<BrethrenVoice> <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <27 August 2002> Contents: --------- (1) <Devotional> "Quiet!" - M.J. Stanford (2) <Exhortational> "The world of feeling around us" - Ravi Zacharias (3) <Doctrinal> "In the beginning it was not so!" (Pt-2) - C.E.Wiggs (4) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-14)- A.W.Pink (1) <DEVOTIONAL> QUIET! Miles J. Stanford "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever" (Isaiah 32:17). The triune God is in His element within a quiet, resting assured spirit. "Just as a sinner is taught to rest in the Lord Jesus' shed Blood for his forgiveness, so must the saint rest in the Lord Jesus for his deliverance from the power of sin and the grip of the law–yes, and from himself, also. Therefore we should not be in bondage to sin, 'for he that hath died (and that is everyone who is in the Lord Jesus) is justified (or released) from (the power of) sin' (Romans 6:7); and we are now under grace, which does not demand righteousness of us, for the Lord Jesus was made unto us righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). "The believer truly walking in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set him free (Galatians 5:1), has Him ever before his eye of faith; delighting that because of Him he is in the Father's favor. He evermore learns to abhor himself as he sees the sinfulness of the old man within, only to delight himself the more in the Lord Jesus who is his life." -W.R.N. "It is only too possible for us to harbor feelings of resentment even against the Father Himself; and what inner turmoil results from such an attitude. Until we deliberately enter the stillness of the acceptance of His will, we live in chaos. Once we lay aside our rebellion in the tomb, and place our confidence in our Father, and in His love for us in the Son, we are obeying the command, 'Be still,' and we gain an understanding of the God of deliverance we could gain in no other way. Then we shall be in position to help others." "Their strength is to sit still" (Isaiah 30:7). --- Copyright ©1996-2002 TrueBranch Ministry. _______________________________________________________________________ (2) <EXHORTATIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> THE WORLD OF FEELING AROUND US Ravi Zacharias As we consider this unique capacity given to us by God-the capacity to feel-there are some shared feelings expressed almost wherever you go. Allow me to illustrate. Some time ago, I was at the airport waiting to catch a plane. The television monitors seemed to be the focal point at every departure gate, and I wondered what story was attracting such undivided attention. It was the trial of Timothy McVeigh for the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. His friend was on the witness stand. "What did he say when you said that even innocent children would die in this planned explosion of the building?" the prosecutor asked. Every viewer waited with bated breath for the answer. The alleged accomplice replied that McVeigh had told him that "Everyone there is guilty by association with this evil government, and they are getting what they deserve." At this moment it was impossible to miss the reaction: Every man and woman present was shaking his or her head in disbelief. It was the silent expression of incredulity that a man could have no twinge of conscience at such a callous act. More recently, remember the tragic story of an eighteen-year-old young woman? She excused herself from the middle of a dance at her prom, returned moments later, and asked the band to play her favourite song. Nobody was aware that she had gone to the bathroom, gave birth to her baby, and then suffocated the baby to death. Psychiatrists describe her as a woman who has amputated her feelings from reality. Society at large was dumbfounded by the horror of that unconscionable act. But it is not only the bizarre that homogenizes our feelings. We watch with widespread approval when tears of delight are shed in pursuit of something noble. Kerri Strug, who, with only one foot to bear the weight of her painful landing, courageously vaulted in the 1996 Olympics for the honour and goal of helping her team win a medal for her country, winning the emotional applause of a watching world. The tears were hard to restrain. Tears are a vital part of our make up. Jesus wept at His friend's grave, even though He was going to raise him from the dead. The Bible says there is a time to mourn and a time to laugh. The best gift Jesus Christ gives to you is to show you what to weep for and what joyous laughter is all about. --- 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. _______________________________________________________________________ (3) <DOCTRINAL> IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO! (PART-2) Charles E. Wigg .... As each repentant sinner turns from their sin, puts their faith & trust in the Lord Jesus and His finished work; receiving Him as their Savior and confessing Him as their Lord and Master, they too are born again. Their bodies become the Temple of the Holy Spirit and they are at that moment immersed (baptized) into the body of Christ. This is the only "Baptism of the Holy Spirit", spoken of in scripture. They then were all "filled with the Holy Spirit", indicating that the fire had done its work in them, consuming what was not suitable, there was no discrimination. They then began to speak in tongues, not in a babble of confusion, but under the control of the Holy Spirit who filled them, as He gave them utterance. It is plain from what follows that they knew what they were saying, but they said it in a language that was strange or foreign to them. They did not prattle on about unimportant trifles, but spoke of the "wonderful works of God". This was the testimony of those who heard them. The purpose and operation of the Biblical gift of tongues, is here demonstrated and only here. We may then conclude that all so-called tongues speaking today, is false and to be avoided and rejected. This experience was unique to those gathered in the upper room, who were already committed disciples and followers of the rejected, crucified, risen, and now ascended Son of God. It is not said of any others, or of those who were convicted, saved and baptized, as the result of the preaching of Peter and those others who were enabled to preach in the languages of those present, that even one of them spoke in tongues. The messages of those others who preached in the different languages, are not recorded for us, but some of what Peter said is recorded and he either spoke in Greek, or Hebrew, for he spoke especially to those who were men of Judea and others who dwelt at Jerusalem. The nature of the preaching ---------------------------- When Peter spoke, he first refuted the claims of the scoffers. Such claims are today justified by some, who claim that those who come under the "Toronto Blessing." (curse), are "drunk in the Spirit". This is refuted by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians. There he describes drunkenness as debauchery, or excess, Eph. 5:18-21. What they said was both rational, easily understood by those in whose languages they spoke and very deep and spiritual. We may be sure that the Holy Spirit will never cause those whom He fills and controls, to act in uncontrolled, foolish, or sensual ways. Peter then went on to prove from the Scriptures, that what all were witnessing, was the actual fulfilment of prophecy, given in the Scriptures. Next he brought home to the consciences of all, the demonstration of their national and personal guilt. Such preaching today, would be regarded by most as negative, even judgemental. To be popular today, one must say nothing that makes people feel "uncomfortable". Congregations are often asked whether they "feel comfortable", with this or that. "In the beginning it was not so", but what Peter said was in very fact the "Word of God", which is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. It pierces and divides. How we need to go back to that which was "in the beginning". Peter's preaching caused those who heard, to be "pricked in their hearts". How we need such preaching today! They were brought to repentance, to realise their national and personal guilt. They were made afraid and without any persuasion, or emotional cajoling, asked "Men and brethren, what must we do?" Peter's response was blunt and direct. He did not cater for religious pride, nor regard any prejudice, but issued two instructions. REPENT, and be BAPTIZED, every one of you. He did not excuse any, because if they were to have their sins forgiven and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, this was the only way. The same is true today, this is still the only way for any person, be they Jew or Gentile, to enter into the experience of salvation, the only way for any person to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We need to notice here, the special importance of Baptism for the Jew. They were guilty of both personal and national sins. They were guilty of the murder of God's Son. They had said "Away with Him, crucify Him". They had said "His blood be upon us and our children " Matt. 27:25. The only way they could receive the remission of those national sins, was by completely severing themselves from that guilty nation. This could only be done by dying and being buried, of which Baptism is a symbol. Baptism has nothing to do with our eternal salvation, but has everything to do with our being saved from the world. In this way the repentant Jews were able to "save themselves", from that guilty, "untoward generation". Our eternal salvation, depends alone on the efficacy of the finished work of Christ. This is the kind of preaching that we need today, if we wish to see the same result now, that was achieved there. The purpose of these articles is, that we might return to that which was, "In the beginning" May the Lord help all, who are true believers, as individuals, to do this. May we yet see the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power, convicting the lost of their sin, their lost estate. May we yet see men and women so convicted and hear them cry, "What must we do to be saved". May God bless you ! [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission of Charles E. Wigg] _______________________________________________________________________ (4) <PROPHETICAL> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-14) II. THE CHARACTER OF OUR HOPE Arthur W. Pink .... 3. OUR HOPE IS NOT DEATH ------------------------------------------ Of all the extravagant and absurd interpretations of Scripture which have found a place among sober expositors is the belief that Death is the Hope which God has set before the believer. How it ever came to find acceptance it is difficult to say. It is true that there are a number of passages which speak of the Lord returning suddenly and unexpectedly, but to make the words "At such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" and "Behold I come as a thief in the night" mean that death may steal in upon the believer without warning is to reduce the Word of God to meaningless jargon and is to make sane exposition impossible. Scripture says what it means, and means what it says. True there are Parables in the Bible; true there are some passages which are highly symbolical; but where this is the case the context usually gives clear intimation to that effect, and where it does not, the plain and literal force should always be given to the language of Holy Writ. In Scripture "death" means death, and the coming again of the Son of man means His coming, and the two expressions are not synonymous. As we have said, the Return of Christ and death (sometimes) each, alike, come suddenly and unexpectedly, but there all analogy between them ends. It is passing strange that Bible teachers should have confounded Death with the Second Coming of Christ. The former is spoken of as an "Enemy" (1 Cor. 15:26), whereas the latter is termed "that blessed hope" (Titus 2:13), and surely these two terms cannot refer to the same thing. At the Return of our Lord we shall be made like Him (1 John 3:2), but believers are not made like Him at death, for death introduces them into a disembodied state. That "death" is not the believer's Hope is clear from many Scriptures. In 1 Pet. 1:3 the apostle returns thanks because we have been begotten again "unto a living hope." The saint of God has a living hope in a dying scene: a glorious prospect beyond this vale of tears. In 2 Tim. 4:8 the apostle Paul reminds us that there is laid up a crown of righteousness unto all them that love Christ's "appearing," which is further proof that death is not the Second Coming of Christ, for who is there that "loves" death? Death is my going to Christ, but His Return is Christ coming to me. Death is a cause of sadness and sorrow, but the Return of the Lord is a cause of joy and comfort--"Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thess. 4:18, see context). Death lays the body in the dust, but at the Return of our Redeemer His people arise from the dust--"the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thess. 4:17). Death is the "wages of sin," which means that death is the penalty of sin, but so completely has that penalty been borne by our Saviour that we read, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb. 9:28). Death was certainly not the hope of the early Christians as is clear from 1 Thess. 1:9, 10 where we read, "Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven" - these Thessalonian saints were looking for Christ not death. Finally; death cannot be our Hope, for death will not be the portion of all believers as is clear from the language of 1 Cor. 15:51, "We shall not all sleep." What then is our Hope? We answer-- [To be concluded] ________________________<BrethrenVoice>________________________ [which seeks to be guided solely by the New Testament Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian information. 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