-------------------------<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@...] [The Moderator would welcome your comments/feedback] [<SUNDAY-GLEANINGS> archives/read online: http://associate.com/digests/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <SUNDAY-GLEANINGS> <10 November 2002> Contents: ----------- 1) <Devotional> "Treasury of David - Psalm 23:2"- C.H.Spurgeon 2) <Bible-Study> "Levitical offerings" (Pt-14)-C.E.Wigg 3) <Doctrinal> "The Church" Pt-1/3 - FJR 4) <From-the-Gleaner> "Top-stories-of-the-week" - Ben 1) <DEVOTIONAL> TREASURY OF DAVID - PSALM 23:2 C. H. Spurgeon Verse 2: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." The Christian life has two elements in it, the contemplative and the active, and both of these are richly provided for. First, the contemplative. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." What are these "green pastures" but the Scriptures of truth--always fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? There is no fear of biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock to lie down in it. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. When by faith we are enabled to find rest in the promises, we are like the sheep that lie down in the midst of the pasture; we find at the same moment both provender and peace, rest and refreshment, serenity and satisfaction. But observe: "He maketh me to lie down." It is the Lord who graciously enables us to perceive the preciousness of his truth, and to feed upon it. How grateful ought we to be for the power to appropriate the promises! There are some distracted souls who would give worlds if they could but do this. They know the blessedness of it, but they cannot say that this blessedness is theirs. They know the "green pastures," but they are not made to "lie down" in them. Those believers who have for years enjoyed a "full assurance of faith" should greatly bless their gracious God. The second part of a vigorous Christian's life consists in gracious activity. We not only think, but we act. We are not always lying down to feed, but are journeying onward toward perfection; hence we read, "he leadeth me beside the still waters." What are these "still waters" but the influences and graces of his blessed Spirit? His Spirit attends us in various operations, like waters--in the plural--to cleanse, to refresh, to fertilise, to cherish. They are "still waters," for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. He may flow into our soul, but not into our neighbour's, and therefore our neighbour may not perceive the divine presence; and though the blessed Spirit may be pouring his floods into one heart, yet he that sitteth next to the favoured one may know nothing of it. "In sacred silence of the mind My heaven, and there my God I find." Still waters run deep. Nothing more noisy than an empty drum. That silence is golden indeed in which the Holy Spirit meets with the souls of his saints. Not to raging waves of strife, but to peaceful streams of holy love does the Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane. Our Lord leads us beside these "still waters;" we could not go there of ourselves, we need his guidance, therefore it is said, "he leadeth me." He does not drive us. Moses drives us by the law, but Jesus leads us by his example, and the gentle drawing of his love. _______________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> THE OBLATION OR MEAL OFFERING - AN EXPOSITION OF SOME OF THE LEVITICAL OFFERINGS - CHAPTER 2 (PART-14) Charles E. Wigg .... THE FIRE: However when the oblation was prepared it still had to be burned on the fire. It was the consuming fire of God's holy wrath, judgment and death, that made the sweet savor of the offering to rise and to fill the nostrils of God. HONEY: Verse eleven tells us that honey was never to be burned with any offering that was presented to the Lord. Honey suggests mere human sweetness. Such sweetness is usually only superficial, and often assumed as a kind of show, to impress others. It tries to make the individual popular with others, so that they might comment, "What a nice person he or she is". But if you had to live with that person, you would probably find him or her to be quite the opposite. I have met some Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, and nominal Christians, who seem on casual acquaintance to be very sweet and nice people, but such sweetness is not acceptable to God, and they can only come to Him, as we have all had to do, as lost and guilty sinners, through the person and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was none of this mere natural sweetness in our Lord Jesus. There was no pretense, no outward show with Him. Never did He seek popularity with men, but daily walked before God, seeking to please Him only, " doing always those things that please the Father", (John 5;41 & 8;29) There was no honey in His sacrifice! OFFERED WITH EVERY SWEET SAVOR OFFERING: It is stated in other passages, especially in chapter 23 of Leviticus, that the oblation was to be offered with every sweet savor offering ; this would teach us that whenever we participate in worship, we cannot think of His precious atoning death, without the remembrance and appreciation of His beautiful life. That life was an offering from it's very beginning. THE FIRST-FRUITS: The last two verses of our chapter teach us about the first-fruits. This again speaks to us about Christ. He is spoken of thus in the fifteenth chapter of first Corinthians, verse twenty three. He is also called " The Firstborn of all creation", and the " First begotten from among the dead, (Rev. 1;15.) He is the first-fruits of a great harvest that our God is reaping as a result of His death, burial and resurrection. GREEN EARS OF CORN: Green ears of corn were to be offered, and these would remind us of the fact that the Lord Jesus never reached old age, but was taken away in the midst of His years as we saw earlier. Though green, yet they were to be full ears: there was no blight, nor mildew, no deformity, no imaturity in Him, He was a perfect man, the only perfect man. Man as god intended man to be. These ears were either roasted in the fire, or the corn was beaten out of them. This again reminds us of the different kinds of suffering through which the Lord Jesus passed throughout His perfect life. As with the other oblations, the oil was poured on to the corn, speaking once again of the anointing, filling, and empowering of the Holy Spirit in the life of our Lord Jesus. Frankincense was also added, and again only the handful was burned on the altar; the rest was given to the priests as their portion and their food. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _______________________________________________________ 3) <BIBLE-STUDY> "THE CHURCH" - (PART-1 OF 3) F.J.R* The teaching of "The Church" as revealed in the New Testament is of utmost importance. To be a member of God's Church is the highest position a man can attain ever; surpassing that of Emperor, King or President. The reason for that is the moment we trusted in the sacrifice of our Saviour, God Himself forgave us our sin, and to make sure that no one else will get hold of us or take us from Him, He took up residence in us (John 14:16,17). Moreover it is clear from the word of God that when God takes up residence in the believer, it is forever (1Cor.3:16,17). "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?". The Church is God's dwelling Place even the local church is God's dwelling place, every believer is God's residence - God's Home,God's resting place. There is an Old Testament picture: When Noah let out the dove, it could find no foothold because of the troubled waters of sin, it returned to rest in the ark. When God the Father send the Dove (the Holy Spirit) at the baptism of Christ, it could only rest on one person, the sinless Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course everyone else needs the sacrifice of Christ first before the Holy Spirit can rest on him. God's Dwelling Place is said to be a building which is used for worship and a building that is used for worship is called a 'temple'. The first mention of this building is in Matthew 16:18 where the Lord Jesus said; "I will build my church". The second time it is mentioned in 1 Cor.3:9 where it is referred to as God's Building. The third time 1Cor.3:11 tells of the foundation of that building and the fourth mention is in Eph.2:20-22 marks out the purpose of the Building, a temple, a Habitation, a Home. I have been in the Building Trades for more than 40 years and in general, when you think of building there are three things that come to mind, bricks, mortar and mortgage. The more important thing escapes our attention, the footing or the foundation. You see if the foundation is no good the bricks, mortar and mortgage are wasted. Make sure of the foundation, and let not your thoughts be settled on bricks, because bricks are man-made. Our thoughts are to be settled on things that God created, this morning it is Stones. That is why Peter said, (1 Pet.2:5) "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house. Ye also = who else? Verse 3 and 4, it is our association with our gracious Lord. Notice what it says: "To whom, coming as unto a living stone, chosen of God and precious. Christ is the living stone in v.4, the corner stone in v.6, the head stone in v.7 and the stumbling stone in v.8. Because of our association with Him, it is written "Ye also". [To be concluded] --- *Courtesy F.J.R _______________________________________________________ 4) <FROM-THE-GLEANER> A-GLANCE-AT-THE-TOP-STORIES-OF-THE-WEEK Ben UN DEAL TO GIVE SADDAM DEADLINE ON ARMS: The United Nations is expected to issue a powerful ultimatum to Iraq today after France ended six weeks of opposition and agreed to vote for a new resolution giving Saddam Hussein a "final opportunity" to disarm or face the consequences. FEARS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS HIT PEAK: Intelligence intercepts of al-Qaeda suspects have uncovered a level of terrorist plotting on the same scale as in the weeks leading up to the September 11 attacks, The Times can disclose. The intense level of al-Qaeda “chatter” picked up by American and British signals interceptions led to David Blunkett’s sombre warning of a terrorist attack. US EXPANDS REGISTRATION OF MUSLIM VISITORS: The Justice Department will require thousands of students, workers and other men from five Muslim countries who are temporarily residing in the United States to be fingerprinted and photographed, the latest step in its program to register visitors from countries linked to terrorism. NEW WARNING ON EXTREMIST ATTACKS: Washington: Extremists are planning new terrorist strikes against US interests overseas, including possible suicide attacks, the State Department warned late today. 'BIN LADEN ALIVE', SAYS INTERPOL: "All intelligence experts are agreed that al Qaeda is preparing a major terrorist operation, simultaneous attacks that would not target the United States alone but several countries at the same time. AL QAEDA SEEN PLANNING MAJOR STRIKES - INTERPOL: Al Qaeda militants seem to be preparing simultaneous attacks in several countries including the United States, the head of the world-wide police authority Interpol said in a newspaper interview published on Friday. US FEARS FOUR NATIONS, INCLUDING IRAQ AND NORTH KOREA POSSESS SMALLPOX SAMPLES: WASHINGTON — US intelligence has concluded that four nations outside of the United States — Iraq, North Korea, Russia and France — probably possess hidden samples of the smallpox virus, a U.S. official said Monday. INVESTIGATOR: BALI SUSPECT WANTED TO KILL AMERICANS: Revenge for what Americans have done to Muslims was the motivation for the Bali bombings, the head of the Indonesian investigation team said Friday. MILITARY GETS OK TO STRIKE ABROAD: Moscow: Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, who last week was charged with reshaping the armed forces to better combat terrorism, said the military will be given the power to carry out strikes abroad, including on terrorist bases and other locations where individuals suspected of sponsoring terrorism could be hiding. LIBYA, SYRIA CLOSER TO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: The United States believes Libya and Syria have accelerated their weapons of mass destruction programs and are making ''significant progress'' in their efforts to amass and development biological and chemical weapons, reports Geostrategy, the global intelligence news agency. IRAN FOCUSES ON IMPROVING SHIHAB-3 NAVIGATION: Iran has focused its efforts on improving the navigation and control systems of the Shihab-3 intermediate-range missile. AK VICTORY HERALDS NEW DAWN FOR TURKEY: A party with Islamic roots began forming a government yesterday after a crushing victory in nationwide parliamentary elections that swept away Turkey's old guard of mainly corrupt and inept politicians, opening a new era in Turkish politics. SHARON CALLS NEW ISRAELI ELECTIONS: JERUSALEM — A reluctant Ariel Sharon on Tuesday called early elections for Jan. 28 after the breakup of his fractious coalition, sending Israel into a tempestuous campaign that threatens further instability in the Mideast at a time of a possible confrontation with Iraq. US SHIFTS UNEASILY OVER ISRAELI EARLY ELECTIONS: The Bush administration appears uneasy over the prospect of Israeli national elections on what is expected to be the eve of a U.S.-led war against Iraq. NETANYAHU: ISRAEL IN 'DIRE STRAITS': Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized his new boss on his first full day on the job, saying Israel has fallen into "dire straits" under the leadership of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon MORE ERUPTION OF ECUADOR'S REVENTADOR VOLCANO PUTS QUITO ON ASH ALERT: A volcano near Ecuador's capital erupted Thursday and spewed a column of ash and gas four miles into the sky, prompting rewnewed warning about falling ash in the capital. PAKISTAN, ITALY QUAKES 'UNRELATED': Earthquakes from Italy to Pakistan that have killed at least 48 people in the past week are just part of the planet's routine but often devastating rumblings, and are not connected, seismologists said on Monday. WILDFIRES BLAMED FOR GREENHOUSE GASE RISE: New research has shown that the forest fires which ravaged South East Asia five years ago caused a massive increase in levels of the greenhouse gases which cause global warming. BRITAIN OKAYS GAYS, 'COUPLES' ADOPTING: The House of Commons voted Monday to allow gay and unmarried couples to adopt children, after a member of the opposition Conservative Party resigned when its leader opposed such a move. ENSLAVED CHILD ARMY TERRORIZES UGANDA: It is a bizarre movement, led by a mysterious man who claims to be possessed, and whose power derives from the thousands of children his forces have kidnapped to serve as his soldiers and sex slaves. The LRA is best known for leaving horrifying acts of cannibalism and dismemberment in its wake. _____________________<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