<BrethrenVoice> <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <16 August 2002> Contents: --------- (1) <Exhortatory> "The questions of art" - Ravi Zacharias (2) <Testimonial> "The story of Ujagar Singh" (LP)- C.E.Wigg (3) <Doctrinal> "To what should we be loyal?" (Pt-2)-William MacDonald (4) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-5)- A.W.Pink (5) <Exhortatory> "Always rejoicing" - Connie Giordano (6) <Poem> "Praises to the Saviour" - Lois Beckwith (1) <Exhortatory><Slice-of-Infinity> THE QUESTIONS OF ART Ravi Zacharias I recently came across an editorial in a newspaper pointedly titled, "America is the Picture of Irreverence." The author candidly conveys his angst over the things sacrificed in the name of art. He refers specifically to a controversial Holocaust art exhibit-a photograph of a man holding a diet coke amidst a crowd of emaciated Jews, a death camp made of Legos. He writes, "We are repeatedly brought here by self-anointed agent provocateurs who say they want to raise questions, make us think, and shake us up. And you and me-the targets of all this questioning-are never too thrilled about it." (Footnote 1: Detroit Free Press, Leonard Pitts, Jr. "America is the Picture of Irreverence." March 22, 2002) You know, art has in some ways taken on the power to inform through the blurring of reality and imagination, and reality has crossed swords with imagination and lost. The recent surge of "reality" television programs tells a sad tale about what we are learning to call "reality." You see, we are intended by God to see through the eye, but with the conscience. Now we see with the eye, devoid of a conscience. English journalist Malcolm Muggeridge tells of the time he was in Biafra and some prisoners were about to be executed. The prisoners were lined up, and the officer shouted: "Ready, aim-." Just then a photographer for one of the major networks shouted, "Cut! My battery is dead!" The execution was momentarily suspended until he could get a fresh battery. Then the countdown resumed: "Ready, aim, fire!" And the prisoners lay dead. Muggeridge wondered what some future generation would say of the barbarism and where it lay. Would they blame the executioners? The viewers? He said, "I strongly suspect somebody may plump for the cameras." (Footnote 2: Muggeridge Christ and the Media London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1977, p. 64.) Muggeridge may have a point. You see, the medium does become the message, and this blurring between the real and the imagined is really locked into the medium itself. Artists are creative people. When they lose the vision of the grand Creator, though, they will attack the very things He branded sacred. With such surrogate creators now in full expression, what do we see? We see, more often than not, our culture sliding pitifully into indulgence of the erotic and the perverse. If such art is meant to inspire questions, it must first revere the greatest Artist of all who reminded us that laughter does not have the prerogative to be irreverent. That is an important question if we are to preserve life. --- 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 (LAST PART) Charles E. Wigg .... Then life became difficult for him, his village friends began to mock and reproach him, telling him that once he belonged to the "Rajah Caste or clan, but now he was an outcaste, no better than a dog. He politely told them that he was now truly a child of God, that he belonged to no earthly Rajah Clan, but to the Rajah de Rajah, (the King of Kings). One day several men came with shot guns, they were going to shoot him. He was resting on his bed at the time, they woke him and told him what they were going to do, but very respectfully he asked that before they shot him, they should at least let him tell them why he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He then sat up, and told them the story that is written here, even showed them the card that had brought the message to him. They were greatly moved, they never shot him but went away feeling ashamed of themselves, and with a secret longing to have the same peace and joy as the man they had come to shoot. Later he was baptized in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus, and was received into the fellowship of the little Christian Assembly in Chacharauli. [Concluded] _______________________________________________________________________ [Perhaps my dear reader, after reading this story, you would also like to come to Christ Jesus, and to receive Him as your Savior, then pray to Him now, while God's Spirit is drawing you, just bow your head where you are and pray sincerely from your heart like this: 'Dear Lord Jesus, I too am weary of a life of sin, I am heavy laden, I long to know your rest and peace, I do come to You now in repentance and in faith. I know that I am a sinner, I have served other gods, I have done many things that I knew to be wrong and evil, I am truly sorry for this, I repent of my sins, I turn my back on the way that I have been living and going, and I turn to Thee. Lord Jesus I do believe in my heart that you came from heaven for me, I do believe that you suffered and died on the cross for me. I do believe that you took my personal sins, every one of them, and bore the punishment that I deserved, thank You Lord Jesus! I do receive you now by faith into my heart as my own Savior, O Lord Jesus come in now I pray, and wash me from my sins in Your own precious blood. I thank thee for hearing my prayer, I believe that you have saved me, I now gladly confess that you are my Lord my Savior, my Master forever. Heavenly Father, I thank you that you loved me so much that you gave your only begotten Son for me, I do believe, He is now my Savior, I have received the gift of eternal life, thou art my Heavenly Father, I am thy child. I ask this prayer, and offer my worship and praise to thee, in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!' If you have prayed thus sincerely, then God has saved you, and you are His child, you have been born again into His family, you are now my brother or sister. But do not take my word for it, get a Bible, or a New Testament, (the second part of the Bible) Turn to Matthew chapter 11, verse 28 to 30, and read those lovely words for yourself, they are the words the lord Jesus is saying to you. Now turn to John's Gospel, (the fourth book of the New Testament), chapter 1 verses 12 and 13, and there read words like this, "As many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe on His name, Who have been born, not of blood, (not a natural birth), ......but of God. Today you have received the Lord Jesus by faith as your Savior, so you too have become a child of God, you have been born of God, according to this verse. Now turn to chapter 5 verse 24 of the same Gospel, there you will read words like these, Verily, verily, (it is doubly true), he that hears my word, (Jesus has spoken to you through this story), and believes on Him that sent me, (when you prayed you told God that you do believe that He sent the Lord Jesus for you), has eternal life, (you have it now), and shall not come into judgment,(God will never send you to hell, because Lord Jesus bore that judgment for you on the cross), but has passed from death into life", (You have done this today). For further help write to me at the address below : C. E. Wigg, 4 East Yolla Road, (R.S.D. 287B), Yolla, Tasmania. Australia. 7325. [Written, Suva, 2/9/97.] ______________________________________________________________________ (3) <Doctrinal> TO WHAT SHOULD WE BE LOYAL? (PART-2) William MacDonald .... Here is another problem. If my loyalty is to a particular group of local churches, what is to be my attitude toward other Christian groups that might in some ways be closer to the New Testament pattern than mine is? How do I evaluate them? Do I simply wave them off by saying, "They are not among 'our' assemblies." Do I accept or reject them by whether their activities are reported in one of "our" magazines? Then there is the matter of individual Christian workers "outside our circle." How do we evaluate them? Do we ask, "Has he been commended by one of 'the assemblies?" "Is he with us?" Or do we inquire if he is serving the Lord in accordance with the principles of the New Testament? Certainly the easiest policy is to judge individuals or groups by whether or not they are "with us." This does not require spiritual exercise or discernment. But it is a false and dangerous basis of judgment. It supplants the Word of God as our final authority. It assumes a priori that "we" are correct in our position and that everyone else should conform to us. It leads to inconsistency, embarrassment and confusion. Christians must be taught to test everything by the Scriptures. This is our only authority. The question is not, "How do we do it in 'our assemblies'?" but "What does the Bible teach about it?" Our loyalty must be first, last and always to the Lord and to the principles of His Word. And we should never blindly assume that any group of believers has a monopoly on the truth, is adhering to the New Testament in its entirety, or is immune from drift and departure. Every generation must guard against the danger of slipping into denominational, sectarian ways of thinking. Down through the centuries, there have been great movements of the Holy Spirit in which certain truths have been recovered out of the rubble of tradition, formalism and ritualism. The first generation, that is, those living at the time of these movements have been intelligent concerning the scriptural principles involved. But then the second and third generations have tended to follow the system routinely because their parents were in it, and because they themselves were brought up in it. There has been a decline of true conviction and an increasing ignorance of the biblical basis of the pattern followed. Thus the history of most spiritual movements has been aptly described in the word series: man ... movement ... machine ... monument. At the outset there is a man, anointed in a special way by the Holy Spirit. As others are led into the truth, a movement develops. But by the second or third generation, people are following a system with sectarian, machine-like precision. Eventually nothing is left but a lifeless, denominational monument. If you were to ask a sampling of Christians, "Why do you meet in church fellowship where you do?" how many do you think could give a clear, scriptural answer? Not many! There is widespread ignorance as to the truth of the New Testament church, and therefore a general lack of conviction on the subject. How can we have strong convictions about something we do not know or understand? In a healthy New Testament assembly, those who are in fellowship know why they are there. They are not sermon-tasters or followers of men, but Christians who are well grounded in the truth of the gospel and of the Church. They are prepared to judge everything by the Word. They are not unalterably committed to any particular group of assemblies. If trends develop which are unbiblical and dishonoring to the Lord, they will seek the leading of the Holy Spirit to the company of those who do meet in obedience to the Bible. [To be concluded] _______________________________________________________________________ (4) <Prophetical> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-5) Arthur W. Pink .... V. THE REDEEMER'S RETURN IS NECESSITATED BY THE PRESENT EXALTATION OF SATAN One of the greatest mysteries in all God's creation is the Devil. For any reliable information concerning him we are shut up to the Holy Scriptures. It is in God's Word alone that we can learn anything about his origin, his personality, his fall, his sphere of operations, and his approaching doom. One thing which is there taught us about the great Adversary of God and man, and which observation and experience fully confirms, is, that he is a being possessing mighty power. It would appear, from a study of the Bible, that Satan is the most powerful creature(not "Being") in all the Universe. He has access to the Heaven of heavens and appears before God day and night to accuse His saints (Rev. 12:10). In Old Testament prophecy he is denominated "The anointed Cherub" (Ezek. 28:14) and from other Scriptures we learn that the "cherubim" are the highest order among the celestial hierarchies. Satan is represented as being at the head of an organized kingdom of evil, with hosts of wicked spirits ever ready to perform the bidding of their mighty chief. He is likened to a "roaring lion"--the King of the beasts--going about seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). When our Lord was here upon earth, Satan had the power to carry Him to a pinnacle of the Temple and to "shew unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time"(Luke 4:5). From the Epistle of Jude we learn that, "Michael the archangel, when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 1:9). Sufficient has been said to show that Satan is a creature wielding tremendous power. But not only does God's Word enlighten us upon the great power which our Enemy possesses, it also informs us about the sphere in which he works and makes known the location of his kingdom. In the very first mention in Scripture of that old Serpent, the Devil, he is seen in Eden having unbarred access to our first parents. In the next reference, we read of him coming before the Lord, as one who came "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it" (Job 1:7). This earth of ours is the scene of his present activities. Milton's conception of Satan now seated upon a throne in Hell is altogether lacking in Scriptural verification. The New Testament is in perfect agreement with the Old. In his conflict with our Lord, the Devil declared that all the kingdoms of the world had been delivered unto him (Luke 4:6) and Christ never repudiated or even challenged his claim, nay, He three times acknowledged that Satan is "The Prince of this world" (John 12:31, etc.). In 2 Cor. 4:4 he is termed the "god of this age" (Greek),that is, the director of its false religions and the object worshipped by their devotees--compare 1 Cor. 10:20. While in 1 John 5:19, R. V. we are told, "The whole world lieth in the Evil One." We have thus seen that Satan is an exalted creature possessing and wielding prodigious power and that this world of ours is his present kingdom. For six thousand years he has been the avowed enemy of God and man. But are things going to continue thus throughout all time? Is Satan to be allowed "free rein" for ever? Surely there will yet be an end made to his power and dominion. But what and who is going to depose him? Humanity is helpless before him. Man is unable to chain him. The Church cannot dethrone him, or it would have done so long ago. Legislation is impotent, for human governments cannot vote him out of the world. Who then shall overthrow the Kingdom of Darkness? There is only one answer possible. There is only One sufficient for such a task, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the very fact of Satan's present exaltation and man's utter inability to overthrow him, demands and necessitates the personal Return of our Redeemer to vanquish the Devil and imprison him in the Bottomless Pit. [to be continued...] _______________________________________________________________________ (5) <Exhortatory> ALWAYS REJOICING Connie Giordano "A religious life is a pleasant life, it is a life of constant joy." - Matthew Henry The world considers the Christian life to be one of great sadness and gloom, trial and melancholy. They look at it as a life of enormous deprivation from the pleasures of life as well as one that is characterized by heavy burdens and countless restraints. Yet the Bible argues the opposite as being true. There is not a more joyful people on the face of the earth than the people of God - those who have repented of all of their sins, are washed in the Blood of Jesus, and are on their way to heaven shouting "Glory!" 2 Corinthians 6:10 - Yes, because of our faith in Jesus, we oftentimes encounter some of the roughest times imaginable. Yet, as the Apostle Paul characterized ministers, we are "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." We may be grieving today due to heavy afflictions, troubles, and persecutions for our faith, but we have the Mighty Comforter - the Holy Ghost - Who is always with us, encouraging us and lifting us up above the shadows. Oh! Bless His Holy Name! This Holy Ghost Power enables us to face the greatest and most severe storms imaginable with unexplainable peace and joy. The world didn't give it to us, and the world can't take it away. And the world can't figure it out either. The power that we have comes from within - the well of salvation that springs up giving us joy and peace in believing. What are some of the circumstances that we may face that could possibly rob us of our joy? The Scriptures give us three general ones - 1. Ill-treatment From Others Matthew 5:11 - "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake." Luke 6:22 - "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." For Jesus' sake, we oftentimes can be called upon to suffer reproach, slander, public accusations, contempt, and ridicule. We may be called all kinds of names and be hated by others insomuch that they excommunicate us or totally reject us from their company. 2. When Things Are Taken Away Habakkuk 3:17- "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls." Everything is gone. All of the comforts, delights, and enjoyments as well as the necessities in life are taken away. 3. Great Trials and Divers Temptations 2 Corinthians 8:2 - "How that in a great trial of affliction..." James 1:2 - "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." 1 Peter 1:6 - "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul alluded to the Macedonian Christians who were experiencing "deep poverty" because of their faith in Christ. The Apostle James referred to the various kinds of trials that the believers would be expected to face - affliction, persecution, calamity, sickness, bereavement, and all kinds of diabolical suggestions to renounce their faith in Christ. The Apostle Peter referred to the trials that were indeed necessary at times to sharpen the focus of the believer, build character where he is weak, or to combat any carelessness, worldly mindedness, or false security. No matter what the saints of God will face in this life - ill-treatment, the loss of their possessions, comforts, or assets, or severe testing of their faith through affliction and calamities - they are still to rejoice. This seems so paradoxical. How can a people possibly rejoice and be happy when everything is going wrong for them? Oh! But is it? Is everything going wrong as it seems? Or do they always and evermore have reason to be the happiest people on the face of the earth? Zechariah 9:9 tells us - "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation..." This is a call for all of God's people to burst out into immeasurable rejoicing with dancing and shouting for gladness of heart. We cannot help but be happy, knowing that our sins have been washed away and death and Satan are trampled under our feet. No matter what we face, we know that it won't last for long for our King Who rules and reigns over all will have the last word and will come to us, bringing salvation and deliverance. Psalm 32:11 - "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." As the righteous - the ones who are freely walking in obedience and submission to the will and ways of God - we are called upon to rejoice in God for Who He is. Oh, how can we possibly contain ourselves when we think upon the lovingkindnesses and tender mercies of the Lord as well as His Great Faithfulness to us as His people? This is surely shouting ground right here! Wouldn't you agree? Psalm 68:3- "But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice." In Psalm 16:11, David said of the Lord - "...in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Whenever we get into God's presence, we experience marvellous and stupendous joy. It is multiplied and prolonged joy, too. He shares His many pleasures with us. The world can't duplicate them either. They are out of this world! Romans 12:12 - "Rejoicing in hope..." All Christians have reason to rejoice in the Blessed Hope that they have for when they leave this world there is a Better and More Glorious Place awaiting them. It is the place called Heaven. Some call it Beulah Land. And those that have already gone before us call it Home. We are not there yet, but we are on our way. Just a few more days and we will meet our Savior face to face and be with Him for all of eternity along with all of our loved ones who have gone before us. What a Day that will be! Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice." As Christians, we can rejoice in our God at all times because He never changes. Circumstances may change. People may change. But God ever remains the same. We can always trust Him that He will keep His Word to us and stand with us through the storms of life. He promises to always be with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is so Faithful and True! 1 Peter 1:8 - "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." "Rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." - This is a very pronounced and strong expression. We have never seen Jesus face-to-face, yet we love Him with all that is within us. He won our hearts on Calvary when He laid down His life for each one of us. Resultantly, through our Faith in him, we experience inexpressible and unutterable happiness, knowing that some day soon, we are going to meet Him and share all of eternity with Him. We can't help but get excited. In our praises, the Holy Ghost allows us to taste a little bit of the "glory" that lies ahead of us. And, oh my, is it ever indescribable! 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - "Rejoice evermore." Knowing that the Lord is our portion in this life, we can experience utmost joy. No matter how the devil attacks or what he tries to steal from us, we are always full and rich. We can always be happy no matter what circumstances come our way. Acts 8:8 - "And there was great joy in that city." Philip preached the Word in Samaria. Revival broke out. Mighty miracles occurred. The town was filled with great exultation. Hebrews 13:8 - We, too, can rejoice, knowing that Jesus is still the same today. What He did in the Book of Acts, He is still doing today. He is working salvation throughout the entire world for all those who will come to Him in faith believing. Luke 15:10 - The spreading of the Good News - the Gospel of the Lord Jesus - is always occasion for great joy. When one sinner repents and calls on the name of Jesus for salvation, all of the angels rejoice. And we should, too! God never promised us an easy road on which to travel. However, He did promise us His Grace and Holy Ghost Power to see us through unto Victory. That is why, in the face of adverse circumstances, we can rejoice, be exceeding glad, and even leap for joy. There is a reward awaiting all those who suffer for His name's sake. Heaven is just ahead. We can see the blazing glow of God's Glory just over the horizon. Romans 8:28 - And while we are here, we can depend on God's Promise that He will work "all things" together for our good because we love Him. When God says "all things," He means "all." It will happen just as He said. Father, in the name of Jesus we lift up everyone reading this message who is facing persecution, rejection, and ill treatment because they are Christians; who is suffering loss or the spoiling of their goods as well as afflictions, calamities, sicknesses, and severe trials of their faith. We cry out to You this day for Mercy for each one of them. We ask that You would reach down and minister Your Great Grace, Comfort, and Anointing to all. We ask that You would baptize each one in such indescribable and immeasurable joy. Turn their focus from their circumstances and place it on You and Your Mighty Delivering Power. Cause hope to arise once again in each soul. And through Your Mighty Holy Ghost Miracle Working Power bring forth Breakthroughs that will cause families to be glad, rejoice exceedingly, and leap for joy at the Great Goodness of our God. We will be careful to give You all of the Praise for all that You will do for Your Precious People. In Jesus' Holy & Awesome Name we ask & believe. Amen & Amen. May God Bless His Word. Connie --- Copyright 2002 by Connie Giordano _______________________________________________________________________ (6) <Poem> PRAISES TO THE SAVIOUR Lois Beckwith Praises to the Saviour give, He who died that we might live, For His love, so great, so free, Praise His Name eternally. When our hearts were steeped in sin, Vile and wretched were within, Jesus left the throne above, Came to show the Father's love. Oh how wondrous was His grace! He who took the sinner's place, Jesus offered "Lo, I come," All to bear the sinner home. Jesus died on Calv'ry's tree, There to set the sinner free, All who on His Name believe, Everlasting life receive. What a debt to Him we owe! Gladly may our praises flow, Let our cheerful voices raise, Loud thanksgivings, songs of praise. Praise the Father and the Son, That redemption's work is done, Magnify that precious Name, Christ, the Lamb of God, who came. Worthy is the Lamb once slain, Praise and magnify His Name, Laud and honour may we bring, To our Saviour, Priest and King. Glory unto Jesus be, He who died to set us free, Let us worship and adore, Praise His Name forevermore. _________________________<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/ ["Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." 2 Cor 13:5] ["You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Jn 8:32] _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com