<BrethrenVoice> <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <13 August 2002> Contents: --------- (1) <Exhortatory> "Faces and facelessness" - Ravi Zacharias (2) <Testimonial> "The story of Ujagar Singh" (Part-3) - C.E.Wigg (3) <Doctrinal> "The Scriptural principles of gathering" (Part-9)-A.P.Gibbs (4) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Part-2) - A.W.Pink (5) <Exhortatory> "What God hates" (Part 1) - Connie Giordano (6) <Exhortatory> "The barrenness of a busy life" - Don Currin (1) <Exhortatory><Slice-of-Infinity> FACES AND FACELESSNESS Ravi Zacharias The Internet has undoubtedly transformed the ways in which we live, work, learn, and play. We are clicks away from discussing politics with someone in Zaire, researching history from libraries in Europe-all this from our living rooms. Cyberspace is indeed a vast world, moving not always in positive directions. Just decades ago, it would have seemed odd to hear of Internet addiction, or of the many online ethical issues. Do you know that psychologists actually have a name for the study of Internet-related conditions? The "Psychology of Cyberspace." It is significant to note what these psychologists call the "Online Disinhibition Effect." (Footnote 1: John Suler Ph.D. (2001) "The Online Disinhibition Effect." In the Psychology of Cyberspace. (Orig. pub. 1996) http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/psycyber/disinhibit.html) The effect describes the difference in behavior in the non face-to-face Internet world. The sense of anonymity and invisibility in the "virtual world" causes people to behave in ways they would not otherwise in the "real world"-effects of which are most often destructive. It strikes me that this impact is simply an embracing of the hazardous idea of facelessness. An intangible identity allows for intangible morality. Pirating a CD is perceived less a crime than walking into a store and stealing it. Actions in the name of anonymity have somehow become more acceptable. Is it any wonder that in a culture tempted by the whims of a faceless world, we have become most comfortable with a faceless God? But you will find the Bible teaches something profound about the face and identity of God-unique to any other religion. Scriptures tell us God gave us His only begotten Son. You see, that Christ was begotten of the Father means something significant. Everything we create is different to us. Only that which we beget is identical to us. One simply cannot divide the Father from the Son. We are gravely mistaken when we represent the Son as doing that which the Father does not do Himself. And I want you to understand how He reveals this identity to us. It is so beautifully portrayed in the Scriptures; not a faceless being, but a divine person, in whose image your face was created. Jesus Christ is that Person, the very face that looked out upon the crowd of mockers, cynics, and skeptics alike, and on that cross spoke the words with your face in mind, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." No, we are never faceless, and His is the face of matchless love. --- Copyright (p)(c) 2000 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. _______________________________________________________________________ (2) <Testimonial> THE STORY OF UJAGAR SINGH OF KAPURI VILLAGE, HARYANA, INDIA (PART-3) Charles E. Wigg .... So the adoption papers were signed, and the little girl became the daughter of the lady doctor. But not very long after this the doctor retired and returned to New Zealand, taking her little girl with her. The father was sad that he would not be able to see his daughter, but had a deep assurance that she would receive the utmost love, care and attention, so his mind was at rest. The years went lowly by, until ten years had passed, when one day Ujagar Singh had a very great surprise; some visitors came to his village, an elderly lady doctor, accompanied by a beautiful teenage young woman, his daughter had come back. How happy he was, his daughter had grown tall, fair and beautiful, he told me "She was just like a Rani", (a queen). She was able to talk to him freely in Hindi, their native tongue, but she could also speak in English, he was so proud of her. They stayed for about a month, then returned to New Zealand, the father was sorry that he neglected to get their address but he was sure that she would write to him. That was in November, and in December he received a card in the mail. It was a very beautiful card, with gold lettering, but was printed in a strange script that none in his village were able to read, so he decided to take it to the Hospital in Jagadari. When he reached the place, he met another doctor from New Zealand, but this time it was a young man. He told the Doctor that he had received a card from New Zealand, and that he thought it was his daughter's address, but no one was able to read it for him, and asked if the doctor would be kind enough to do so. The doctor took the card, read it and smiled, "This is not your daughter's address, he told her father, it is a message for you", to which he replied, "A message from whom?, "a message from the living God" was the reply. Ujagar Singh was puzzled, he did not know any living God, the gods whom they worshipped were dead, who could this living God be? He then asked "Doctor Sahib, please read it to me", whereupon the doctor read these beautiful words, "Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest", our friend could hardly believe his ears, "Doctor Sahib, please read it again", and once again the doctor read those wonderful words, "Come unto Me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". Those words sounded like sweet music in the Sikh's ears, "the living God is asking me to come to Him", he thought. "If I come He will give me rest. O how I need that rest", he thought, "I have been carrying this great burden of grief all these years". The sad thing was the doctor did not explain to him what it meant, or how he could come to God, so he went back to his village with the music of those lovely words ringing in his ears. The next day he decided that he must find someone who could read those words to him, and also explain them, so he put on his best dress and went into the bigger village of Bilaspur. Even then he wondered who he could possibly find who could both read the writing and explain it to him. But the Loving God who had been watching Ujagar Singh all those years, knew the longing of his heart, and brought one of his servants there that day, and even arranged that they should meet in the Bazaar..[to be continued...] ______________________________________________________________________ (3) <Doctrinal> SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES OF GATHERING or WHY I MEET AMONG THOSE KNOWN AS "BRETHREN" -(PART-9) A.P. Gibbs .... EIGHTH: THEIR GOSPEL ACTIVITY IS GOVERNED BY THE PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN IN GOD'S WORD From the assemblies of those known as "brethren" more than a thousand have gone forth to preach the gospel in the foreign mission fields, looking alone to the Lord for their support. As many more are busily engaged in the homelands opening up new places where little or no clear gospel is heard, and where these scriptural principles of gathering are not known or practiced. Besides those who spend all their time in the Lord's work, there is a large army of business and professional men and tradesmen who devote their spare time to preaching the gospel, distributing tracts, visiting the sick and teaching the word of God. The only difference between these and the other workers is that they are part-time, and the others are whole-time laborers in the same harvest field. In every place where any of them are scheduled to preach the gospel, you may be absolutely certain of hearing nothing but the clear statement of man's need and God's remedy, and the proclamation of a full and free salvation, conditioned through faith in Christ's finished work, acceptance of Him as Savior, and confession of Him as Lord of the life. (Rom. 10:9-10). Go where you will in this world, and you will be certain of this: wherever these companies of Christians known as "brethren" are found, you will hear a scriptural presentation of the gospel that is honoring to God and glorifying to Christ. They are prepared, as individuals, to go anywhere, providing they can take the whole Bible with them, and are given liberty to declare the whole counsel of God. Wherever they go, they preach the word without fear, or favor, or charge. Eternity alone will reveal the countless thousands who have been led to own their need as sinners and trust the Savior who has been presented to them through the gospel as preached by them. Of course, each servant of the Lord is responsible, to his own Master alone, as to his sphere and methods of service (Rom. 14:4). While he should welcome advice from godly brethren, he should not allow himself to be dictated to regarding these things, for he is not "the servant of man" (Gal. 1: 10). An ever increasing number of assemblies, from which goes forth the Word with no uncertain sound, bears eloquent testimony to the fact that God's principles of gathering are as workable today as when they were laid down many years ago; providing God's people will bow to the authority of Scripture, and allow the Lord to have His rightful place as Head of the assembly, which is His body. Being thus on scriptural ground, and acting upon scriptural principles of gathering, those that are added to an assembly thus gathered have freedom to develop their gift, and also to grow in grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One-man ministry tends to stifle this development of gift, as also does narrow sectarianism and unscriptural principles. A friend of mine once spoke to a very well known teacher amongst the denominations. During the conversation he asked him why it was that the average young Christian in an assembly of believers known as "brethren," could give a good scriptural definition and a clear exposition of the great doctrines of the Bible, while the average young Christian amongst the denominations could not. The worthy doctor of divinity, since gone home to be with Christ, though agreeing with the fact of the statement, could not furnish any explanation of its truth. My friend then pointed out that the explanation lay in the fact that those who met on scriptural lines were able to function according to scriptural principles, and a scriptural atmosphere was thus created that made possible the recognition, exercise and development of God-given ability. On another occasion in Johannesburg, South Africa, an elderly clergyman, a true and godly Christian, came to the meeting for the breaking of bread and, of course, was received as a believer. After the bread had been broken and the cup passed, he arose and, among other things, said: "Brethren, value the liberty you have in meeting thus, and let no one bring you into ecclesiastical bondage." Personally, the more I read and study the Bible; the longer I remain associated with those known as "brethren"; and the more I see of denominations and meet those who are linked to them; the clearer do I see the scripturalness of the position of those who meet as believers only, and thank God that He ever, in His grace, led me to gather among them. As companies of believers we freely admit to having failed in many respects, and bemoan the oft manifestations of the flesh amongst us, which has grieved the Holy Spirit and brought shame to the testimony of our Lord. We have to confess our lack of love ofttimes to those of our brethren with whom we have not seen eye to eye; but, in spite of all the failure, those known as "brethren" are seeking humbly and consistently to put into practice those principles of gathering found in the New Testament scriptures. Because of this fact, I do not want to be anywhere else but among those who seek to gather in the alone and sufficient name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and who accept the word of God as the sole authority for faith and practice. [To be continued...] _______________________________________________________________________ (4) <Prophetical> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" -(PART-2) Arthur W. Pink II. THE REDEEMER'S RETURN IS NECESSITATED BY HIS OWN AFFIRMATIONS ..... During the course of His public ministry our Lord made frequent reference to His Second Coming. When we consider how few of His discourses have been transmitted to us and how brief is the inspired record of His teachings as found in the New Testament Scriptures, we are deeply impressed with the importance of our present inquiry as we note how much there is in the Gospel narratives which relates to our Redeemer's Return. Not only do we find many incidental references, but most of His "parables" treat of those things which have to do with His Second Advent, and, furthermore, several whole chapters in the Gospels are devoted to a fuller setting forth of the same great event. Unto our Lord's own teaching, then, upon His Second Coming we turn our attention. We cannot now review all that He said upon the subject, but must content ourselves with singling out two or three of His utterances thereon. In Matt. 24 and 25 we have two whole chapters occupied with this theme, and in them we find that again and again our Lord made mention of His Return--"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (24:27), which means that our Lord's Return to this earth will be visible, public, and attended with awe-inspiring glory. The same ideas are presented in the 30th verse of the same chapter--"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Further down in the chapter, our Lord bids His people make preparation for His appearing because He may return at any moment. "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh" (vs. 44). In the next chapter, in the Parable of the Virgins, the subject of the Bridegroom's Coming is again brought before us, while the closing verses furnish us with a detailed description of His judgment of the living nations which introduces the setting up of His Millennial Kingdom-- "When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats" (Matt. 25:31, 32). In the nineteenth of Luke we have the Parable of the Nobleman which is very plain and pointed: "He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And He called His ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated Him, and sent a message after Him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when He was returned, having received the kingdom, then He commanded these servants to be called unto Him, to whom He had given the money, that He might know how much every man had gained by trading" (Luke 19:12-15). The "Nobleman" is the Lord Jesus. The "journey into the far country" was His Ascension to heaven. The "Kingdom" which He went to "receive" is His Millennial Kingdom for which He taught His disciples to pray. The "return" is His Second Advent to this earth. The "servants" are believers. The "money" (marg. "silver," which in Scripture symbolizes redemption) seems to typify the Gospel, which has been committed into our hands to proclaim to a lost world. The "occupying till He comes" is the faithful giving out of the Gospel and the daily witnessing for Him during the time of His absence. The "message" sent by "His citizens" refers to the continued rejection of Christ and His Gospel by the Jews during the days of the apostles and particularly under the ministry of Stephen. The rewarding of the servants at the time of His Return, is the allotting to them of places of honor in His Millennial Kingdom. That to which we would specially call attention is the fact that our Lord here expressly declares He will "return," come back again to this earth. Perhaps the most explicit of all the statements which the Lord Jesus made upon our present theme is that recorded in the opening verses of John 14. Our Lord was alone with His disciples. He was about to be separated from them. For three years they had companied with Him, but now the cross with all its suffering and shame lay athwart His path. The realization of His approaching death had filled His followers with fear and anguish. Their hearts were heavy and sad. Turning to them in their grief, the Master speaks words of solace and cheer--"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). These words of our Lord can have only one possible meaning: He was going away, but He would return again, return in person to receive His own unto Himself. Such was His positive and unconditional promise. Thus we see that the fulfillment of His promises, the keeping of His Word, necessitates the personal Return of our blessed Redeemer. The testimony of our Lord given while He was here upon earth was confirmed, and rendered even more unequivocal, if that were possible, by His post-ascension utterances. Fifty years after He had returned to heaven the Lord Jesus sent His angel to the beloved John on the Isle of Patmos to give unto him "The Revelation" and in it we hear our Lord saying, no less than six times, "Behold, I come quickly." This is His last promise, His final word to His people now on earth. He is coming back again. He Himself has said so. He said so repeatedly during the days of His earthly ministry. He said so in language about which there was no ambiguity whatsoever. He said so both to His friends and to His enemies. He said so again fifty years after His ascension to heaven. And He cannot lie. He is Himself the "Truth"--the Truth incarnate. He is "The Faithful and True Witness," therefore He must keep His Word, fulfill His promises, and Return in person. [To be continued...] _______________________________________________________________________ (5) <Exhortatory> WHAT GOD HATES Connie Giordano "God hates sin; He hates every sin; He can never be reconciled to it..." - Matthew Henry Many people would argue that God is a God of Love and does not hate anything or anyone. Although God does love His creation, it does not means that He is always pleased with what He sees going on. Psalm 5:5 informs us that He "hatest all workers of iniquity." Psalm 7:11 tells us that He is "angry with the wicked every day." How can this be? Does God really hate "all workers of iniquity"? Apparently so! But He loves and hates at the same time in a way that is holy and pure. His hatred is redemptive and not destructive like that of Satan. God hates what the wicked are doing to themselves and to innocent lives, but also has proven His love to them by providing a way of escape from all sin and iniquity through the Greatest Demonstration of Love on Calvary where He laid down His life. Yes, God does hate! Besides Psalm 5:5 which tells us that He "hatest all workers of iniquity," other Scriptures also mention His hatred - Deuteronomy 16:22 - "Neither shalt thou set thee up any image(statue); which the LORD thy God hateth." Psalm 11:5 - "The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth." Proverbs 6:16 says - "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him." Malachi 2:16 - "For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that He hateth putting away(divorce)..." Zechariah 8:16-17 - "These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor: and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD." Matthew Henry once said - "It concerns us to know what God hates and what He loves, that we may govern ourselves accordingly, may avoid His displeasure and recommend ourselves to His favour." Rather than deny that there are some things which the Bible proves that God hates, let us find out what those things are and avoid them as much as possible so that we may live our lives as pleasing unto the Lord. We read in Proverbs 6:16 - "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him." Throughout the Scriptures we find the word "abomination." What does this mean? What does it mean as in Proverbs 6:11 when it says that "seven are an abomination unto Him"? An "abomination" is something that is disgusting and offensive to all five senses; something that is abhorred, detested, and hated with indignation(Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies). What is it that God considers to be an "abomination"? It behooves us to study this matter so that as Matthew Henry pointed out, we may "govern ourselves accordingly" to avoid God's displeasure and gain His approval or favor. In this message we would like to look at nine things that are considered detestable in God's sight - they are an "abomination" unto Him - 1. Pride --------- Proverbs 6:16-17- "These six things doth the LORD hate...are an abomination unto Him: A proud look..." God hates when people are haughty, conceited, have contempt in their hearts for others, or overvalue themselves to undervalue others. Psalm 10:4 - He hates when the wicked man "through the pride of his countenance" will not acknowledge Him in all his ways - he will not seek God or submit to His Will for his life. Psalm 18:27 - He brings down all the "high looks." Psalm 101:5 - He disowns or cuts off all those who have an "high look and a proud heart." 2. Lying & Bearing False Witness ---------------------------------- Proverbs 6:16-19 - "These six things doth the LORD hate...are an abomination unto Him...a lying tongue...A false witness that speaketh lies..." Proverbs 12:22 - "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD..." "Lying" would include falsehood, fraud, and dissimulation or hypocrisy of any kind. God is a God of Truth. In fact, He is the Truth. Proverbs 14:5 - Therefore, He calls His people to be "faithful witnesses" that will not lie. The ninth commandment as listed in Exodus 20:16 says - "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." In Exodus 23:1 Moses instructed the people of God by saying - "Thou shalt not raise a false report; put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness." Being a "false witness" entails slandering, backbiting, speaking falsely against another, lying and dealing treacherously with another, as well as receiving a false report against another. God called us to be "faithful witnesses" not "false witnesses." Proverbs 14:5 says - "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies." Again, in Proverbs 14:25 we read - "A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies." We are either "faithful witnesses" or "true witnesses" who hate lying and speaking falsely in any matter, or else we are "false witnesses" or "deceitful witnesses" who "utter lies" and spread evil reports about our neighbors to others. Proverbs 13:5 - All those who are truly righteous will hate lying as God does - "A righteous man hateth lying..." They live in the fear of the Lord all the day knowing that, as Psalm 5:6 instructs us, God "will destroy them that speak leasing(lies): the LORD will abhor(hate) the bloody and deceitful man(liar)." 3. Murder ----------- Proverbs 6:16-17 - "These six things doth the LORD hate...are an abomination unto Him...hands that shed innocent blood..." The devil is a liar and a murderer. Therefore, everyone who lies or is cruel and bloodthirsty walks in the image and likeness of Satan. God repeatedly sounded out His warnings and alarms to the people of Judah through the Prophet Isaiah because they were guilty of oppression and murder - Isaiah 1:15 - "...your hands are full of blood..." Isaiah 59:3 - "For your hands are defiled with blood..." Today we have nations including the so-called "Christian" nation of America whose hands are "defiled" with the blood of innocent babies who are daily butchered through abortion. How God is angry at the murdering of these innocent lives. God hates abortion! It is an "abomination" unto Him! [To be continued....] May God Bless His Word. Connie --- Copyright 2002 by Connie Giordano _______________________________________________________________________ (6) <Exhortatory> THE BARRENNESS OF A BUSY LIFE OR THE TRAGEDY OF SUBSTITUTING WORK FOR WORSHIP Don Currin Satan called a worldwide convention. In the opening address to his evil spirits he said, "We can't keep true Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from having conservative values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding experience with Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church, read their Bibles, and have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time so they do not have time to have an intimate fellowship with Christ. This is what I want you to do: keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds." How tragic it is that the devil has been so successful in getting so many believers to overextend themselves today in this world's pursuits to the neglect of fellowship with Christ. In the Song of Solomon 1:6, the writer laments, "they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard have I not kept." While busily engaged in the maintenance of temporal affairs, he had forsaken His first love. Diligent in the cares of life, he had tragically neglected his own soul's nourishment. Hudson Taylor warns of the danger of allowing the demands of this life to keep us from maintaining the vineyard of our fellowship with Christ. "Our attention is here drawn to a danger which is pre-eminently one of this day: the intense activity of our times may lead to zeal in service, to the neglect of personal communion. Such neglect will not only lessen the value of the service, but tend to incapacitate us for the higher service. Let us never forget that what we are is more important than what we do, and that an fruit when not abiding in Christ must be fruit of the flesh and not the Spirit As wounds when healed often leave a scar, so the sin of neglected communion may be forgiven and yet the effect remain permanently." The story is told about a spring whose waters had certain medicinal properties so that those who drank from it were helped in the cases of various ties. In the course of time, homes sprung up around the spring. Later, a hotel was built, then stores of all kinds. Eventually, a town grew into a city! Years passed. Then there came a day when visiting tourists would ask, "By the way, where is the spring from which this grew?" Dwellers of the city would rub their hands in embarrassment and say, "I am sorry that I cannot tell you, but, somehow, in the midst of all our progress and improvement we lost the spring and no one knows where it is." Could it be that in the midst of all our ministerial progress we have lost the Spring from Whom it has grown? Is it possible that while we were boasting in the successes of our church growth strategies in the 1970s and 1980s we lost the divine Spring of His glory? Certainly we could not have been so consumed in the work of building our ecclesiastical kingdoms that we were negligent in worshipping the King of Kings? Vance Havner said it right when he warned, "There is nothing that crowds out the quiet hour any more than the very work. that draws it's strength from the quiet hour." I am convinced that it would do many a believer well to stop and evaluate whether he has been too busy for God. In spite of personal experience, giftedness, or past spiritual growth, no saint can weather the storms of this present age without daily withdrawing from this world of noise to get his heart strengthened in the presence of-God. Not even the most apt theologian can overcome the weakness of the flesh without having his soul renewed by Him that is altogether lovely in the secret place of prayer. As that man of faith, George Mueller, put it, "Let none expect to gain mastery over his inward in any degree, without going in his weakness again and again to the Lord for strength. Nor will, prayer with others or conversing with the brethren make up for secret prayer." May it be our resolve to make it our discipline each day to never entertain the presence of any man until we have met with God. I am persuaded that if worship is neglected we will hinder the work of Christ and trouble our brethren in the ministry. As Oswald Chambers cautioned, "Worshipping God is the great essential of fitness. If you have not been worshipping . . . when you get into the work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you." Let us be diligent to daily meet with the Master. --- [Thanks to Pastor Mike Walls] ___________________________<BrethrenVoice>___________________________ [which seeks to be guided solely by the New Testament Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian information. To God be the glory!] Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> BV FAQs & Statement of Faith, eMail:<brethrenvoice-faq@...> Messages to the Moderator, eMail: <brethrenvoice-owner@...> "BrethrenVoice" Home: http://associate.com/digests/brethrenvoice/ eFellowship Home: http://groups.msn.com/BrethrenChristiansForum/