A Tale of Two Captains, Show 313, Replay

Transcript from show #313 Replay 

(Please note that the transcripts are written pretty well as they were delivered on air).

Radio Show...

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Opening Narrative

A few weeks ago I was doing some reading and research for up-coming programs and something triggered a remembering of a book I had read a while ago on life aboard a sub-marine and how this ship is just a great big piece of metal without a soul until the crew comes on board which then gives the ship a soul of its own…

Then as I continued working on this, I was reminded of another book I read a while ago about a destroyer ship that accompanied convoys of carrier ships across the Atlantic during WWII…

Both of these stories had to do with good ship captains and bad ones….

And then during that same time, I came across an article written by a well known preacher giving a scriptural outline of what is the church...

So I will put this all together in this program today which is going to be amazing…

Let’s open the service with this wonderful bluegrass song….

(Opening Music interlude on the live radio show)

(Let us pray...
The Lord's Prayer...
Praise God Doxology...
Worship Music...)

Narrative #1

So as I said in my opening comment, I’m going to put together the 3 elements of my reading and research, the Holy Spirit showed me as I was preparing for this radio show today… which ended up with this message that I entitled “A Tale of Two Captains”…

It all began with an article I came across, about a scriptural outline of what is the church, written by a well know preacher, and then the two stories I mentioned earlier about a sub-marine and a destroyer ship – two separate incidences but two similar stories about the effect on the crew of two different captains at the helm -- a good captain and a bad captain.

And it’s really still about good leadership which was the gist of the previous three programs on the book of Nehemiah…

Somehow the Lord is showing that leadership – good, strong leadership – is important in His Church…

So let’s start with the scriptural outline of the Church, so that we understand what – or as I prefer : who is the church…

Who is the church?

If you asked a group of believers, as I have done recently, “What is the Church”, you would probably get 2 or 3 varied responses - - the believers in Christ, the body of Christ, the Church of Christ… that sort of thing… and of course to the believers, we know that we are the bride of Christ--

However -- and I have to segwe into this right here… to some people there would be another response very concrete and common among them… and this I found out when I was being interviewed by numerous radio stations throughout the U.S. on the publication of my book 24 Hot Potatoes in the Church Today…

I discovered that whenever a Jewish person interviewed me, the title of my book which includes the word “Church”, meant to them “the Catholic Church”… and that drove the conversation into a whole different topic that the book is not aimed at…

so I had to immediately clarify this right at the onset of an interview… so I used the term “the body of Christ” to refer to “the church”, but that meant still the same thing to them… so then I began to use “the body of believers”…

…because Jews are also believers… they believe in the same God Christians believe in – and that is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… according to the Torah and the Old and New Testaments.

So let’s get back to the scriptural outline of what the church really is...

Matthew 16:18-19

It all starts off in the first book of the New Testament… Matthew 16:18-19, where Jesus said: “… I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…” (c. A.D. 29)

Jesus here takes full responsibility for His church… building, protecting and empowering it – and He meant that to be throughout the generations….

and then Jesus continues: “… and I will give unto you” (speaking to Peter and the disciples) “the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be found in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

And we, the church, have been doing this ever since the Pentecost of Acts chapter 2.

The Word of God tells us that from that point on, Jesus began to show his disciples how he was to go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day… (verse 21 of Matthew 16).


Then a short time later, after His prophesied death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, we read in the book of Acts, in chapter 2, on the Day of Pentecost where the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit and how the Lord added to the church by the thousands as the disciples proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And we have a description of these people who responded to the message of the gospel in 1 Peter 2:4: “ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ…

--a spiritual house of which Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone – and every stone is one believing individual…

--a holy priesthood… In the Old Testament the priests were the only people allowed access to God in the temple. They mediated between God and the people, offered sacrifices on their behalf and instructed the people God’s Word and the Law…

but now, the church was empowered to do that directly on their own behalf… through the chief corner stone… Hebrews 10;19-20: “having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us, through the veil that is to say, his flesh…” and offering ourselves as living sacrifices of praise, and thanksgiving to God (Hebrews 13:15-16).

How is that?

Because we have been made a royalty priesthood: 1 Peter 2:9:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Wow, how magnificient the church is! And I need to remind us that the church is not a denomination—it is a nation made up of all the believers in Jesus Christ – Jews and Gentiles. Whosoever believes on Him. We are all one in Christ Jesus and our citizenship is in heaven.

However and unfortunately, you wouldn’t think so by the way we see so called “Christians” today behave with one another... one of the biggest problem Paul had in his time was divisions in the church… and it is the same to this day… because Satan tries hard to divide us…

But Jesus said “the gates of hell will not – will not – prevail….

And not only this, but we read in the book of Revelation chapter 3, where the church is heading… it says -- and that is Jesus speaking --: “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, that is as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne…”

And what happens from the throne? He rules the world and the universe… that’s what we’ll be doing… ruling with Him.

Then verse 22 says: “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the church”.

So our task now, as the church of Jesus Christ on this earth, is to proclaim Christ and His gospel of salvation until He returns…

That’s what the church is – or rather that’s who the church is – a collection of people who received mercy, and now is to go and set the captive free, those who are trapped in darkness, telling them that Jesus paid the price, that he gave His life as the ultimate and final sacrifice on their behalf…

It is easy to forget who the church is and what it has been sent to do when we look at the flaws and the failures… it is easy to forget how precious and important the church is to God… but there is a day coming when we will all be united in heaven, free from the ravages of sin.

So for now, we are in a war, we are in this world, but not of it and we need to know who we follow, as the blood-bought, the church, the redeemed…

(Music Interlude and Station ID)

Narrative 2

So we, the church, are in a war, we are in a spiritual battle… and I will pick up here from the two other elements of what the Lord was showing me as I was preparing for this message today…

And that is the ones to do with the war machines of the sea – the sub-marine and the destroyer that I mentioned at the beginning, both to do with stories of a good captain and a bad captain…

As a church – a collective of believers in Jesus Christ -- we are like a crew on board a ship with a mission… each one having a job to do… and each one working together as one under the leadership of a captain…

To illustrate the importance of the captain in a ship, I will share the story from a review of the book that I read some time ago, “Advice on Politics, Society, Naval Affairs -- Short Stories”, written and published by Rear Admiral Robert Welland, about a WW II destroyer that crossed the Atlantic ocean every couple of weeks, escorting carrier ships.

The story takes place in 1940. The war was a year old and the ship had rescued some 860 soldiers off the beaches of France as they were being attacked by enemy aircraft and artillery.

The captain at that time was a man the crew considered as their guiding-light whose skill-set and conduct were revered by the men.

He was described as a captain who came alongside wharfs with speed and precision, drove the ship through convoys weaving between the ships, letting them know they were there.

When he ordered ‘Open Fire’, he was known to get instant action”.

He would get more power from the Engine officer, than the ship was built to give. Morale was high, the crew felt like heroes.

Then, their beloved captain was appointed to another destroyer and replaced by a new Captain.

There were many humourous stories about life on board which pointed to the disappointment of the crew in the inept capability of the new captain to assimilate with people.

The first occasion of going alongside a wharf at an ammunition depot demonstrated the new captain’s additional inept skills in seamanship…

Through bad ship handling, the captain managed to bang both the bow and the stern against the concrete walls. The 12 tons of TNT depth charges were only feet away from the crumpled stern.

At another wharf on the same day, the said captain moved the propellers with a tug-boat alongside, drawing the anger of the skipper to yell degrading words to the captain through his loud-speakers.

At this point the crew seriously suspected their lives was in danger and began to really miss their previous captain.

Then in Londonderry after a crossing from St.John’s Newfoundland, the ship docked headed inland down the river in order to leave downstream on returning to the ocean.

So on departure day the ship needed to move forward and turn to port in order to avoid hitting 3 frigates moored directly ahead of it. It was a simple manoeuvre, casting off the forward line and letting the current take the bow off…

Using the engines and rudder the ship would twist her way in the half-mile wide river and head downstream for the ocean, toward the convoy they were to escort and the final destination of Newfoundland.

The executive officer reported, “Ready to proceed Sir”.

Positioned for the ship-handling beside the gyro compass, the new captain appeared grim and uncomfortable in contrast to the joy a commander would normally display at the helm of a destroyer… the situation was quite unlike the previous captain of the ship who, as described in the book, “ran the show with nods and flicks of his wrists and the fewest words calmly spoken down the voice-pipe.”

The scene became more and more tense as the new captain stressfully gave his commands and forgot to give others, including the casting off of the berthing wires, which the first officer had responsibly executed by notifying the crew.

The ship moved slowly forward, directly toward the plain-sighted sterns of the 3 frigates that contained 30 tons of TNT depth charges.

Again the voice of the first officer broke the tense silence, “Hard over to Port Sir”. Four sailors on the fo’c’sle (folk’sel) moved well over to the port side ready to consider abandoning ship by leaping into the river before being exploded.

Taking his first officer’s direction the captain gives the order and they cleared the frigates by just 10 feet. The ship is now in the river being slowly set downstream by the current.

It is past time for the captain to give engine and helm orders to turn the ship but not a word is said. The first officer who has been a destroyer officer for many years, with his unflappable reputation intervenes firmly “You need the engines to turn her Sir”.

By now the captain had given a variety of white-knucle orders down the voice-pipe that resulted, not in the ship heading for the ocean, but instead streering for the opposite shore of the river, a quarter mile away.

The pastoral Irish scene dead ahead was quite charming except that the ship is rapidly approaching its shore.

The crew is observing the unfolding and unnecessary drama, wondering whether the first officer’s good judgment will overcome the situation.

The ship is going ahead too fast and turning too slowly and the bank of the river is approaching in rapid descent. The captain displays a major struggle and loss for words that could save the day. But again no order is given.

A bit too late the first officer utters : “You had better go astern sir”.

The captain finally says “Half astern both engines”. But it is too late.

“Let go starboard anchor”, orders the captain. The petty officer in charge does it instantly… but the chain does not clatter out. The anchor ends up on top of the mud.

The ship comes to a halt so quickly that the folksel crew take six steps forward to retain their balance. They are stopped. They are aground.

The first officer takes over and commands “Stop Engines”, followed by “Full Ahead Both Engines” and the ship is slowly moved out of the mud, and begins to sail professionally down the river…

The whole exhilarating performance had been in full view of a gathering crowd of spectators and a dozen shore-side observing crews.

This crew no longer felt like heroes, but as jelly…

Why, because of a bad captain – same crew but a different captain.

(Music Interlude)

Narrative #3

So that story I told about the destroyer in WW II, as I already mentioned, was a true story from the book “Advice on Politics, Society, Naval Affairs -- Short Stories” written and published by Rear Admiral Robert Welland.

And the copy of his book that I have in my hand was signed by him personally to me in Feb. of 2008. And I just found out recently that Admiral Welland passed away 2 years later in May of 2010.

The chapter from which I reviewed the story was titled by the writer: “If your captain scares you, Jump ship.”

So the story illustrates two types of Captain -- one who’s a bad commander, running the ship aground, driving his crew through dangerous mines and explosive areas, hostile to his people… leading them down the wrong pathway.

And the other, one who is good, caring, a guiding light to his ship and crew who comes alongside wharfs with speed and precision and who is respected by his people…

Life is like that… in the spiritual realm…

we come into this world under one type of captain who drives his crew to destruction…

2nd Corinthians 4:4 says:

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Satan's scheme includes promoting false philosophies in the world—philosophies that blind the unbeliever to the truth of the Gospel. Satan’s philosophies are the fortresses in which people are imprisoned, and they must be set free by Christ.

But, the Gospel...

But then by the grace and mercy of God, the guiding light of Jesus Christ, we hear the gospel and we respond, we get saved and become born-again believers…

we transfer onto another ship with a new captain… whose name is Jesus Christ… the One who voluntarily laid down His life for his crew to take us out of danger, and who leads us safely to our destination… which is a new world—a spiritual world – a kingdom, a city not made with hands.

This new Captain, this new Commander leads us in the right pathways, as it is written:

Psalm 23 -- King James Version

1, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3, He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.


(Music Interlude:
”Surely Goodness and Mercy: by George Beverly Shea and the Blackwood Brothers from 1967, on a YouTube Video.")

And this song, of course is taken from the famous Psalm 23, where the Lord is referred to as our Shepherd -- our Shepherd or our Captain.

The word captain is used some 139 times throughout the Bible to refer to a leader of a people or a military host, etc...

In the New Testament, the original word in the Greek is “ar-che-gos” which means 'chief leader', or 'one who takes the lead'…

It is used 4 x and translated as prince (2x), captain (1x) and author (1x)...


In Act 3:15 -- "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses..."

... is actually "and killed the "ar-che-gos" - (the chief leader or captain).

in Act 5:31 -- "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince..." (again, ar-che-gos -- chief leader or captain) and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

in Heb 2:10 -- "For it became him..." (speaking of Christ), "...for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain..." (or the car-che-gos) "...of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

So again in all 4 scriptures, the word is "ar-che-gos" :

'to make the ar-che-gos of their salvation perfect through sufferings (so here we are explained that His suffering was essential for Him to become the captain of the salvation of men -- that is our salvation.

Heb 12:2 --"Looking unto Jesus the author... (ar-che-gos -- the chief leader, the captain) and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Interestingly the word “finisher” here which goes along with the word “author” as we are so familiar -- i.e.: Jesus the author and finisher -- is actually the Greek word “te-lā-ō-tā's “, which means “the perfector” as described to mean “one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith…

So here’s how this scripture reads:

“Looking unto Jesus the author (ar-che-gos) and finisher ( te-lā-ō-tā's ) – or the ‘chief leader and pefector’ of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Wow – always something new and awesome to be learned… perfecting ourselves toward the prize to be won in our race to become perfect before God...

“That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17)


And the question right know is this:

...do you know your Captain and do you know that He is the ultimate chief leader that you could ever have to lead your ship, you life…

He is Jesus Christ – by whom and for whom all things were crated… and in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 1:14-17 and 2:9)

You can actually have a personal relationship with Him – as I always say -- in the person of Jesus Christ who came to earth and gave His life for our sins and rose again so that we might have life… and that, have it more abundantly.

All you have to do is come to Him… and repent of your sins – because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – all of us…

Just say this prayer,

Lord I come to you right now and ask that you would wash me of my sins, I make you my personal captain… my chief leader, my shepherd, the captain of my life from this day on… come into my heart I pray, wash me and change me and make me a child of God, a born-again child of God, as promised in your written Word… I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world and of my soul… Amen.

Closing Narrative…

Before I dismiss the service today, I want to read to you the Blessing that was read to the people of God in Numbers 6:24-26 which is the benediction from God to you today:

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

I hope and pray that you will come back next Sunday at SpiritFM.ca, 7 am and 7 pm pacific time. And if you want to hear the service again at any time, you can go to my website at TimingRevelation.com, and click on the Radio Shows navigational tab along the left side. The replays are available there for five weeks, then they are transcribed into articles as new radio shows are put up.

I encourage you to go to your Bible and read further on the scriptures that were given throughout the program today. And if you like these programs and you've been blessed, call or write the station and let them know... if you said the prayer and have accepted the Lord or you've been healed or touched in some way by the Holy Spirit, write to me on the contact form of this web site...

...and this web site is also where you will find the Free Offer of the “Christian Growth and Maturity Chart” that I talked to you about in the last weeks... you will see the graphic on any page called “Get your free CGM Chart”, click on it and it will take you to a page that will tell you about it and how you can subscribe to my newsletter to get your free copy of the Chart sent to you.

Until next week, Maranatha, the Lord is coming, very soon. Goodbye and Blessing.

/DMH


Click here to hear the song "Surely Goodness and Mercy"

/DMH

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Blessings,

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