-------------------------<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> <26 October 2002> Contents: ----------- 1) <Exhortational> "Come unto me!" (Pt-2/3) - Charles E. Wigg 2) <Doctrinal> "Shall we meet our loved ones again?" (Pt-7/7) - D.L.Moody 3) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-63)- A.W.Pink 1) <EXHORTATIONAL> "COME UNTO ME!" MAT 11:28-30 (PART-2 OF 3) Charles E. Wigg .... He will not take the burden from you. He will not give you a holiday from serving Him, but He will bring you into His rest, if you are willing. He now says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of, (or from), Me". The very mention of the word 'yoke' immediately brings to mind the idea of hard work. It is that strong wooden beam which binds two bullocks together. The simile that He uses is most fitting and interesting . I spent most of my early years on farms, and my grandfather was a pioneer farmer. There were no tractors in those days, and bulldozers were unheard of. To clear the land for cultivation, they first had to remove huge trees. These logs were pulled into heaps, using bullocks, and then burned. These bullocks worked in pairs and were chained together into teams. They used bullocks because of their great strength, and steady power. They never snatched or jerked, as this would break the chains etc. These bullocks had to be trained first before they could work as a team. The bullocks would be selected when just a calf, and for the first two years of their life, were given the best pasture available, so that they might grow big and strong When the time for training came, the young bullock would be driven into a very small yard, and a strong rope would be tied to their neck. While growing to this stage, they would be frequently handled by the farmer, so that they became accustomed to being handled. After attaching the other end of the strong rope to a very stout post, which was sunk deep into the ground, the young bullock would then be let go free. Thinking that it was free, it would then run to the end of the rope, only to find that it was not free at all. Then the young bullock would put up a great struggle, and try to break the rope, only to find that it was too strong. It would struggle until exhausted, then lay down. After a rest it would get to its feet and try again, and keep trying until its will was broken. Before we can enter into the rest that the Lord Jesus enjoyed, our wills must be broken also. When young and self-confident, we tend to want to go our own way, and to do things according to our own plans or desire. The Lord Jesus told Peter this in John 21:18, but looked on to a day when his will and self-confidence would be fully surrendered. Peter would then be willing to die for his Master. With the rope still on the young bullock's neck, and still attached to the post, the farmer would then walk beside it, talking to it all the time, and thus would teach it to lead. After this lesson was learned the young bullock would be led to stand beside an older bullock, and the yoke would be attached to its neck, and to the neck of the old bullock too. The driver would then stand back, and the young bullock would think that it was free. It would then try to get away, but as the old bullock would not move until told to do so by the driver, the young fellow would find that it was not free to go its own way at all. It would then thrash about, hurting itself and the old bullock as well. It would continue to do this until its will was again conquered, and then it would stand quietly beside the old bullock. --- Reproduced with permission of C.E. Wigg (22-11-2002) _______________________________________________________________________ 2) <DOCTRINAL> "THE COMPLETE THING" (PART-7 OF 7) QUESTIONS R.E. Harlow .... Faith and hope continue until Christ's coming, and love forever. But tongues, prophecy and special knowledge ceased at the end of the apostolic age. This seems to be the best explanation but there are questions: Why did Paul say he spoke In tongues more than any of the Corinthians, and that they should not forbid anyone to speak in tongues? These verses were appropriate at the time when tongues was a legitimate gift of the Holy Spirit. Neither of them proves that this gift was for the entire church age, or that it would be revived. Why did the Holy Spirit give us many detailed instructions limiting the use of tongues If this gift is not for us today? The Bible contains many instructions for God's people at specific periods; for example, Israel in the wilderness, the kings of Israel, bigamous families (Deuteronomy 21:15), etc. These are helpful in teaching us God's holiness or other principles of His dealings but have no direct application today. In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus gave instructions for the tribulation period, for example, Matthew 24:15-20. The apostle by inspiration wrote about offering meats to idols. in Romans 14, the truth for us is, consider others, do not insist on doing what may be perfectly legitimate, if it will stumble a brother or divide God's people. How are we to explain the phenomenon today when many truly born again Christians claim they speak with tongues? The majority of tongues speakers may not be born again at all. For the first time in many decades, it is acceptable, if not popular, to be an "evangelical", yet many evangelicals do not really or fully believe in the inspiration of Scripture or the deity of Christ. Evangelicals may well be in error on their teaching about the Holy Spirit. Demons can produce a tongues-speaking experience and do so in many non-Christian religions and para-Christian cults. A Jesuit priest may be able to speak in tongues but this does not prove that he is a born again believer. A born again person may hear someone speak in tongues with the power of a demon. He assumes that the person speaking in tongues is a true believer and very spiritual and so tries to imitate him, it might be difficult to tell which is demonic and which is imitating the demonic. Even some who practice tongues cannot be sure if it is the power of the Holy Spirit or of demons, or just an emotional experience. Yet some pastors hold special classes to teach those who covet this inferior, obsolete and possibly dangerous experience! A true child of God, wrongly taught, might so plead for or demand this experience that God might grant it even though it is not His will. This will result in leanness of soul, Psalm 106.15. in the same way Israel demanded, and got, a king, not really according to God's will, 1 Samuel 10:19. [Concluded]_____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHETICAL> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-63) THE RECOVERY AND REVIVAL OF THE BLESSED HOPE ITSELF Arthur W. Pink .... 7. Because the inevitable tendency of the partial-rapture theory is to get believers occupied with themselves instead of with Christ. We shall not now attempt to argue at length what is a matter of common observation. One of the favourite devices of the Enemy is to get the believer occupied with something other than Christ who is "Our Hope." And, let us say it with emphasis, Satan cares not what that "something" may be, providing it shuts out our blessed Lord. This is his favourite device for the sinner. While ever the sinner is taken up with his own works of righteousness, the Finished Work of Christ is excluded from his vision. So it is with the believer. We are bidden to "Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1). But to hinder him from doing this Satan is ever seeking to get the believer concerned with something else. With some it is "the mammon of unrighteousness;" with others it is "the care of this world." With some it is politics and civic affairs; with others it is Temperance reform work and Social-uplift activities. With some it is an intellectual study of doctrine or prophecy divorced from heart-occupation with Christ; with others it is their own experiences and attainments. The life-task of the believer--blessed privilege--was defined by the Lord Himself in that word to Martha, "But one thing is needful" (Luke 10:42)--i.e., to sit at His feet and find our delight in Him. O that we might come to the place where we can say actually and experimentally, "Thou O Christ art all I want, more than all in Thee I find." But, as we have said, this is exactly what Satan seeks to prevent, and one of his "wiles' for preventing it (so it appears to the writer) is the partial-rapture theory which today is unsettling so many of the Lord's dear people. Teach that participation in the Rapture is a reward for faithfulness, and at once, the eyes are turned from Christ to self. Necessarily so; for immediately, I shall be occupied with my faithfulness, my obedience, my diligence, my service, the effect of which will be the drawing of invidious distinctions and the cultivating of an I-am-holier-than-thou spirit. But teach that the Rapture is "a good hope through grace" and I shall be occupied with my returning Lord. The Holy Spirit is here to glorify Christ and not to magnify personal attainments, and whether or not a line or system of teaching proceeds from Him may be judged. [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 _______________________________________________________