<BrethrenVoice> <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <8 August 2002> Contents: --------- (1) <Meditational> “Master and mirror” – Ravi Zacharias (2) <Meditational> "A holy resignation" - Connie Giordano (3) <Testimonial> "The story of Anthony" (Last Part) - Charles E. Wigg (4) <Doctrinal> "Scriptural principles of gathering" (Part-5) - A.P. Gibbs (5) <From-the-Gleaner> "Prophetical study & <GLEANINGS> Archives" (1) <Meditational> <Slice-of-Infinity> MASTER AND MIRROR Ravi Zacharias As we have considered the person and experience of Job, I am struck that his story is in a very real sense a part of our own. Though few have known the intensity of Job’s affliction, many have known the urgency and agony of a loaded question aimed at the heavens. Seldom can one fail to recall a time marked by such restlessness—a yearning for answers amidst hopelessness and confusion. For many it is the tender age of adolescence, for others the inquisitive years of college. Sitting in the dust and ashes of my own sin and confusion, like Job, I found my journey defined by a thousand questions. And, like Job, the peace that transcends understanding came only after a question from God Himself: Who are you? You see, the journey to truly knowing God cannot exist apart from the journey of truly knowing one’s self. I once prayed fervently, "Lord, show me who you are so that I might learn to see You." He who knows me better than I responded: "Let me show you who you are so that you might learn to see Me." After all, as C.S. Lewis asks, "How can we see God until we have faces?" (Footnote 1: C.S. Lewis, Till We have Faces, question taken from book’s title/theme.) In one of his books from the Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis describes the great Aslan tearing the costume off the child in front of him. The child writhes in pain from the razor sharp claws that feel as though they pierce his very being. With mounting intensity, Aslan rips away layer after layer, until the child is certain he will die from the agony. But when it is all over and every last layer has been removed, the child delights in the freedom, never before realizing the extra weight of the costume that he had carried. In the end, Job saw himself and God more clearly, bringing him from ruins to restoration. This is the transforming rhythm of God, seen in Job, in your life and in mine. You see, Job's story is in a very real sense our story because like Job, we will each have a look at our Master one day, and in that one look we will declare with Job, "I have heard with my ears, now I see with my eyes, therefore I repent." (Footnote 2: Job 42:5,6) Alexander Pope described the conversion of water into wine: "The conscious water saw its master and blushed." A thousand words could not say it better. A sincere look at the Master is a sincere look at oneself. Those twin glimpses will redefine everything for you. --- Copyright (p)(c) 2001 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries _______________________________________________________________________ (2) <Meditational> A HOLY RESIGNATION Connie Giordano In Jeremiah 10:23, The Prophet said - "...it is not in man that walketh to direct his ways." In Romans 8:26 the Apostle Paul made the statement - "...for we know not..." In Matthew 20:22, the Lord Jesus spoke these words to His disciples James and John - "...Ye know not what ye ask..." Obviously, we don't know as much as we think we do. We desperately need God's help and guidance, don't we? Many times we jump into our prayer times without waiting upon the Lord for His direction and guidance. We have our agenda of what we need, and resultantly, we expect God to hear us as His righteous people and to answer accordingly. We have all of our Scriptures on hand on Faith and How To Move Mountains, but we fail to consider in our hearts what the Will of God might be for our present situation. Is everything that we are praying for considered the "Best" for our lives? Do we have Perfect Knowledge like God to know this? Do we actually know what we are asking of the Lord? Do we understand the consequences behind the answers to some of our prayers? If so, we probably would not petition God on many issues. Take, for example, the situation of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Beforehand, Psalm 106 (as well as other Scriptures) informs us that God dried up the Red Sea and caused them to walk upon dry land. He miraculously rescued them from their enemies - the Egyptians. While traveling through the wilderness, He rained down manna from heaven to feed them. He quenched their thirst by supplying water from the Rock. Yet in spite of it all, the people were not satisfied. They began to lust "exceedingly in the wilderness" and tempt "God in the desert." They wanted meat as well. Did God give them their request? Yes, He did! Psalm 106:15 - However, the Scriptures also tell us that He sent "leanness into their soul." - "And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." In answer to their lusts, they wanted meat. Oh, how they wanted meat! They bawled and squalled for meat! They no doubt stood on every promise in the Book, naming and claiming meat! God gave it to them. But was it the "Best" for their lives? Did they know what would also come along with it when they prayed? I don't think so! Otherwise they would not have asked for it. Certainly they were not in any spiritual frame of mind to call forth a prayer meeting with boiling lusts in their hearts. Wouldn't you agree? God gave them their desire, but "sent leanness into their soul." What does this mean? It means that, spiritually speaking, they became thin and began to waste away. Oh, based on the outward appearance, they looked great! They seemed to have it "made in the shade" and were enjoying the Great Favor of God on their lives. However, on closer examination - after pushing through all of the success and prosperity - you see something wasn't right. These people had an arrogancy and self-confidence about them. They lost all dependence upon God. They lost all sense of the value of spiritual blessings. The temporal was emphasized at the expense of the eternal. They had no peace of mind and were tormented in their conscience. Their lives were empty and vain. They were going nowhere in God. Is this how we are sometimes? Do we nag God repeatedly about something that our hearts are lusting after? We may even take hundreds of Promises from the Bible and quote them to Him, demanding that He keep His Word to us and grant us our request. Do we know what we are doing? Do we realize that God can and may give us our request, but He will also send "leanness" to our souls. Is this what we really want? Do we want to lose out with God in the end just so that we can now have our own way? In Matthew 20:20-22 we read of the account where the mother of Zebedee's children approached Jesus, desiring a high position in His kingdom for her two sons. His response to her and them was - "...Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able...?" Immediately, the Lord Jesus informed her as well as James and John that there was a price to pay in order to go higher in God. There was a "cup" to drink from and a "baptism" to be immersed in. Were they "able" to handle it? The Spirit of God asks us the same question whenever we pray our flamboyant prayers that we want more of God or to be more like Jesus. These are great prayers. Nonetheless, they are "dangerous" for they have a price tag on them which most believers disregard. Many Christians find themselves praying exuberant prayers out of a selfish or carnal motive to be great, famous, or discovered some day in the Body of Christ. They answer altar calls, wanting to go to higher ground in God; be a great and respectable leader some day; or even be a world-wide evangelist who will impact this world - not realizing the cost behind these petitions. Then when troubles and great trials come their way, they become confused, disillusioned, and discouraged - wondering what is going wrong. Nothing, actually! God is simply answering the prayer request. Before we pray such prayers, we must realize all that is involved in such requests. There is a "cup" which we must drink from which depicts the sufferings of Christ that we will go through in order to reach that higher plane in God. That "cup" speaks of calamities, desolations, afflictions, misunderstandings, reproaches, scandals, rejections, sorrows, hardships, anguish, and difficulties - all for the cause of Christ. The measure of sufferings can be slow as in a "sip" at a time from the "cup." Or it can come in the measure of an immersing like a "baptism" - the washing of the waters of affliction over our souls. As He questioned James and John, so does the Lord Jesus ask us today as we seek for a higher place in Him - "...Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?..." Before going further, let me say that God is not trying to discourage us from reaching higher heights or deeper depths in Him. He is simply wanting to rid us of any worldly concepts of ambition. John 3:30 - Our motive in seeking more of God must always be like that of John the Baptist in speaking of Jesus - "He must increase, but I must decrease." Romans 8:26 tells us - "...we know not what we should pray for as we ought..." We are so short-sighted. We are imperfect and incompetent judges of our situations and conditions. We are very biased in that we will always pray for that which will be easy on our own flesh and that of our family and friends. Thank God that the Scripture goes further in saying that we have a helper - the Holy Ghost - Who supports, helps, aids, assists, and sustains us in carrying our heavy burdens in prayer. He "...helpeth our infirmities..." He recognizes our weaknesses and comes to our aid with His Mighty Strength, Power, and Wisdom. He "...maketh intercession for us..." Romans 8:27 - By His mighty and holy influence upon our hearts, He manages, directs, and qualifies our prayers so that they are offered "according to the will of God" - the mind, intention, and design of God. We need the Him to direct our prayers so that they will always fulfill the high purposes of God for our lives. Our wills must be melted through His Holy Fire into the Will of God whenever we pray. Our posture in prayer must always be like that of the Lord Jesus as displayed in the following verses - Matthew 26:39 - "And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Matthew 26:42 - "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done." "Fell on His face" - This was the usual posture of one who was in deep earnestness. The face was positioned between the knees and touching the ground. "Let this cup" - There is an allusion here to the ancient practice of punishing criminals by passing along a cup of poison their way and causing them to drink of it. Hebrews 2:9 - Hence, it is said of Jesus "...that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." "Not as I will" - Even though human nature may resist and seek deliverance, God's will must be done. What then is prayer? Is it getting what we want from the Lord even though it may be detrimental to our souls? Or is it simply offering up our desires and our entire beings to God to dispose of as He wills? David gave us our answer in Psalm 131:2 when he said - "Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child." What does this mean to us today? David "behaved and quieted" himself. That means that he soothed and quieted his soul. It is likened to making something even, smooth, or level. In other words, the mind becomes gentle, composed, calm, smooth, and tranquil. "As a child that is weaned of his mother" - This child once enjoyed the milk from his Mother's breasts. But he is now taken from dependence on the breast for nourishment and moved to nourishment from other sources. He is satisfied and adjusted to his new situation. Even so in our lives God may remove us from someone or something that we loved and depended on for a time for comfort, nourishment, and satisfaction. He may ask us to forego many conveniences and comforts that we once enjoyed. We, too, must rest satisfied as this little child in knowing that God has greater things in store for our growth and advancement. Psalm 131:1 - Instead of being arrogant, ambitious, and engaging ourselves in "great matters" "too high for us," we need to know our place in God; remain manageable, governable, and faithful in the place where He plants us; and resign ourselves to His will for our lives at all times. "As a child that is weaned of his mother," can we resolve today before God that we are satisfied in whatever His will is for us at this time? No matter what He decides is best for us, our prayer must always be - "Not as I will...Thy will be done." Do we agree with Jeremiah in saying that "...it is not in man that walketh to direct his ways"? Do we agree with the Apostle Paul in saying that "...we know not..." ? Can we agree with the Lord Jesus when He says to us today - "...Ye know not what ye ask..."? Therefore, more than ever, we see that we need the Power of the Holy Ghost to keep us level and even in our souls so that we behave ourselves "as a child that is weaned of his mother" who is satisfied only with that which God wills and prays only "according to the will of God." This is a Holy Resignation. And this is what God is requiring of all of His people. May God Bless His Word. Connie --- Copyright 2002 by Connie Giordano _______________________________________________________________________ (3) <Testimonial> THE STORY OF ANTHONY (LAST PART) CHARLES E. WIGG .... When Anthony told his story, there was not a dry eye in that meeting, the hearts of all had been touched. Bro. Wilcock and I had to go on to Delhi, where I was to speak to an Assembly workers conference. Anthony remained at Jaipur, and Bro. Joseph gave him a job as a singing teacher in his school. This was because of his nice voice, and his knowledge of Hindi, (the language of the area.) I gave him some money, and arranged for him to come to Delhi on Easter Monday, when we would go together to Dehra Dun, and other places. Anthony proved to be faithful, and he was waiting for us when we went to the station to take the train to Dehra Dun. He had a colour photo with him of another Roman Catholic boy whom he had led to the Lord while at Alwar, and he regarded him as his own son in the faith, and brother in the Lord. He came with me to many places, and gave his testimony many times. As he told of God's faithfulness amidst all his troubles, it never failed to touch the hearts of his hearers. When we were at Herbertpur Christian Hospital, we stayed in the guest rooms there. When retiring on the first night, Anthony was going to get into the bed fully clothed. I gently explained to him that we do not do that, as it might spoil our clothes, (to say nothing of the beautiful white sheets.) It was only then that I began to realize that he had never slept in a bed before, and that he had always slept in his clothes, wherever he was. I proved this dear brother to be absolutely faithful, and fully reliable. We went to a place called Kulhal, where we stayed with brother A.P.Ram and his family. The children took Anthony to their hearts, just as if he was their own brother. One morning as they were going to school, the little ones came and gave him a hug and a kiss, and said "Goodbye brother Anthony". Soon afterwards I saw him weeping and asked him what was wrong. He replied that he had never known love like this in his whole life, and that it was overwhelming, too much for him. We parted soon afterwards, he went back to Alwar, but he did not stay there for very long but took to the road again. Not now to beg, but to spread the precious gospel of Christ. I returned to Bombay, where I had meetings arranged, and soon afterwards to Australia, where I sat by the cot of our little grandson Robbie, day after day, until the Lord called him home to glory. (He died of cancer) Anthony returned once more to Kulhal, to A.P Ram's house. He had discarded his European clothes, & was wearing the garb of a Sadhu. (Holy Man). Perhaps he had read the story of Sadhu Sundar Singh, and wanted to be like him? He did not impose on the Ram family, but soon left to return to Punjab, where was the last place that I heard of him. I know that I shall meet him in glory, and there will rejoice to hear the rest of his life story. Let me appeal to my readers, have you repented of your sins and trusted Christ as your Savior? If not please do so now, He will not only save you from the judgement due to you because of your sins, but will be a friend to you throughout life's trials. John 5:24. Perhaps a brother or sister of mine, will read this, and you are passing through very great trials. Perhaps in self-pity you have winged, "Why should this happen to me?" Think of Anthony, and the marvelous grace of God that brought him through all those trials with great spiritual profit. Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus to His tried and tested ones, "My grace is sufficient for you!" 3 Cor. 12:9. Perhaps dear Anthony may read this himself, if so. God bless you dear brother, may it bring joy and comfort to your heart, that your story has been blessed of God to many, all over the world. I have written this from memory so please forgive any inaccuracies. Brother Allan Wilcock is now at home with the lord and has been for some years. (Concluded) _______________________________________________________________________ (4) <Doctrinal> SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES OF GATHERING or WHY I MEET AMONG THOSE KNOWN AS "BRETHREN" (PART-5) A.P. Gibbs .... FOURTH: THEY ARE UNCOMPROMISINGLY LOYAL TO THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST In other words, they seek to hold, or acknowledge the supreme authority and Headship of Christ. (Col. 1: 18; 2: 19). Nothing derogatory to the Person and work of Christ would be allowed to remain unchallenged and unjudged for one moment in their assemblies, and this is true the world over, wherever these scripturally constituted gatherings are to be found. The essential Deity of the Son of God, as coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit; and the necessity for, and the efficacy of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ as the only ground for the believer's acceptance before God, is emphasized constantly in their assemblies. Those who meet among those known as "brethren" may not be noted for their oratorical gifts, but one thing is certain: wherever one stands up to preach the gospel, Christ's Person is exalted, His eternal Deity is confessed and the all-sufficiency of the work of redemption, which He accomplished by the shedding of His precious blood, is proclaimed with no uncertain sound. It would be good if this were true of all denominational gatherings, but alas, it is more often the exception than the rule! Men are allowed in the pulpits of many church buildings who deny the Deity of Christ, scoff at the doctrine of redemption through His blood, and belittle or refuse to accept the Bible as the Divinely inspired and therefore absolutely inerrant and authoritative word of God. The tragedy is that many professing Christians seem to see no inconsistency in listening to this denial of their Lord and travesty of the gospel. By their very membership, presence and financial support of such an organization, hey thus help to perpetuate this disgraceful thing! The Deity of Christ is the foundation stone of Christianity. The person who denies Christ's Deity is not a Christian, and therefore has no place whatever in a professedly Christian pulpit. Any company of people that tolerates a preacher who denies Christ's Deity and His redemptive work, is no place for a true and faithful child of God. If Christ is not God, we do not need Him. Since Christ is God, we cannot do without Him! To continue in a company of professed believers that permits doctrinal evil to be preached and remain unjudged, is disloyalty to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. To continue in such an association is to give one's support to it. The word of. God is clear as to the attitude of a believer in such a case. "What part hath he that believeth with an unbeliever? ... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters saith the Lord almighty." (II Cor. 6:15-18). "Evil communications corrupt good manners," declares the Bible. (2 Cor. 15: 33). A man is known by the company he keeps. It is far better for a person to stand alone for what he knows to be the truth of Holy Scripture and the honor of God's Son, than to be linked, by membership, with the enemies and blasphemers of his blessed Lord. Loyalty to the commander-in-chief is essential to the united attack of an army against a common enemy. What would you think of those in an army who were afraid to face the foe lest some of their own number should plunge a bayonet into their backs? This is the situation in many denominations, where loose and blasphemous views of the Person and work of the Son of God are tolerated. A member of such an organization never knows when the Deity of his Lord will be attacked from behind the pulpit, the efficacy of His precious blood ridiculed and denied, and the truth and authority of God's word questioned. Thank God, such is not true amongst the thousands of assemblies of believers known as "brethren" scattered throughout the whole world. [To be continued...] _______________________________________________________________________ (5) <From-the-Gleaner> PROPHETICAL STUDY <GLEANINGS> ARCHIVES IS THERE ANY REAL NEED FOR CHRIST TO RETURN? "Is there any real need for Christ to return? So far as God's children are concerned only one answer is possible to this question. There is. Christians of every shade of religious belief are agreed that there is an imperative need for our Lord to come back again. As to the precise character of that need, as to the particular urgency of that need, opinions may vary, but concerning the need itself this is universally admitted. Even post-millennarians teach that Christ must come back at the end of time to judge the wicked and reward the righteous. But we hope to show that the need for His return is much deeper and much wider than the reason put forth by the post-millennarians. Suppose Christ never returns, then what? Has this alternative been weighed as it deserves? The present order of things cannot continue indefinitely; such a supposition is unthinkable. No one is satisfied with present conditions. Even those who despise the teachings of God's Word, hope for a better day, a Golden Age, an era of blessedness, such as this earth has never yet witnessed. And pre-millennarians believe that this Golden Age can be ushered in by nothing short of the personal return of Christ Himself. Here then, in general, is the reason why we believe the Redeemer must come back again." Whilst it is true that many books, sermons and articles have been published on our Lord's return, yet there are still many among us to whom many of these aspects are vague. This is despite the fact that the Second coming of our Lord occupies a prominent place in the Bible and that our very lives in this world should be a reflection of the blessed hope that is awaiting us. God willing, it is my desire to share with my brethren in the coming days the product of the labour of God's servants on the Second Coming of our Lord and other eschetological topics. <BrethrenVoice> PREVIOUS ISSUES ------------------------------- Previous issues of both the <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> and <SUNDAY-GLEANINGS> are archived and available [below the START READING... Link] at BrethrenVoice Home: <http://associate.com/digests/brethrenvoice>. Please make it convenient to use the archives if you find a need. Please also recommend/encourage others to subscribe to the <GLEANINGS> should you think that others would also find the <GLEANINGS> beneficial. Subscription/Unsubscription are executed by email address commands. To subscribe, simply send a blank email to <brethrenvoice-subscribe@...>. To subscribe others, add their email addresses between "subscribe" and "@" to the above address. (E.g., to subscribe john@..., send a mail to <brethrenvoice-subscribe-john=hotmail.com@...> (please rmember to substitute the "@" sign in their email address with "="). May we continue to remember in prayer and, in the mentime, thank you for your love in the Lord. God bless us. (Ben) ___________________________<BrethrenVoice>___________________________ [which seeks to be guided solely by the New Testament Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian information. 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