<BrethrenVoice>
<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY>
<31 August 2002>
Contents:
---------
(1) <Devotional> "Safely in" - Miles J. Stanford
(2) <Exhortational> "What the Lord can do" - Ravi Zacharias
(3) <Doctrinal> "In the beginning it was not so!" (Pt-6) - C.E.Wiggs
(4) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-17)- A.W.Pink
(5) <Apologetics) "Christian Apologetics" (Pt-4) -M. Copland
(1) <DEVOTIONAL>
SAFELY IN
Miles J. Stanford
"You are made partakers of His resurrection, through the faith wrought in
you by God, who raised Him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12, Cony.).
All true believers are gratefully aware that they are not going to hell, but
few realize that they are already in heaven.
"There is no question about there being a beautiful new position for the
believer, but people limit it to its being theirs when they die. Scripture
shows that it is ours now! People say, 'You get to heaven when you die.' No
such thing. You have it now. It is not your death that entitles you to it,
but the Lord Jesus' death. There is not a single shade that was between us
and the Father, but the Lord Jesus has removed in His death." -J.B.S.
"The great work of the Lord Jesus was wrought on the Cross to bring us to
the Father; His death and His Blood, His ascension and sitting on the
Throne; all mean one thing-our being brought nigh to dwell in the Father's
presence. And with what object? That the Father may have us, to mature us,
to work in us that which is well-pleasing in His sight. Let no one think
that the entrance into the Holiest is the end; it is only the beginning. It
brings us into the right position, in which the Father in His divine power
can work out His will and purpose in us-conforming us to the image of His
Son." -A.M.
"The Lord Jesus stood where I was, and now I stand where He is, and that is
the only place I have before my Father. We may fail and grieve the Holy
Spirit, but that is where we are set." -J.N.D.
"If there be progress upward there must be progress in life and ways down
here; you cannot see the need for a change in your ways here until you are
transformed by the influence of nearness to Him there. You thus gradually
find things here are not suitable for the order and nature of the things
which are so attractive to the renewed heart up there." -J.B.S.
"Your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).
_______________________________________________________________________
(2) <EXHORTATIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY>
WHAT THE LORD CAN DO
Ravi Zacharias
We have been exploring the necessity of surrendering our emotions to what is
true so that the truth harnesses our feelings, instead of our feelings
determining what is true. To that end, I think of the marvellous examples of
how the Scriptures have changed an individual's life-and even the course of
history. Think of John Wesley. We are told that he preached over forty
thousand sermons, wrote thousands of pages, and travelled nearly a quarter
of a million miles, mostly by horseback. In his eighties he was still
preaching twice a day! At eighty-six he wrote in his journal, "Laziness is
slowing creeping in. There is an increasing tendency to stay in bed after
five-thirty in the morning."
How powerful is a life so extraordinarily lived! Where did it all begin? In
a simple service at which the preacher was reading from a commentary on the
Book of Romans by Martin Luther. Who would have dreamed then that England's
history was being shaped by a young preacher whose heart was being strangely
warmed under the fire of God's Word?
Martin Luther, who was to change the course of European history, was himself
unalterably moved by that simple little verse from Habakkuk, "The just shall
live by his faith." He fell under the spell of these words on three distinct
occasions. His final moment of reckoning came as he
literally crawled on his knees up the staircase in Rome, labouring under the
burden of seeking absolution for his sin. Suddenly the meaning of that verse
descended on him with life-transforming force and gave him the courage to
withstand the threats of the powers of his day.
I think, too, of the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky. As he lay dying,
the last thing he asked for was that the story of the prodigal son be read
to him. That story had changed his life in his ten-year prison term in
Siberia and appears in some form in most of his books. Is it little wonder,
then, that forty thousand people braved the elements to walk behind his
casket as it was carried through the streets of Saint Petersburg? His life
was transformed by the Word.
Listen as God speaks, my friend. Wesley, Luther, and Dostoevsky were
individuals who needed, as we do today, to hear from God to guide them in
truth. They were men who felt deeply about life and love. Out of the depths
of truth God transformed their hearts and minds-and He can transform
yours.
---
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-6)
THEY SOLD THEIR POSSESSIONS
Charles E. Wigg
....
The effect of the conversion on these Jews was little short of miraculous.
The Jews are perhaps the most materialistic of all people, the most diligent
and prosperous in business, wherever they are found. Yet those who had
possessions sold them and laid the money at the Apostles feet. The
possession of real-estate specially in the land of Israel, was to the Jew,
under the law, a token of the blessing of God. Yet their hearts were so
touched by the love of God, in giving His Son to die for them, that they
readily parted with that which was so dear to them. What a difference we see
today. It is not unknown for people who say that they are believers to lay
claim to property that belongs to the Lord and even to go to the courts to
try to steal what really belongs to God.
It will be claimed that what these first believers did will not work today.
However if they had not sold their possessions, or property, they would have
lost it all in time. Because in a matter of thirty years or so, the general
Titus came with the Roman army and sacked and burned Jerusalem. The
believers who were in the city at that time had to flee and were dispersed
to many parts of the Middle East. It was to these people that Peter wrote
his epistles. Paul testified as to how they joyfully accepted the spoiling
of their goods because they knew that they had a better and more enduring
substance in heaven. Heb.10:34.
They then laid the money at the Apostles feet. However those men who had
been the instruments that God used to bring them the knowledge of Salvation,
did not touch that money or take it as a reward for their services. This is
proved in chapter 3 because Peter said to the lame man who was healed
through them, "Silver and gold have I none". Again how different things are
today, where those who claim to be the servants of God, are constantly
appealing for money. Many are multi-millionaires. These have deceived
people, mesmerised them, used all kinds of trickery to get gullible people
to give them huge sums of money, so that they can live in luxury. Let us
recall again the words of the Lord Jesus, "In the beginning it was not so".
Such avarice, or even extortion, that we see today, we must condemn in the
strongest terms. It is hateful to God. Those who claim to be His servants,
are not ashamed to beg from men, as if God is either mean or bankrupt.
Some years ago, I went to U.S.A. and there I listened to many "Christian"
radio broadcasts, which can be heard 24 hours a day, on different stations.
Some were good and presented truth as Scripture tells it. Others were far
from the truth and one can hear almost every error or heresy on U.S. Radio
stations. But whether good or bad, all ended with a begging session, asking
their hearers to give money to enable them to keep their broadcasts going.
In one breath they would loudly proclaim their total dependence on God and
in the next they would be begging from men. Even the "Unjust Steward", would
not do this, because he said "I cannot dig and to beg I am ashamed".
[To be concluded]
---
[Reproduced with permission of Charles E. Wigg]
_______________________________________________________________________
(4) <PROPHETICAL>
"THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-17)
II. THE AUTHORIZATION OF OUR HOPE
Arthur W. Pink
....
3. We have the inspired testimony of the apostles
-------------------------------------------------
We have already shown in a previous chapter that each of the apostles bore
witness to the Second Coming of Christ. Their testimony is clear, full, and
uniform. At this point we shall select but a single passage, a familiar one,
from the epistles of the apostle Paul. In 1 Thess. 4:13-18 we read, "But I
would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent (i.e., "go before" them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
The above passage is the most comprehensive statement upon the Redeemer's
Return which is to be found in the apostolic writings. The importance of the
communication contained therein is intimated by the prefatory clause--"This
we say unto you by the word of the Lord," an expression which is always
reserved for those passages of Divine revelation which are of peculiar
importance or solemnity. Here again we learn that Christ is going to return
in person--"The Lord Himself." Here again we have a positive promise--"The
Lord Himself shall descend." And here again, the Second Coming of Christ is
presented as the "blessed hope" of the Church--"comfort one another with
these words." We reserve further comment upon this passage for a later
chapter.
4. Finally, we have the Promise of the Lord given from the Throne
---------------------------------------------------------------
We have previously pointed out that, some fifty or sixty years after His
ascension to the right hand of God, Christ sent His angel to the beloved
John on the Isle of Patmos saying, "Surely I come quickly" Rev. 22:20). This
was our Lord's last promise to His people, as though to intimate that He
would have them continually occupied with His imminent Return. Perhaps this
will be the best place to meet an objection that is frequently made by those
who seek to find flaws in the Word of God. It is said that the Lord Jesus
here made a mistake. He declared that He was coming quickly and more than
eighteen centuries have passed since then and yet He has not returned!
The explanation of this supposed difficulty is very simple. When the Lord
Jesus said, "Surely I come quickly," He spoke from Heaven, and Heaven's
measurement of time is very different from earth's. Never once while He was
here upon earth did the Saviour say or even hint that He would return
"quickly." On the contrary He gave plain intimation that after His departure
a lengthy interval would have to pass ere He came back again. In the Parable
of the Nobleman He spoke of Himself as One taking a journey into "a far
country" (Luke 19:12). On another occasion He represented an evil servant
saying, during the time of His absence, "My Lord delayeth His coming" (Matt.
24:28). While in the Parable of the Talents He openly declared that "After a
long time the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them" (Matt.
25:19). What we would here press upon the attention of our readers is, that,
each of these utterances were made by our Lord during the time when He was
still upon earth and therefore they must be considered from earth's
viewpoint; but when the Lord Jesus said "Surely I come quickly" He spoke
from Heaven and concerning Heaven's measurement of time we need to bear in
mind that word "Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is
with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Pet.
3:8). In the light of the last quoted Scripture it is easy to understand
Rev. 22:20--if our Lord returns before the present century terminates He
will have been away but two days!
"Surely I come quickly." These are the words of our ascended Lord. This is
His promise, sent from the very Throne of Heaven. This is His final word to
His people before they hear his "shout" calling them to be with Himself.
This, then, is the warrant, the ground, the authorization of our Hope. Let
us now consider--
[To be concluded]
_______________________________________________________________________
(5) <APOLOGETICS>
"CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS, AN INTRODUCTION - (PART-4)"
M. Copland
....
THE HISTORICAL JESUS
Introduction
1. In the previous lesson, we laid the foundation for a study in
Christian apologetics: That the Christian faith is...
a. AN OBJECTIVE FAITH
1) With Jesus of Nazareth as the object of that faith
2) That He is the Son of God, who died for our sins and rose from
the dead
b. A HISTORICAL FAITH
1) Based upon real people, places, and events
2) That actually took place in history
c. AN INTELLIGENT, RATIONAL FAITH
1) Which invites people to use their minds
2) To examine the historical evidence which logically supports
placing one's faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God
2. With these things in mind, we begin by considering the evidence...
a. Which establishes Jesus of Nazareth as a HISTORICAL FIGURE
b. One who actually lived in Palestine during the First Century A.D.
I. WAS THERE EVER ANY QUESTION?
A. THERE HAVE BEEN SKEPTICS WHO BELIEVED JESUS WAS JUST A "MYTH"...
1. This concept was popular with some scholars of the 1800s'
2. It is rarely found today, except among those...
a. Who are ignorant of the facts
b. Who purposely suppress the evidence (e.g., as was done in
formerly communist-dominated countries)
B. TODAY, NO SERIOUS HISTORIAN (EVEN THOSE WHO ARE ATHEISTS) DISPUTES
THE FACT THAT JESUS EXISTED...
1. H. G. WELLS
a. An atheist, he spoke of Jesus in his book, Outline Of
History
b. "...one is obliged to say, 'Here was a man. This part of
the tale could not have been invented.'"
2. WILL DURANT
a. Ex-professor of Philosophy of History at Columbia University
b. He spent two chapters in The Story Of Our Civilization
depicting Jesus as a historical figure right along with the
Caesars
3. ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
a. Used over 20,000 words to describe Jesus
b. More than Aristotle, Cicero, Alexander, Julius Caesar,
Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, or Napoleon
[So there appears to be sufficient evidence to have convinced these and
others like them that Jesus actually lived.
What is this evidence...?]
[To be concluded]
---
© M. Copland 2002
___________________________<BrethrenVoice>___________________________
[which seeks to be guided solely by the New Testament Biblical pattern,
facilitates free flow of Christian information. To God be the glory!]
CONTACT MODERATOR, eMail: <brethrenvoice-owner@...>
Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...>
Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...>
FAQs/Statement of Faith, eMail:<brethrenvoice-faq@...>
"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]
___________________________________________________________________