-------------------------<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> <8 November 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "Words and Promises" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Bible-Study> "The prayer of Jabez" (Pt-2/3) - Charles Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-74)- A.W.Pink 4) <Hymn> "He frankly forgave them both" - C.M.J Hart 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "WORDS AND PROMISES" Ravi Zacharias A colleague of mine recalls a conversation with a young mother whose son had been caught with drugs. Within her lament was the oft repeated declaration of embarrassment. "How could he do this to me?" She muttered. I believe the apparent selfishness of this question masked a genuinely hurting heart. "Why won't kids today just take our word for it?" she argued. You see, drugs and sex once captivated her own life during the freedom-seeking culture of the Sixties. As she spoke, the emptiness was unmistakable. The lament in her own heart was that she had still not found the answer. She had learned in her year's things that were not the answer, but the restless in her heart remained unsatisfied. Now she watched her son walk down the same empty road, searching for answers himself yet refusing to take her word for it. No doubt, she too, had been pointed in different directions, each offering the tempting promise of better life. But the generation of young people before us is much less trusting of the words and promises of others. Do you know a recent survey asked people of all ages to describe the single most defining attribute for their generation? As you can imagine, factors of war, economic depression, and political unrest were common answers for older generations. But do you know what our young people said most clearly defined them? Broken promises. And you know, the cynical spirit felt on today's campuses affirms the validity of such a response. When the disciples rushed to tell Thomas the news of Jesus' resurrection, he scoffed at his own friends and said, "Unless I put my fingers in the nail holes and my hands in his side I won't believe." Yet Thomas continued to gather with the disciples who were undoubtedly still ecstatic about seeing Jesus alive days before. Like all of us, intrigued by the hope of a promise, Thomas wanted to believe Jesus was alive; he just needed personal affirmation. The good news of the Gospel for a cynical generation is that Jesus Christ does not ask you simply to take someone's word for it; He asks you to take His life for it. Why don't you sit down for a few moments today. Read the Gospel of John. Ask Jesus Christ to reveal Himself to you. He says, "You shall search for me and find me when you shall search for me with all your heart." (Footnote 1: Jeremiah 29:13) You know, you too can find Him personally, in your own life and in your own heart. Don't just take my word for it. --- Copyright (p)(c) 2002 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. _______________________________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> "THE PRAYER OF JABEZ" (PART-2/3) Charles E. Wigg 1 Chron. 4:9-10. Those who dwelt at Jabez were said to be "of the Scribes". Scribes were those who handled the word of God, and copied it with great reverence and accuracy. Also numbered amongst them was the father of the house of Rechab. These were faithful people who had great respect for their elders, and though tempted by Jeremiah at God's command; they refused to drink, wine because of what their father had commanded them generations before. There was a sad contrast between them and the children of Judah, who did not hesitate to break the commands of God, even though His will was written in His law. Even though He 'rose up early' and sent His prophets to warn them. All these things add up to show us something of the character of Jabez, and his people, and they prove beyond doubt that he was not at all covetous, nor did he greedily desire that he might possess much real estate, wealth or luxury. Please read Jeremiah chapter 35. It is important to notice the meaning of Jabez' name, and the circumstances of his birth. His name means 'sorrow' or 'affliction'. Carnal Christians often despise such things. They contend that the child of God has a perfect right to perfect health, and a life of joy and material prosperity. However, God often uses sorrow and affliction to develop character, and spiritual quality in the lives of His children. History is replete with examples that prove this. Once when believers were poor and struggling. When they were despised and persecuted by others, they were 'rich in faith', and showed by their godly lives that they were 'heirs of the kingdom'. Jas. 2:5. I once met a shoe shine boy on a train in Kerala, (India). He had been driven from his home by a tyrant stepmother, and was sleeping in a pump shed near the river at Palghat. While going to wash in the river in the early morning over a period of weeks, he often passed an old couple who were woodcutters. They would go into the forest each day, and cut a bundle of sticks or branches, and carry that bundle on their heads to the town where they would than sell the bundle for a small sum. These dear people, though desperately poor themselves, invited the boy to stay at their home, & to leave his few things there. Their home was just a mud hut with thatched roof, but each day they would read the Bible and pray before going out to their work. Mary and Lazar (the old couple's names), were of the poor of this world, but rich in faith. (May God bless them)! The shoeshine boy, though eventually restored to his father, never forgot the kindness of this dear old couple. Here surely is an example of how God used poverty and sorrow to produce real spiritual quality in the lives of His children. Jabez also learned the power of prayer, and probably learned it from his mother. He realized that prayer was not just a means of getting rich, but a means of drawing near to God, and enlarging his borders. That is to enlarge his spiritual inheritance, his knowledge of God, and the enjoyment of sweet communion with Him. It seems that even though his brethren were both godly and obedient, yet Jabez was more honorable than they were. He had a deep longing for the blessing of the God of Israel, and the desire that his borders might be enlarged, were related to the blessing of God. It is said of the sons of another, (Obed Edom), who was a Gittite, (that is he came from Gath, in the territory of the Philistines, and was the town of Goliath), that God blessed him. The reason for this blessing was that he provided a place in his house for the ark. He obviously loved the presence of God, and his descendants were granted a place in the service of God as porters, or burden-bearers. 1Chron. 26: 4-8. How we need such today, Gal. 6:2. All these things add up to show us that the enjoyment of God's blessing, is a spiritual thing, not necessarily a matter of material prosperity. The blessings of God, which He has bestowed upon us, are spiritual blessings, and they are ours in Christ, and they are connected with heavenly things and places. (See Eph. 1:3-14). The Lord Jesus warned us not to lay up treasure on earth, because of the danger of it being lost through theft, moth and rust. Instead He encouraged us to lay up treasure in heaven, where there is no danger of loss through these things. Matt. 6: 19-21. He looked on the rich young ruler with sadness, and advised him to dispose of his material possessions, distributing the proceeds to the poor, then to come and follow Him. Mark, 10:21. The corrupt and fallen nature of Adam, which we all possess, craves for material things, for a selfish, easy life of luxury. But the Divine nature within us longs that we may enjoy the spiritual and heavenly blessings that are ours in Christ. The Holy Spirit by whom we have been sealed, is called the "Holy Spirit of Promise", and is the "Earnest of our inheritance", Eph. 1:13-14. It is his longing that we may also desire, and enjoy the blessings that are ours in Christ. The challenge to you and I is whether temporary material possessions are of greater importance to us, than the unseen, spiritual, eternal things. When our lives here are ended, it will not matter whether we have lived in a mud hut, or a palace. When we die we will leave all behind, but not the spiritual things that we may have accumulated. It is so sad when we spend our energies and our days in the pursuit of material things, and neglect that which is spiritual. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission]_____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-74) THE CHURCH-WARD RESULTS OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN Arthur W. Pink The Transformation of each believer into the image of our glorified Saviour 2/2 .... Physical transformation is not all that awaits the believer. At our Lord's return there will be a mental, moral and spiritual transformation too. In 1 John 3:2 we are told, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." The emphasis here is often thrown upon the wrong words. Some read this verse as though it had reference to present ignorance of our future condition, the clause "it doth not yet appear what we shall be," being understood to signify "We don't really know now what we shall yet be." But this is a mistake, for we do "know" as this very verse informs us--"we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him. The emphatic words are "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." What we are really going to be like awaits its manifestation till our Lord's appearing. Let us illustrate. I hold in my hand a small seed: it is unlovely in appearance and gives no promise at all of what it will ultimately become. It doth not yet appear what it shall be. But I plant that seed in the ground, and a few weeks later it has become a strong plant, and one morning I wake and find it covered with the most beautiful flowers. Now the potentialities of that little seed are fully manifested. So it is with the believer. He looks at his own heart and wonders if after all he is a child of God. His body is just the same as the bodies of unbelievers, and viewed by the eye of sense he seems to be no different from them in anywise. No; because his real "life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:30--it doth not yet appear what he shall be, nevertheless he knows (by faith) that when Christ shall appear, he shall be like Him, for he shall see Him as He is. "We shall be like Him." Who dare limit this exceeding great and precious promise? "Like Him" physically, for our vile body shall then be "fashioned like unto His glorious body." "Like Him" mentally! Today we are very unlike Him mentally: our minds now are often harassed with evil thoughts, they are clouded and darkened by the effects of the Fall, and are subject to many limitations; but when Christ appears that which is "perfect" shall come and then, no longer shall we see through a glass darkly and know in part, but we shall know as we are known. We shall be "like Him" morally and spiritually. Sin will be erased from our beings; every trace and effect of the Fall shall be eradicated from our persons. Then will God's predestinating purpose be fully realized. Then shall we be completely "conformed to the image of His Son." Blessed transformation! Glorious prospect! We shall be like Him. "High in the Father's house above My mansion is prepared, There is the home, the rest I love, And there my bright reward. With Him I love, in spotless white, In glory I shall shine; His blissful presence my delight, His love and glory mine. All taint of sin shall be removed, All evil done away; And I shall dwell with God's Beloved Through God's eternal day." [To be concluded] _____________________________________________________________________ 4) <HYMN> "HE FRANKLY FORGAVE THEM BOTH" C.M. J. HART Luke 7. 41, 42 Mercy is welcome news indeed To those that guilty stand; Wretches that feel what help they need Will bless the helping hand. Who rightly would his alms dispose Must give them to the poor. None but the wounded patient knows The comfort of his cure. We all have sinned against our God; Exception none can boast; But he that feels the heaviest load Will prize forgiveness most. No reckoning can we rightly keep, For who the sum can know? Some souls are fifty pieces deep, And some five hundred owe. But let our debts be what they may, However great or small, As soon as we have nought to pay, Our Lord forgives us all. ’Tis perfect poverty alone That sets the soul at large; While we can call one mite our own, We have no full discharge. -----------------------------<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 _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail