-------------------------<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> <13 November 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "The Face of the future?" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Devotional> "The eternal God is thy refuge" - C.H.Spurgeon 3) <Bible-Study> "Elisha's probation..." (Pt-6)- Charles Wigg 4) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-78)- A.W.Pink 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> THE FACE OF THE FUTURE? Ravi Zacharias As evil in our society becomes more radical, one is forced to ask, “What will the face of the future look like for our world?” Futurists who dabble in technology or science seem to love speculation about the material progress awaiting us in the future. Hardly a week goes by without someone boasting about the speeds at which we will be flying or the new contraptions we will be using in the future. With the ever-increasing rate of technological advancement, many in our world seem to be almost hypnotized in the aura of the new gadgets available to us—from cellular phones to the World Wide Web. But as we human beings get caught up in these thrilling and, indeed, incredible possibilities, we cavalierly ignore the one element that has pockmarked the whole of the twentieth century—our chronic bent toward destruction. The degree of lawlessness and the vulnerability that we all live with was underscored for me in two incidents which occurred just minutes apart on the streets of Moscow. In the first incident, my companions and I were casually walking to an engagement when, suddenly and without warning, a roving band of gypsies moved in to overpower us and ransack our pockets. One member of my group was knocked to the ground during the incident, but not one passerby stopped to help us. To watch yourself become a victim, unaided by onlookers while you’re being robbed and possibly injured, is one of the loneliest feelings in life. The second incident occurred minutes later right outside McDonald’s—that great symbol of capitalism’s triumph in Moscow—as a crazy, shirtless man in the cold of winter came running down the sidewalk with a huge butcher knife, threatening anyone in his path. He stopped within inches of me and we just stared, eyeball to eyeball. The experience was terrifying and once again, no one stopped to help. But the tragedy does not belong solely to Moscow. In most of our cities the streets at night present their own threats. We must face up to these realities in our world. As the face of evil becomes more hideous, the face of the future becomes more fearsome. The Bible talks about the future and about violence. And it tells us that the only hope is for us to bring our restless hearts to Christ, who transforms hate to love, agitation to peace and despair to hope. For such transformation, neither capitalism nor Marxism has the answer. Only God is big enough for that. --- 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) <DEVOTIONAL> "THE ETERNAL GOD IS THY REFUGE" DEUT 33:27 C.H.Spurgeon The word refuge may be translated "mansion," or "abiding- place," which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home. There is a fulness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we "fear no evil." He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to Him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with Him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the "secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him," the secrets of them that fear Him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord. Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in Him which far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labour. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to Him strengthens us. We think of Him in the person of His dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labour in His cause. We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father's heart to make glad by bringing home His wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell. Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge! _____________________________________________________________________ 3) <BIBLE-STUDY> "ELISHA'S LAST GREAT TEST" (PART-6) Charles E. Wigg .... When the probationary period was ended, it seems that God had communicated to Elisha the knowledge that He was about to take His faithful servant Elijah home to glory. But before this happened, there was one last journey to be undertaken, one final test. The success of Elisha’s future ministry depended on whether he would be able to pass this test. The significance of the journey, is to be found in the places visited, and their meaning. GILGAL: Gilgal is the starting place for this last journey. It was the site of Israel’s first encampment after they had crossed the Jordan. It was there that Joshua was commanded to make swords of stone, and to circumcise the males amongst the children of Israel. Josh. 5:2-9. Thus we are always to associate Gilgal with circumcision. By this act, Jehovah rolled away the reproach of Egypt from His people. Circumcision was the mark, or seal of God’s covenant with Abraham and was the one thing that was to forever mark out his descendants from those of other nations or religions.It was the cutting off of the filth of the flesh. The reproach of Egypt, was the spirit of independence of God, the spirit of self-confidence. Ezekiel tells us that Egypt boasted in their river, as if they had made it. The Nile with its huge volumes of fresh water, and the vast quantities of fertile silt that it carries down in its journey through several nations, from the very heart of Africa. It makes the nation to be independent from God, as they do not have to rely on the rain from heaven, Ezek. 29:9. We may ask, “What is the distinguishing mark of true Christianity? The answer is given in Phil 3:3, where we are told that we are the circumcision “who worship God in the spirit”, (or worship by the Spirit of God). “Who rejoice, (boast),in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”. To boast or have confidence in the flesh is the very root of filthy spiritual pride. The servant of God must continually judge, cut off, the filthy flesh. All human religion is based on the principle of independence of God. The very idea that I can save myself, or can get to heaven on the basis of my own ‘good works’, is offensive to God, as salvation is His work, and without that work, none can be saved or enter heaven. It is the worst aspect of human pride, (spiritual pride), and is filthy in the sight of God. A servant of God who was much used in the 19th century, gave seven tips to young preachers. Several I can recall. ‘Glorify God’, ‘Preach the Word’, ‘Aim at the conscience’, ‘Reach the heart’, but the last was, ‘Use a sharp knife on yourself’. God has decreed that no flesh shall glory in His presence, 1Cor. 1:29. If it pleases God to use such a worthless person as I am, as the channel through which He accomplishes His work, and I take the credit, or glory to myself as if I had done it, then this is filthy pride. It is from Gilgal that the servant of God must go out to service, or to warfare, and it is to Gilgal that we must return, to remind ourselves of what God has done in “The circumcision of Christ”.Col.2:11. Elijah suggested that Elisha remain at Gilgal, telling that God had sent him further, as if to encourage him to settle down there, but Elisha refused, saying “As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul lives I will not leave thee” This firm resolve must have brought joy to his master. At the same time we are introduced to a group of young men, called ‘the sons of the prophets’. We find them in different places during the ministry of Elisha. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _____________________________________________________________________ 4) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-78) THE CHURCH-WARD RESULTS OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN Arthur W. Pink .... The presentation of the Church by Christ to Himself When every saint of God shall have been made like Christ, made "like Him" physically, mentally, morally and spiritually, and after each individual's life and works have been examined before the Bema, then is the Church publicly presented and Eph. 5:25-27 is fulfilled--"Christ also love the Church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." The word "present" here means "to set alongside of." Christ is yet going to set the Church alongside of Himself. The Church will share His glory and reign with Him throughout the Millennium. As saith the Scriptures--"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne" (Rev. 3:21). The Church will then have been fitted for this exalted position, for observe that Christ presents the Church to Himself "a glorious Church." In that day none of the defiling "spots" of sin shall be found in the Church, and not a "wrinkle"--the mark of age and corruption--shall mar its beauty, but with youth eternally renewed the Church shall then perfectly reflect the glory of Christ. Then shall He be able to say, "Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee" (Song of Solomon 4:7). Another Scripture which tells of the presentation of the Church is to be found in Jude 24--"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." We believe the reference here to the "exceeding joy" is that of Christ Himself. This was "the joy" that was set before Him when He endured the Cross and despised the shame (Heb. 12:2). Closely connected with the public Presentation of the Church is, [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 _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail