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New Carts, Strange Fire and Wild Grapes September 20, 2001

(I got the idea for this message from Dr. B. Kirkland’s excellent book titled New Carts, Strange Fire, Wild Grapes or The Local Church? [Fair Havens Baptist Church, Box 501, Sarnia, ON N7T 7J4]. The outline, however, is original with me.)

Introduction: We need to stay with the Bible when it comes to our service for the LORD.

New Carts:

2 Samuel 6:1-11,

Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

  1. It is faster: faster is not always better, it is not always God’s will to get the job done quickly. There is blessing and often character development in toiling for the LORD.

    2. Who would think that starting churches via mission boards would be sinful? Just as sinful in fact as moving the ark by an ox cart. Folks today are calling rebellious action the blessings of God! If we can run 50 the first month God must be in it they reason. (I guess God isn’t in the church that takes 10 years to reach 50.). Just as David reasoned that travelling in style with little effort would be blessed by God.

  2. It is fashionable: It looked better and more dignified. Passing out tracts on a street corner is not fashionable but it is the Bible way to go out into the highways and hedges. Having church meetings may not be "groovy" but that is what God commands. I met a man who wanted to know if we had a Christian bookstore but was not interested in our church. He preferred the New Cart of fellowship at home…no pastor, no rules, no accountability and probably no offering.

    3. Show me a mission board in the Bible. Look at Acts 13 and you will see God’s program. Show me a denominational fellowship(it is practically here among the "Independent" Baptists-give it 10 years and you’ll see an organized fellowship form. Show me a Bible College, as most are fashioned today, in the Bible. But everyone is doing it! Yes, the Philistines were moving the Ark around in carts as well(I Sam. 6:7-8) but that did not make it right.

  3. It is fatal: Doing the work another way -other than God’s way will not only destroy the work but will prove fatal to the lost and to the growth of God’s people. Unscriptural methods will not yield a Biblical harvest. The lost will not be influenced by extra-Biblical methods and the growth of Christians will be stunted at best. Unscriptural works will not last a generation-they may "play church" for a couple of generations but Icabod will be written over the door.

Strange Fire:

I spoke with a woman on the phone yesterday who is offering strange fire before the LORD. She has no problem with this even after being confronted with the Bible.

Numbers 26:61,

And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

  1. Dearth: A barrenness of spirituality. They were going to worship as they pleased but God was not pleased. I spoke with someone yesterday who was in a charismatic church and was not concerned about the unscriptural practices. God must be worshipped in Spirit and in truth!

  2. Diminishing: The ranks of Bible believers are thinned out.

    3. Numbers 3:4, And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.

  3. Destruction: The LORD destroys the works that offer strange fire. We never read that their censures were ever used again but no doubt perished with them in the fire.

What is the result of doing things our way?

When Moses struck the rock twice water still came out. He still saw results but when it was all over he lost his reward. He was not permitted to enter in to the Promised Land. I believe many will be surprised at the Bema Judgement…

The result of doing things our way will ultimately be:

Wild Grapes:

Isaiah 5:1-6,

Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

  1. Sour: Problem people. I do not mean people with problems. I mean trouble. There are many old sourpusses in churches today. Apply this in one of two ways: lost people or rebellious Christians. Folks who come around know if things are being done right. If they see us rebel and go against the Bible in our service we will beget rebels to the things of God; either with unregenerate church members or saved but sour members.

  2. Selfish: Self-centeredness as opposed to God-centeredness. When things are done for pragmatic reasons based on our own human thinking we will see selfish fruit on the vine.

  3. Sinful: rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Doing things our way is rebellion before God! Sometimes the brethren forget that.

As I drove down Yonge Street on Monday, I was thanking God for His blessings with tears in my eyes. There was a time when I did not do things God’s way and I paid dearly for it. I lost my job, my apartment and my ability to walk and was put into the worst place a person can be in Canada: Seaton House. Seaton House is the largest hostel in Canada but I was not even in the hostel side (a temporary place) but I was put on the residence side because there was no other place I could go for medical care (some of you ought to remember where you came from to drive that wicked pride out of you). I was there for a long time until an apartment opened up.

And there I was driving down Yonge Street in a new church van with a wife and two children and another on the way. I am doing something that I enjoy doing. There is nothing I would rather do than pastor Toronto Baptist Church. Seeing folks get baptized tonight and seeing you all growing and God blessing! Praise the LORD!

Do not grow weary in well doing. Do not tire of doing things God’s way in God’s organization-the New Church. It will be worth it all when we stand before the LORD.