-------------------------<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> <11 November 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "The track and the altar" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Bible-Study> "Elisha's discernment..." (Pt-4)- Charles Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-76)- A.W.Pink 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> THE TRACK AND THE ALTAR Ravi Zacharias Having peace and unity within the heart affects every aspect of life. A great illustration of this comes to us from the film Chariots of Fire, which featured the lives of two determined runners in the 1924 Olympics. They each ran with equal passion but with completely different goals. Harold Abrahams ran for personal glory and recognition, while Eric Liddell ran out of his commitment to excellence for God’s sake. Early in the story, a friend asked Abrahams how he handled losing. “I don’t know,” Abrahams replied. “I’ve never lost.” That told the story of a man confident and possessed with a passion to win. Nothing else mattered to him but being number one. But moments before his Olympic run, as the moment of truth was upon him, Abrahams makes the most perceptive confession. He says, “You know, I used to be afraid to lose. But now I am afraid to win. I have ten seconds in which to prove the reason for my existence, and even then, I’m not sure I will.” Those words reveal extraordinary insight, for that is how most personal glory is sought. But when it is obtained it leaves the possessor empty. That is what Abrahams was afraid of. By contrast, at one point in the film Eric Liddell is reprimanded by his sister for trying too hard in his effort to win the gold medal, thus neglecting greater things. His answer reveals the profound connection of all of life’s pursuits for him. He says, “Jenny, God has made me for a purpose, for China. But He has also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” If we can understand the difference between these two postures, we will understand a world of difference. The world of personal glory moves from triumph to emptiness because it can never deliver fulfillment of the spirit. History is replete with such examples. Why? Because each time one goal is attained, the heart yearns for another one yet greater. We in the West refuse to admit that winning the adulation of people cannot deliver what we assume it does. And so it was that Abrahams walked away amidst thundering applause after winning the gold but with a heart steeped in the disappointment of an anticlimax. Eric Liddell also won in his event, but he packed his bags and went on to China as a missionary to a cause greater than himself—his gold medal was put in its place, and his heart celebrated the lesser in the light of the greater. That puts life in perspective. --- 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) <BIBLE-STUDY> "ELISHA’S DISCERNMENT, AND DETERMINATION" (PART-4) Charles E. Wigg .... When Elijah found Elisha he threw his mantle upon him. Though this was no great thing, yet Elisha discerned in that action the call of God. It would seem that Elisha knew Elijah, as we have mentioned earlier, because though Elijah did not stop, yet Elisha ran after him, and requested permission to say goodbye to his parents. Elijah answered him in a gruff way, and it seems tried to discourage him from responding to the call of God. He said “Go back again, for what have I done to thee?” Elijah was just testing the sharpness of the young man’s discernment, and the depth of his commitment. However Elisha was equal to the test, he would not be put off from answering the call of God. Elijah knew that if he was to be his successor, that there would be many times during his ministry when he would have to discern what the will of God was. There would be many times when he would have to make decisions, and abide by those decisions, come what may. It was no job for the ordinary wishy-washy type of person. Elisha then unyoked his bullocks, loaded his wooden implements on to the cart, and returned to his village. Once he reached there, he slew the two fattest of his oxen, broke up the implements and used them for firewood. He boiled the flesh of the oxen on that fire, and made a feast for the whole village. He regarded the call of God to be the successor to the great Elijah, as a great honour, and he accepted God’s call with joy. He did not like many today, go around begging for support. He sacrificed the only means of support that he had. He literally burned his business, and made a feast for the whole village. From now on he would depend entirely upon the God who had called him. He would trust Jehovah, (as Elijah did); to supply his needs each day, and he found that Jehovah never failed him. This is a clear lesson to all who would serve God. The path of obedience is the path of daily trust in God. Let us never look to men for support, but to him alone that has called us. When we beg from men, we dishonour God, and infer that he is unfaithful, and unable to supply our needs. I recall being in the U.S.A. in.1994. I had a small radio, and could listen to many ‘Christian’ radio programmes. Some were far away from the truth, some were a mixture of truth and error, and some were quite sound in doctrine. But they all had one thing in common, they all ended in a begging session. Even if the speaker had extolled the value of faith, and the faithfulness of God, yet they ended up telling the listeners, that they depended on them and their financial support to keep the programme on the air. Correspondents of Churches and Assemblies, are inundated with junk mail, from organizations and individuals begging for money for this or that enterprise. It is a great shame that this should be so. Though Elisha fed many others on some recorded occasions, yet he never asked anyone for anything, for himself or his needs. We presume that he then kissed his parents good bye, and followed Elijah. As far as the record goes, we are never told that he ever returned to his home or village again. He could truly sing, “No turning back, No turning back”. To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-76) THE CHURCH-WARD RESULTS OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN Arthur W. Pink .... The Examination and Rewarding of the believer's works 2/3 But are we not told in 2 Cor. 5:10 "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body; according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad"? Yes, we are. Let us then examine this Scripture. First, it is to be remarked that the Greek word which is here translated "judgment-seat" is "Bema." At the time the New Testament was written the Bema was not a judicial bench upon which a judge sat, passing sentence upon criminals (an entirely different word was used for it), but was the throne from which the judge distributed prizes to the victors in the games. Such will be the Bema of Christ. In the second place, the purpose of the appearing of believers "before the Bema of Christ" is not to test their title and fitness for Heaven, but in order that their works may be examined and their service rewarded. A Scripture which throws much light upon this is to be found in 1 Cor. 3:11-15, "For other foundation can no man lay that that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day will declare it: because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire." Here we learn that the foundation of the believer's salvation is Jesus Christ Himself and that his subsequent works and service are likened to a building which he erects upon this foundation. The different kinds of works and service are likened to a building which he erects upon this foundation. The different kinds of works which the believer performs--good and bad--are regarded as two classes of materials which he employs in the building he is erecting. In the day of Christ's appearing his building is to be tested by fire, which means that his works will be examined and the motives which produced them carefully scrutinized. Those works which will endure the searching process will be rewarded, those which are worthless will perish, and in the latter instance, the individual, though saved, will "suffer loss." When the Lord returns, every servant will be called upon to give an account of his stewardship. Notice will be taken of how our talents were employed and how our time was redeemed. The whole life of the believer will be examined in detail in the light of the Throne and his deeds measured by the Divine standard. Words spoken now and actions performed in this world, will then be weighed in the Balances of the Sanctuary. Things will then be seen in their true colors and labeled at their real worth by the impartial hand of the Omniscient Christ. [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." 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