-------------------------<BrethrenVoice>------------------------- [which seeks to be guided solely by the NT Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian info. To God be the glory!] [eMail Moderator: brethrenvoice-owner@...] [<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> Archives/Read online: http://associate.com/digests/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <1 October 2002> Contents: ---------- (1) <Devotional> "Are you lonely tonight?" - Ravi Zacharias (2) <Doctrinal> "Fasting, what does the Bible teach?" (Pt-1) - C.E.Wiggs (3) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-41)- A.W.Pink (1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> ARE YOU LONELY TONIGHT? Ravi Zacharias I believe it was Elvis Presley who asked, "Are You Lonely Tonight?" Although he was not exactly a philosopher, I think he had his finger on something. Writer Thomas Wolfe, having himself lived an emotionally turbulent life, articulated one of the deepest aches within the human heart. Listen to his words, I believe they are profound: The whole conviction of my life now rests upon the belief that loneliness, far from being a rare and curious phenomenon, peculiar to myself and to a few other solitary people, is the central and inevitable feature of human existence. All this hideous doubt, despair and dark confusion of the soul a lonely man must know, for he is united to no image save that which he creates himself. He is bolstered by no other knowledge save that which he can gather for himself with the vision of his own eyes and brain. He is sustained and cheered and aided by no party. He is given comfort by no creed. He has no faith in him except his own, and often that faith deserts him, leaving him shaken and filled with impotence. Then it seems to him that his life has come to nothing. That he is ruined, lost, and broken, past redemption, and that morning, that bright and shining morning with its promise of new beginnings, will never come upon the earth again as it did once. (Footnote 1: Thomas Wolfe, "God's Lonely Man," in The Hills Beyond (New York: Plume/New American Library, 1982), 146, 148.) Has this author touched the throbbing nerve of a reality that holds us all in its grip? Is he telling it like it is? Tempting though it might be for the optimist to dismiss these words as cynically conceived in some dark moment of despair, there are many who would echo the same feeling of desolation. I would venture to say that this cry of loneliness is felt by all, though better suppressed by some. As one actress recently quipped, "We are all in this together alone." Indeed, the problem of loneliness is universal. The hymn-writer who penned the beloved Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" captured this idea well in the words, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight." At the risk of sounding trite, may I ask you, are you lonely this day? Are your hopes and fears pinned on the future hope of some companion or accomplishment to bring you solace, or have you brought them to the One who alone can bring you lasting hope and a future? I hope you're listening dear friend; this problem of loneliness is endemic and you may be experiencing it too. Bring your lonely heart to God, and allow Him to do His work in your life. --- 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) <DOCTRINAL> FASTING - AN EXAMINATION OF WHAT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES TEACH (PART-1) Charles E. Wigg ["Fasting" for some time has been a controversial topic among the so-called "brethren". Whilst some advocate fasting as "desirable", others vehemently oppose it citing our Lord's condemnation of it by the Pharisees of His time. What does the Bible, specifically the New Testament, teach on the subject? Br. Charles Wigg has put his thoughts on the subject and we are grateful to him for having given us permission to share them through the <GLEANINGS> - Ben] Fasting has been practiced by men, both the people of God, and Pagans from ancient times. The Pagans did so to try to obtain favors from the deities whom they feared and served. This was especially in times of crisis and distress, or for auspicious occasions such as before marriage etc. It was the practice of Pagan sailors to fast especially in the autumn time, with the approach of winter, so that they might be kept from shipwreck in times of winter storms. (See Acts 27:9 and 33). The fast referred to in verse 9, was the fast observed by the Jews before the great day of atonement, which took place late September, or early October. However as mentioned earlier, it was the custom for the pagan sailors to fast with the onset of winter, and in this chapter it was because of their distress occasioned by the terrible storm, they had been fasting for 14 days. TWO KINDS OF FASTING: There are two kinds of fasting described in the scriptures: (1) Some was out of deep sincerity, where those who fasted truly humbled themselves, confessing and forsaking their sins, such as we have in 1Sam. 7:6, Neh. 9:1-2, Joel 2;12, Dan. 9;3, Ezra 8;23, and Deut. 9;18; and (2) Mostly however the fasting was just an outward show, by which those who fasted hoped to attract God's attention, diverting His attention from the sins which they were practicing, and which were blighting their lives, exposing them to the judgment of God. (Isa. 58;4-5.) Still others did it to attract the attention and praise of men, for their self-denial , and supposed devotion, (Luke 18;12.) Still others were practicing fasting for seventy years, yet Jehovah has to question them, "Did you do it unto ME?" They had obviously not fasted unto the Lord, but had carried on this empty ritual for so long, doubtless feeling quite proud of their self denial, but all was a useless, wasted exercise. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _______________________________________________________________________ (3) <PROPHETICAL> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-41) THE TIME OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN Arthur W. Pink .... 4. The present working of the Mystery of Iniquity proves that there can be no Millennium before the Redeemer's Return. "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that Man of Sin be revealed, the Son of Perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3). In the first Epistle to the Thessalonians the apostle makes mention of the Second Coming of Christ in every chapter, and in the first chapter of the second Epistle he recurs again to the same theme--"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (vss. 7, 8). Then, at the opening of chapter two in the Second Epistle he further says, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." Observe that here the apostle speaks of "The Day of Christ" which is different from "The Coming of Christ." The "day of Christ" signifies the Millennium and is used in contrast with "Man's day" (1 Cor. 4:3, margin) which denominates the dispensation in which we are now living. Here then the apostle expressly states that "that day (the Day of Christ) shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that Man of Sin be revealed, the Son of Perdition." The "Man of Sin" is the Antichrist who at the very close of this Age will oppose and exalt himself "above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:4). In the seventh verse of this same chapter the apostle tells us "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth (hindereth) will let (hinder), until He be taken out of the way." Notice that the "Mystery of Iniquity" was said to "work" referring to the action of the leaven which was corrupting the meal even in the apostle's own lifetime. That which has "hindered" the full development of the Mystery of Iniquity" and which now prevents the revelation of the Antichrist is the presence on earth of God the Holy Spirit. But He is to be "taken out of the way"--removed from the earth when the saints are raptured to heaven. Then will the Devil be allowed "free rein" and the Son of Perdition will be publicly manifested. In the days of Antichrist God will send men strong delusion "that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (vs. 12). The career of the Antichrist will be cut short by the return of our Redeemer to the earth--"whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming" (vs. 8). The "Mystery of Iniquity" then, will be brought to a conclusion only by the Return of Christ in judgment which is another proof that there can be no Millennium before the Second Coming of Christ. To sum up the teaching of 2 Thess. 1:6-2:12. The testimony of this passage is in perfect accord with the declarations of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24. Instead of teaching that before Christ returns all men will be converted by the Gospel, it distinctly affirms that the Day of Christ (the Millennium shall not come "except there come a falling away first" (Greek "apostasy"). Instead of teaching that this Age will close by witnessing a universal turning unto the Truth it explicitly states that it will terminate with God giving up multitudes "that they should believe a lie." Instead of teaching that this Dispensation will end with Christ exalted in the hearts of all, it declares that it will close with the manifestation and exaltation of the Antichrist and with the Lord coming back in judgment to destroy the Wicked One and to take vengeance on those that know not God and have scorned the Gospel of His Son. [To be concluded] _____________________<BrethrenVoice>_____________________ Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, 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 _______________________________________________________