-------------------------<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> <16 November 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "The beauty of the Cross" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Bible-Study> "The Jordan" (Pt-9)- Charles Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-81)- A.W.Pink 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "THE BEAUTY OF THE CROSS" Ravi Zacharias There is something transforming about the process of growing older. The more we see the unconscionable ends to which the human spirit can descend when it is determined to remain autonomous, the more our confidence in human methods diminishes. Into this kind of self-centered, earthly kingdom, Jesus brought a different and dramatic—albeit radical—response to pain and suffering. His answer was a stumbling block then, and it is a stumbling block now. But only if it is properly and seriously understood can its beauty be seen. I am referring to the cross of Christ. The cross stands as a mystery because it is foreign to everything we exalt—self over principle, power over meekness, the quick fix over the long haul, cover-up over confession, escapism over confrontation, comfort over sacrifice, feeling over commitment, legality over justice, man over God. In his book The Kingdom of God in America, H. Richard Niebuhr wrote, “We want a God without wrath who took man without sin into a kingdom without justice through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.” Likewise, Malcolm Muggeridge wrote in the waning years of his life: I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years. . . everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence has been through affliction and not through happiness whether pursued or attained. . . It is the cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ. “The cross more than anything else.” Why would a one-time cynic utter such words when his life was ebbing to its close? I believe it is because in the cross alone, pain and evil meet, and in the cross alone love and justice are found. Upon both love and justice we find our moral and spiritual home. If only one of these two is focused upon, an inevitable extremism and perversion follow. The ideals of liberty, equality, and justice taken alone have led to ideologies with dastardly experiments left in their wake. And love unbounded by any sense of morality is not love but self-centeredness and autocracy. In the cross of Jesus Christ, and the cross alone, the demands of justice were satisfied, and the generosity of love was expressed. There is a popular spiritual song called “The Beauty of the Cross.” At first blush, that title might seem nonsensical. However, when we come to realize what the cross signifies, we find that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, victory over evil is possible—and that is a beautiful truth. --- 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> "THE JORDAN" (PART-9) Charles E. Wigg .... The last great test was the Jordan. This to us, represents death to self, our death with Christ. Death is not a light matter, and humanly speaking most will do all they can to defer it, to prolong their human lives. The Prophet Jeremiah issues a challenge, “ how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan”, Jer. 12:5. However the servant of God must face it constantly, as Paul, who could say, “I die daily”. 1Cor. 15:31. By nature we love to hold on to ourselves, to what we are, to save our lives, but we shall surely lose them, if we do. Luke.9:24. However the self-life must go, for God has ordained that no flesh shall glory in His presence, 1Cor. 1:29. The Jordan was the last great barrier that had to be faced before Israel could enter the promised land and thus enjoy their inheritance. There was no other way for them to enter there. But the ark of the covenant went into the Jordan before them, and when the feet of the priests that bore the ark dipped in the brim of that river, its waters where cut off as far as the city Adam. Thus we understand that the Jordan means our death with Christ. This was the last great test for Elisha. The sons of the prophets looked on, but were not prepared to join Elijah and Elisha. When they reached the river, Elijah took the cloak that he was wearing, (the very cloak that Elisha was to wear), and folded it together and smote the waters and they parted, and they two went over on dry ground. When we are willing to face death to self, to deny ourselves. We find that what once seemed to be a horrible prospect, has now lost its terror, and what we thought was death, really is the secret to entering into the enjoyment of life, life at a different level, on a different plane. We begin to enjoy life with a capital L, life as God intended life to be. This explains what the Lord Jesus meant when He said that “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose, (or give up, ) his life for my sake shall find it”. Matt. 16:25. As the young prophet faced this test, it brought him into a much closer fellowship with his master. This is the result of the experience of sanctification, (for us). It brings us into union with our blessed Master, Heb. 2:11. Elijah now encourages Elisha to ask for some gift, for something to be done for him. What an opportunity this was, it was like putting a signed blank cheque into the young prophet’s hands. Elisha was quick to respond. He did not make any covetous request, he did not ask for things, or for gifts, but his heart longed for one thing. If he was to carry on his master’s work, then he wanted to do so in his masters spirit, so he asked that a double portion of Elijah’s spirit be given to him. Elijah replied, “Thou hast asked an hard thing!” It is only God who can enable us to serve in the spirit of our Master. Elijah put one condition, “If thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not it shall not be so”. We can imagine that from that time, Elisha would not take his eyes off his master. This is a lesson to us also, if we would serve the Lord, if we would do so in the power and grace of His own spirit, then we need to keep our eyes constantly fixed on Him. Heb. 12:2. May the Lord help us to have a single eye, so that our whole body may be full of light; so that our service may be carried out in the sweetness and grace of His own spirit. When on the evening of the day of His resurrection, the Lord Jesus gave the commission to His disciples He breathed into them and said “Receive ye Holy Spirit”, the definite article ‘the’ is not there in the Greek original. He was not imparting to them then the Person of the Holy Spirit, (He came at Pentecost.) But was breathing His own warmth, and compassion into them. They were then to breathe this out as they obeyed His command, and fulfilled His commission. Paul tells us that even the opposition of those who preached the gospel out of contention, and sought thereby to add to his bonds, would turn out to his own profit; “Through your prayers, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”. Phil. 1:19. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-81) THE WORLD'S CONSTERNATION AT THE SUDDEN AND SECRET REMOVAL OF THE CHURCH Arthur W. Pink .... One can better imagine than describe the awe-inspiring effect upon the world, which will be occasioned by the secret removal of the Church. We say "secret removal" for we know of nothing in Scripture which intimates that our Lord's Shout shall be heard by any save His own people, and judging from the analogies furnished by the cases of the translation of Enoch and Elijah nothing will be known of the Church's rapture until after it has occurred. That the world will not witness the catching up of believers to meet their Saviour in the air seems to be further borne out by the fact that their translation and transformation will be so swiftly accomplished that it is all said to occur "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." We take it then that the removal of the Church will be both sudden and secret. Some day in the near future, how near none can say, but probably in the lifetime of the present generation, the world will awaken to find that a most startling phenomenon has occurred. A large number of their fellow-men and women will have mysteriously disappeared, leaving no traces behind them! In many a home there will be more than one vacant chair. In many an office and store there will be vacant stools. From every walk of life there will be taken those who "Chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of the world: for they had respect unto the recompense of the reward" (Heb. 11:25, 26). Possibly some seats in the Senate and some thrones will be vacant, for God's children are "scattered abroad" (John 11:52) in many spheres and callings. The phenomenon of the missing ones will be no local one, but earthwide in its range. It is highly probable that from every village, town, and city, in this land, there shall be taken those who are caught up to met the Lord in the air. Imagine then the amazement, the consternation, the commiseration of those that are left behind! Imagine the panic, which shall seize their hearts. If they search, their search will be in vain. No trace of the missing ones will be forth-coming. Imagine again the dismay and the awe, as the news is received from other lands that his same mysterious phenomenon has occurred there too! Will it take the left-behind ones very long to find a solution to the mystery? Will it be very difficult for them to find an explanation which will account for the disappearance of God's people from the earth? We believe not. The imminent coming of Christ has been so widely proclaimed both by voice and pen that there are now comparatively few people who are in complete ignorance upon this subject. Today the wise of this world may sneer and scoff at the truth that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, but then, when it is too late to profit from the witness that is now being borne, it shall be seen that those who were looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ were no mere visionaries and fanatics, but sober men and women whose faith was founded upon the unerring Word of God. O what anguish will fill those who gave no heed to the faithful warning of their godly friends! And here we would pause a moment and ask, Reader, How is it with you? Suppose that Christ should come today--and He may- in which class would you be found? Would you be among the "wise" virgins who are ready for the Bridegroom's appearing, or would you be numbered among the "foolish" virgins who had made no adequate preparation for this great event? Pass not this question lightly by. It is now the most momentous question, which can possibly engage your attention. You say, you hope you would be among those that are ready. But you cannot afford to be uncertain upon this matter, the issues are far too serious and solemn. Stop right here we beseech you and honestly examine yourself and see whether you be in the faith. Do you know within your heart that you are un-prepared, that all your efforts have been directed toward the securing for yourself a comfortable position in this world? Then, let us ask, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Do you say, I have already faced that question and I know now how to make the necessary preparation. Are you constrained to ask, "What must I do to be saved?" Then the answer, God's own answer, is ready at hand--"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Appropriate the provision, which Divine grace has made for lost sinners. Flee to Christ while there is yet time. Turn away from self with all its resolutions and failures, its doings and its sins and cast yourself on the Lord Jesus. Heed that pressing word, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Tomorrow may be too late. Before tomorrow the Lord may have come, and then the door of mercy will be closed against you. And this leads us to consider [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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