-------------------------<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> <3 October 2002> In this issue: ------------- (1) <Devotional> "Finding the perfect gift" - Ravi Zacharias (2) <Doctrinal> "Fasting, what does the Bible teach?" (Pt-3) - C.E.Wigg (3) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-43)- A.W.Pink (1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT Ravi Zacharias Isn't it ironic that the more we have access to, the further we are from finding the answer to our loneliness? We are like little Andrew surrounded by Christmas gifts. Minutes after the gifts have been torn into, poor Andrew sits staring at the wall, saddened at having exhausted so much in so little time. Likewise, having tasted of every new experience that has come along, we too wonder, like Andrew, where all the promised fulfillment has gone. Our world has seen many advances which offered the promise of a new day. First, we live in the age of communication. Never before have we had such means to transmit content or create desire. Yet even with such capacities, the walls between races, cultures, and generations still stand. Second, we live in the age of technology. But it has delivered a bill of goods for which the cost exacted is the loss of peace of mind. Each new invention was supposed to save us time. Yet less time is spent in building relationships while more is invested in the trappings of our 'conveniences.' Third, medicine has vastly improved our lives, and yet we have lost the definition of life itself. How we have changed! To the ancient of old, said C.S. Lewis, the question was how to conform the soul to reality, and the answer was in virtue and wisdom. But to the contemporary modern, the question is how to reconfigure reality so it conforms to our passions. Some change, isn't it? Fourth, human sexuality has never been more studied and pandered to in public, yet we have never been more confused about what is right and good. Young minds are exposed to sights and sounds which foster cravings that no human experience can match or placate. These advances have not been able to soothe the cry of loneliness heard from millions of hearts, have they? If the answer lies not in a computer or a medicine bottle, where can we go? Yesterday I noted that even love is not the answer to loneliness, but something beyond love. And that beyond is God Himself, the Giver of life. 'Every good and perfect gift is from above,' the Scriptures tell us, 'coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows.' Dear friend, let us not be like little Andrew surrounded by gifts but not knowing joy. Go to the Giver, who alone gives us perpetual wonder and fulfillment. --- 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-3) Charles E. Wigg ... FASTING NEVER COMMANDED: Fasting is never commanded in the holy scriptures, though it is encouraged, when practiced for godly reasons. In Matt. 6;16, the Lord Jesus says, "And whenever you fast", clearly indicating that they were sometimes fasting even before He spoke to them, but they were doing it for wrong reasons, and as an outward show. Thus we may conclude that fasting is a voluntary thing, not obligatory, and to be pleasing to Him, and thus beneficial to us or to others whose blessing we seek, then it must always be to God. Let us now look at some of the people in the Bible who fasted, and some of the instances where fasting is mentioned. MOSES: Moses is the first person in the Bible who fasted, Ex. 34:28, and Deut.9:9, and 18. On his first visit to the top of Horeb, the very terror of the intrinsic holiness of God, on that mountain that was all on fire, because he said that he was exceedingly afraid and full of trembling, it took away his appetite. It was not that he denied himself food or drink, but that he was terrified by what he saw, and experienced. However on his second visit to the mountain-top, it was different. On that occasion, he was so ashamed of and overwhelmed by the wickedness of the people's flagrant sin, that he fell down before God, and fasted for those forty days. Such fasting moved the heart of God, and secured His forgiveness for the people's sin ISRAEL: In Judges,20:26, we read of Israel, after their humiliating defeat at the hands of the men of Benjamin. They wept, and fasted, and offered sacrifices, because the hand of God had gone out against them in judgment. They had been quick to vent their wrath, and to try to execute judgment on the tribe of Benjamin, and the men of Gibeah. Now the wickedness of those men was revolting, yet they as a nation were also guilty of many gross sins before God. They had rejected Jehovah's rule, and anarchy followed, as every man did what was right in his own eyes. They were quite willing to judge the sin of their brother, but not their own sin. The terrible slaughter of their soldiers at the hands of the Benjaminites, began to make to realize that something was wrong. This is what gave rise to their fasting, but it was accompanied with weeping and genuine repentance. It was not just a religious form. In 1Samuel 7:6, we have another example of fasting coupled with national repentance and the confession of sin. Israel was down in the depths of departure from God, but were beginning to turn to God. Samuel had gathered them to Mizpah, and there they humbled themselves, confessed their sin, and turned in heart to Jehovah again. This was a national revival, and the Philistines chose that time to attack, but God gave Israel a mighty victory. This victory was not because of their fasting only, but because they humbled themselves, repented and confessed their sin to God. When fasting is coupled with such exercises, then it will enable the people of God to experience His power and victory, but fasting alone will achieve nothing. Nehemiah 9:1-2, present us with a similar situation, though there was only a small remnant. There national and personal repentance, confession and forsaking of sin, was coupled with fasting, and this resulted in worship and great joy. As well the word of God was read and obeyed and great blessing resulted. But mere fasting without the other things would have accomplished nothing. We have another occasion in Esther 4:3 and 16. On this occasion the nation was faced with annihilation, an emergency of disastrous proportions. The fear of it, made the Jews to weep, to mourn and to wail, as well as to fast. But the nation had got so far away from God, that they did not think of turning back to Him. Yet in His kindness He saw their grief and terror and sovereignly intervened, for their salvation, and consequently for our also. If Israel had been totally annihilated, then there would have been no nation for the Lord Jesus to come to, and God's plan of salvation would never have been accomplished. Once again we see that fasting was no mere formality, they were in dead earnest, filled with terror. In Joel 1:14 and 2:12, Israel is again confronted with disaster, the terrible judgment of God, in chapter one they are told to consecrate a fast, to cry out to Jehovah, not just to fast only. In Ch.2:12 and 13, they are told to return to Jehovah with fasting, weeping and mourning, they were to rend their hearts and not their garments. The rending of the garments, and the fasting without the other things would only be an outward show, and have no value whatsoever. We have other examples of group fasting in Ezra,8:21, and the occasion of that fasting was the very dangerous journey that they were about to undertake. They did not fast only, but also humbled themselves, and prayed, seeking a safe journey for themselves and their little ones. By way of contrast we have another example of group fasting that was completely futile, in Jer. 36:9. This fasting was a mere formality, was not combined with repentance, self humbling, or the confession or forsaking of sin. I fear that so much fasting today is the same. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _______________________________________________________________________ (3) <PROPHETICAL> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-43) PRE-MILLENNIALISM ESTABLISHED Arthur W. Pink .... 2. The "Times of Restitution" can be ushered in only by the Second Advent of Christ "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the Times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the Times of Restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:19-21). The "Times of Restitution" here promised to Israel on the condition of their national repentance is one of the names of the Millennium itself. It is termed thus because at that time Israel shall be restored to favor with God again. It is termed thus because at that time Palestine shall be restored, restored to its original fertility, when it shall again be "a land that floweth with milk and honey." It is termed thus because at that time the animal creation shall be restored, restored to Edenic conditions, when once again "the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb." It is termed thus because at that time Creation shall be restored and delivered from its present bondage of corruption, restored to its original freedom and glory. The "Times of Restitution" is defined in the very passage where this expression occurs, defined in the previous words "the Times of Refreshing" which shall come from the presence of the Lord." Note particularly that these "Times of Restitution" cannot come until Christ Himself comes back again. This is expressly affirmed in the words "Whom the heaven must receive until." Observe it does not say "Whom the heaven must receive or retain during the Times of Restitution," still less "until the end of the Times of Restitution"--which it most certainly would say were the teaching of post-millennialism true--but "until the Times of Restitution," that is, until those times arrive. When these "Times" come then shall the Lord arrive. When these "Times" come then shall the Lord return, and when He returns then shall come "Times of Refreshment" for His people on earth. Observe, further, that we are told, these "Times of Restitution" were spoken of by all God's holy prophets. Of what "Times of Restitution" then did the Old Testament prophets speak? We answer, of Millennial "Times," when all nations of the earth shall be brought beneath the sway of Messiah's scepter. The Old Testament prophets uniformly connect the Times of "Restitution" with the Coming of Christ to the earth and they certainly knew of no Kingdom being brought in by the efforts of the Church. The able declaration of Peter then proves two things: First, that until the Times of Restitution the Heaven must retain our Lord; second, that as soon as these "Times" arrive, Christ shall assuredly return. Hence, there can be no Millennium until Christ comes back again to the earth, but as soon as He does come back again the Millennium will be inaugurated. [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 _______________________________________________________