Bits and Pieces – 49th Edition – February 7, 2021

The children of Israel, not long after leaving Egypt in the exodus, began to grumble and complain.  Their beef?  Lack of food.  The Lord miraculously provided quails to eat.  Then followed the amazing miracle of “Manna” [Exodus 16].  Not too many people realize how great a miracle that was.

We have a fair idea of the number of people involved – about 2 million. (600,000 men above 20, plus women and children) [Exodus 12:37].  An “omer” (6 pints) was provided for each person [Exodus 16:16].  The total amount for one day was 12 million pints.  In modern terms, it would take about 112 large tractor-trailers to drive up to the Israel camp daily.

However, God supplied manna for the full forty years in the wilderness [Joshua 5:12]. That would need an astounding 50 million tons, or about 1.6 million tractor-trailers full of manna.  That gives some idea of the enormity of the miracle.

Congratulations to Vikki and Stephen (Cub) McClelland on the safe arrival of Kayden John late on January 28.  He was 8lb. 3oz. at birth.  Mother and baby are fine.  Kayden is the tenth great-grandchild to May and Frank McClelland.

“Wilt thou not revive us again?” [Psalm 85:6].

Psalm 85 is a prayer of David for revival.  What God had done in past days inspired him to look forward in faith and prayer that He would do it again.  In verse 6 we have three great principles of revival.

Notice first of all the source of revival.  David recognized the sovereignty of God; only God can send revival.  It is not something the church works up, but something the Lord sends down.  Isaiah prayed, “Oh, that Thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might flow at Thy presence” [Isaiah 64:1].  David also speaks of the subject of revival.  “Wilt thou not revive us again?  The emphasis needs to be placed upon us.  Believers are the subjects of revival.  We all need the breath of the Holy Spirit to quicken and revive us in our service for the Master.

Finally, we have the song of revival.  One of the fruits of true revival is that of song and spiritual rejoicing when revival comes, God’s people come back to the fountain of joy, the Lord himself, and they begin to rejoice in who He is and what He has done.[Dr. Stanley Barnes]

Sin is basically disobedience.  God told Adam and Eve “Don’t,” but they “did,” and thus they sinned.  Some argue that they are not big sinners, but every person has committed the greatest sin.  What is the greatest sin?  Disobeying the greatest commandment.  Jesus identified it as, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”  [Matthew 22:36].  No one has kept that commandment perfectly.  We are all guilty, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”  [Romans 3:23].

When we come to Christ, God forgives our sins and cleanses them away.  What He does is an amazing demonstration of His mercy. Read and meditate on these.  You will be blessed.

“Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” [Micah 7:9].

“Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back” [Isaiah 38:17.  43:25.  44:22].

“ I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.  Return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” [Jeremiah 31: 34].

“I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more”  [Hebrews 8:12].

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“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” [1 John 1:7]

The Whitefield Christian Schools have been on virtual teaching since the New Year, but the Ontario government announced that schools would be permitted back in class on February 16.  Staff and students are pleased with the prospect of meeting together again. At present, the restrictions on churches remain in place but, hopefully, that will change shortly.

The Toronto church is technically able to be open, but with a maximum of ten people.  However, it continues to broadcast each Sunday on sermonaudio at 11.00 am and 6.30 pm, with the pre-service prayer time at 5.50 pm on Zoom.   The Wednesday prayer meeting is at 7.30 pm also on Zoom.