-------------------------<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> <22 October 2002> Contents: ----------- 1) <Devotional> "What has this got to do with death?" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Doctrinal> "The complete thing - Miracles" (Pt-2) - R.E. Harlow 3) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-59)- A.W.Pink 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "'WHAT HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH DEATH', RESURRECTION" (PART-6 OF 8) Ravi Zacharias In the opening pages of the Bible we read the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Having been given all good things to enjoy, God makes it clear that there is one thing they are not to enjoy: the fruit from a certain tree. He says, "When you eat of it, you will surely die." In the Hebrew, it reads literally, "Dying, you shall die." God could not have made his intentions any clearer. Albert Camus once said that death was philosophy's only problem. The apostle Paul said unequivocally, "If...Christ has not been raised...[And] if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." As you may know, Saul (whose name was changed to Paul) was willing to put his life on the line for what he believed, and had committed himself to the eradication of what he then considered the "myth" of the gospel. His Damascus Road encounter is now proverbial, signifying a radical change. Again, the easy way out is to make a sweeping generalization and, with the wave of a hand, dismiss the historical facts. But to this very day, on Mars Hill in Athens stands the message etched in stone that Paul delivered before a crowd whose philosophical bent was equally proverbial. The message Paul brought was literally and figuratively a message of life and death, founded upon the contention that God had raised Jesus from the dead. In turning our backs upon Him, death is not only a moment, it is a way of life. In knowing Him, life is not only temporary, it is eternal. You know what the Bible says about Paul's address on Mars Hill in which he spoke to the Athenian philosophers and the common person? He said that among those who responded to his invitation to follow Jesus Christ was a man named Dionysius the Areopagite. Today if you go to Mars Hill, you will see that the street that runs right along the Areopagus and Mars Hill where Paul spoke, is called Dionysius Areopagatos. How incredible. Two thousand years after a sermon was preached, the man who made a commitment has his name memorialized right there. Friend, the resurrection of Jesus carries its truth across time and may I ask you if you have made that commitment to trust Him? You may not get a street named after you but your name will be written in God's book of life. That is ineradicable. --- 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> THE COMPLETE THING (PART-2) MIRACLES R.E. Harlow The Lord of heaven can act on earth at any time and display His power. He often does so in answer to prayer. This display of divine power may be called a miracle. There have, however. been periods of time when God gave miraculous gifts for certain purposes. Moses: miracles proved to both Egypt and Israel that God had sent Moses. These continued though less frequently into the time at Joshua. The Canaanites knew that God was with Israel. Elijah and Elisha: When the mass of Israel was quite willing to follow their wicked kings (and queens) God gave special powers to Elijah and Elisha, but with only temporary benefit. None of the sixteen writing prophets was granted similar miracles although Jonah, Isaiah and Daniel saw God's hand working. John the Baptist did no miracle but the Lord Jesus Christ did, in His own power and according to the Father's will, works which no other man had done, John 15:24. These miracles swept over a wide spectrum, much more than healing disease: sight to the blind, raising dead persons, stilling storms, walking on water, feeding 9,000 people. The Lord Jesus had authority to delegate these powers to His apostles. The only condition was faith in Himself: He that believeth on Me. On the last day of the feast: out of his heart rivers (plural) of living water will flow, John 7:38. On the last night in the upper room: greater works even than those Christ did, the believer would do, John 14:12. Both of these promises were contingent on Christ entering glory and the Holy Spirit coming. After He rose, the Lord Jesus listed five signs His followers would be able to do, Mark 16:17-18. The Lord ascended and the Spirit came. The apostles, as the Lord had promised, Threw out demons, Acts 18:18 Spoke with new and different tongues, Acts 2:4 Took up a serpent, Acts 28:3 Laid hands on sick people and healed them, Acts 2:43; 3:7; 5:12; 9:34; 14:3,10; 15:12; 28:8; (There is no record of a poison cup in Acts.) In what way were these signs greater than the works Christ did? The apostles never restored sight or fed the masses. Paul did not, or could not, calm the sea or walk on water. Peter restored Dorcas when she had died, Acts 9:37-41. Paul fell on a young man who had just died and said there was life in him, Acts 20:9-10. Both Peter and Paul did many healing miracles, even without laying on hands: Acts 5:15, Peter's shadow just fell on the sick; and without Paul himself being present, cloths from his body were enough to heal the sick and drive out demons, Acts 19:12. Far greater than healing men's bodies is giving them the means of eternal life, the gospel. The Lord Jesus told men how to be born again, and at times many people followed Him. But when the Holy Spirit was given, thousands believed and in a short time, every creature heard, Colossians 1:23. There were rivers of living water and greater works. The miracles were given assigns by the sovereign Spirit. The gift of healing was not primarily to save believers from suffering but to show the Jews that the Messiah had come. In spite of every proof, the mass of the Jews rejected the gospel. The miracles then ceased. The Lord Jesus had promised His presence until the end of the age, Matthew 28, but not the signs, Mark 16. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul revealed that the Lord declined to remove his thorn in the flesh. In Philippians 2, Epaphroditus was so sick he nearly died. Timothy was urged to use natural not miraculous means to relieve his frequent illnesses. Paul left Trophimus at Miletum sick. Gifts of miracles and healing were temporary and ceased when the sovereign Spirit so willed. Today many women and men claim to have the gift of healing but most cures turn out to be fakes. (See Divine Healing, A.C. Hill, M.D.) [To be concluded]_____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHETICAL> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-59) THE RECOVERY AND REVIVAL OF THE BLESSED HOPE ITSELF Arthur W. Pink .... 3. Because to make our Rapture dependent upon anything in us is to attack the Finished Work of Christ. We do not charge the advocates of the partial-rapture theory with intentionally doing this, nay we are fully satisfied that most if not all of them would shrink back in horror from wittingly committing such a sin. Yet, we do say that this is the logical and actual outcome of their teaching. A long drawn-out argument is not needed to prove this after what we have said above under the first two heads. If the Rapture is the consummation of the application of our salvation then anything which makes that salvation, or any part thereof, dependent upon anything in or from us, necessarily attacks the Finished Work of Christ upon which alone our salvation rests. As we have already said, the Rapture is the time when Christ returns to conduct His blood-bought people to the Father's House (John 14:1-3). What then is it that gives title and fitness for the Father's House? Surely there can be only one answer to this question. Surely none but those who are ignorant of the character and contents of the Gospel of God would declare that our wretched works are needed to supplement the Cross-Work of Christ. But, blessed be God, the point we are now considering is not left to be determined by logical deductions, but is the express subject of Divine revelation. In Col. 1:12 we are exhorted to give thanks unto the Father "which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." The "inheritance of the saints in light" is not a matter of attainment as certain teachers are today affirming, but is an occasion of thanksgiving to God, because it is due solely to His grace. Observe carefully the tense of the verb here: it is not we are "being made meet," still less that we are making ourselves meet, but "which HATH made us meet." Again we ask, What is it that gives us title to the inheritance of the saints in light? And we reply, Nought but the precious blood and infinite merits of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. What was it that qualified the "Prodigal" for a place at the Father's table? Did he have to submit to a lengthy probation after he returned home and before he was permitted to feast with the Father? No; the "best robe"--which is the portion of every believer--was all that was needed. Was not the "Repentant Thief" made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light the same hour in which he believed? Unquestionably, for our Lord assured him, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." If then the "best robe" was all that the Prodigal needed to fit him for a place at the Father's table, and if repentance toward God and faith in our lord Jesus Christ was sufficient to translate the Dying Thief to Paradise, is it not clear that nothing further will be demanded of those whom the Lord shall conduct to the Father's House at the time of His Return? [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 _______________________________________________________