconcile mankind to Himself through Jesus Christ!

    Great God of wonders! all Thy ways

    Display Thine attributes divine;

    But the bright glories of thy grace

    Above Thine other wonders shine:

    CHORUS

    Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

    Or who has grace so rich and free?

    Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

    Or who has grace so rich and free?

    Such deep transgressions to forgive!

    Such guilty sinners thus to spare!

    This is Thy grand prerogative,

    And in this honor none shall share:

    CHORUS

    Pardon, from an offended God!

    Pardon, for sins of deepest dye!

    Pardon, bestowed through Jesus’ blood!

    Pardon, that brings the rebel nigh!

    CHORUS (Samuel Davies)

  • You Will Suffer

    “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.” – Revelation 2:10

    What news this was for the believers in Smyrna. It is startling to think about the things that they were told. It was what they were going to endure. Jesus promised them prison, trial, and tribulation. What would one do with such news? But they were not the first to hear such things.

    In John 21:18, 19 Jesus told Peter, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

    Jesus told Peter that when he would become old he would be carried to a place to which he would not want go. In verse 19, John included the insight that Jesus was indicating to Peter by what death he would die: by what death he would glorify God. Peter was then told to follow Jesus. From reading the book of Acts it is clear that Peter did just that. Tradition tells us that he died by crucifixion.

    In Acts 9:15, 16, the Lord was speaking to Ananias concerning Saul, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

    Ananias was sent by the LORD to speak to Saul. Saul had just met the Lord on the road to Damascus. The encounter blinded him, and Ananias was sent to heal Saul’s sight. As the Lord sent Ananias, He told him that He would show to Saul what great things he would suffer for His sake. We know from scripture that for two weeks Saul, by then called Paul, endured a hurricane in a boat on the Mediterranean Sea. Though scripture does not tell us, tradition tells us that he was beheaded. The book of Acts as well as the epistles reveal other things that he suffered. The Lord told Paul what he would suffer for Jesus’ name’s sake.

    In John 16:32, 33, Jesus told His disciples, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

    Jesus Himself knew what was coming as He entered the human race. His death was no accident, it was why He came. Here, He told His disciples that they would abandon Him, but that He was not alone. His Father was with Him. He then tells them that they shall have tribulation. But in that tribulation He told them to be of good cheer! And why should they be of good cheer? Because He has overcome the world. The bad news of tribulation is offset by the wonderful news that He has overcome the world.

    Then, in Luke 6:22, 23, Jesus told His disciples, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”

    Jesus told His disciples that they are blessed when men hated them and separated them from their company. He promised that they would be reproached and reviled, and falsely accused for His name’s sake. They were to rejoice in that day, and leap for joy. They were promised such trials and tribulations, but they were promised a great reward in heaven. The people of Smyrna were promised a crown of life.

    In Acts 5 the story is told of the disciples, including Peter, being taken by the authorities, and beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus. In verses 40 and 41 we are told, “… and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

    They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. What had happened was what the Lord promised in Luke 6, and He told them to rejoice in the day when these things came upon them. And so they did!

    Like the people of Smyrna Peter, Paul, Jesus, and His disciples were told of the trials that they were going to face. The reason for the trials is the fact that the world hates God, and His people. This means that all His people, including saints to this day, should expect the same treatment. As Jesus said before, “In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The things of this world are temporary. Jesus has overcome the world, and will bless His people with eternal benefits: a great reward in heaven, and crowns of life, to name only two. So, Paul told the Thessalonians, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Jesus told His disciples to rejoice. And Jesus told the people of Smyrna, “Fear not.”

    God moves in a mysterious way
    His wonders to perform;
    He plants His footsteps in the sea
    And rides upon the storm.

    Deep in unfathomable mines
    Of never failing skill
    He treasures up His bright designs
    And works His sovereign will.

    Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
    The clouds ye so much dread
    Are big with mercy and shall break
    In blessings on your head.

    Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
    But trust Him for His grace;
    Behind a frowning providence
    He hides a smiling face.

    His purposes will ripen fast,
    Unfolding every hour;
    The bud may have a bitter taste,
    But sweet will be the flower.

    Blind unbelief is sure to err
    And scan His work in vain;
    God is His own interpreter,
    And He will make it plain. (William Cowper)

  • Have Not

    Joshua 1:9

         “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

    Joshua and the children of Israel were on the border of the Promised Land. All that stood in their way was the Jordan River. Forty years before, Joshua had gone into the land as a spy. On that day he reported on the blessings of the land, and he recommended that they go in and take it. Now, he knew what the land was like, and he knew what the challenges would be. The giants that frightened Israel were still there.

    The Lord’s words to Joshua in Joshua 1:9 were an encouragement to him after the death of Moses. He was chosen by God to be Moses’ replacement as leader of Israel. He would be the one to lead Israel across the Jordan river and into the Promised Land. He would lead the armies, and divide the land to the tribes of Israel, which God had promised them.

    First, the LORD asked Joshua, “Have not I commanded thee?” The first thing God wanted him to remember was that God had commanded him to fill this role. Since God was the One that selected Joshua for it, and He would be the One that would guide and direct. To turn away would be to disobey God.

    This is a good question for all of mankind. Hasn’t God commanded us concerning many things? In Exodus 20 the LORD gave the ten commandments to the Israelites. They are God’s commands. His commands guided Israel’s relationship with Himself and with each other: Have no other gods before you, do not use His name vainly, worship Him, do not lie, do not commit adultery, honor your mother and father, do not covet what is your neighbor’s, do not steal, do not kill. Wouldn’t things be better if we obeyed Him in all that we say and do and think? Has He not commanded us?

    Then, God told Joshua to “be strong and of a good courage.” From reading the whole of Joshua 1, it seems that Joshua was a timid man. In just the first nine verses of this chapter the LORD tells Joshua three times to be courageous, or to have courage. Twice in Deuteronomy 31, Moses told Joshua to have courage. And once in Joshua 1, the Israelites told him to be courageous. Joshua apparently needed this, and the LORD met him where he was. The work was given to him and he would need to do it with courage. He would accomplish nothing sitting back. So, the Lord told him to be strong and of a good courage.

    Similarly, in 1 Timothy 6:11, 12 Paul told him, “…follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” He was telling Timothy to courageously live the Christian life. And through his words to Timothy, all believers are encouraged to be serving God, fighting the good fight. In Ephesians 6:11-13 Paul told them, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” As the Lord told Joshua, be strong and of a good courage.

    Then God told Joshua to “be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.” God was not pulling punches. He knew that there would be trials and troubles as they took the land. But He wanted Joshua to take up the task. With the assurances of His presence, and the command to be courageous, Joshua had what he needed to carry out God’s plans. In Luke 6:22, 23 the Lord Jesus Christ told His followers, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” To hear God tell us to not fear ought to be the greatest assurance of all. To hear Him tell us to anticipate that there will be problems, and rejoice, is a blessing. Be not afraid.

          Finally, God promised to be with Joshua in everything and everywhere he went. He was told by God that God was with him in his efforts, and so he should be confident in the things he determined to do. Joshua died at 110 years, as recorded in the end of the book. His whole life was directed by God, even as He had promised. Joshua told the people in Joshua 23:14, “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”

     Quoting from Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Or, as Joshua heard it, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

    How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

    Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

    What more can He say than to you He hath said,

    You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

    Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

    For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

    I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand

    Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

    When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

    The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;

    For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

    And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

    When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,

    My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

    The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

    Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

    The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,

    I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

    That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

    I’ll never, no never, no never forsake. (John Rippon)