-------------------------<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> <22 November 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "Hearing God's voice" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Bible-Study> "Disaster avoided" (Pt-14)- Charles Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-86)- A.W.Pink 4) <Devotional> "Your inheritance" - Octavius Winslow 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "HEARING GOD'S VOICE" Ravi Zacharias A few years ago I was speaking at a conference, and an acquaintance invited me to dinner. Although he was cordial, my host seemed noticeably uneasy in my presence, and after dinner he asked if we could take a walk because he had something to tell me. He told me about his son who, while at college, had been tragically killed in an auto accident. He added: "For a long time I was not able to get over my son's death. There had been many things going on in his mind that I wished we had been able to talk about. I agonized for months over opportunities forever lost." He went on to say that some months later, still in grief, as he was driving somewhere he decided to play some of his son's favorite music on tape, hoping somehow to reach back into his son's life. In what had to be a shock to him, suddenly, his son's voice spoke as clearly as if he were sitting in the back seat of the car. The voice, of course, was on the tape itself. The father discovered that a few weeks prior to the accident, his son had made a fresh commitment to Christ during some meetings at his college at which I spoke. So deep an impact had been made on his heart that he returned home and recorded an expression of his spiritual journey. This was the first time the father heard it recounted on tape. Now as we met, the father wanted to say thank you for the role God had given me in the life of his son, and to tell me how meaningful it had been for him to hear a voice that had passed from his life. How consoling a voice can be, especially if it is a voice we long to hear. Friends, there is only one voice that has the capacity to speak on matters of ultimate reality, and that is the voice of God. The Bible reminds us that God has spoken to us in numerous ways. We hear his clear voice in the written Word, in the consummate expression of His own Son. God's gracious voice has beckoned humanity since the days of our creation, and indeed, it still beckons, even today, calling us to Himself. The question is: Are we listening? Let us be like Samuel, the Old Testament priest who said to God, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." --- 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> "DISASTER AVOIDED" (PART-14) Charles E. Wigg .... In chapter 3 of 2 Kings, we are introduced to a situation of compromise, to unholy associations. We have the son of Ahab, (Jehoram), who did evil in the sight of Jehovah, but not like his father or mother. He obviously judged some of the wicked excesses of his father, and abolished one form of idolatry. Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, and did not depart from them. It may be as well at this juncture to examine that cardinal sin, and see what it means for us. Jeroboam came to power when Israel was divided through the folly of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. 1 Kings, chapters 12 & 13. Once he had divided the people, and had the support of nine and one half tribes, he cunningly devised a way to perpetuate his dynasty. He knew full well, that if the children of Israel continued to go to Jerusalem, to the Temple to worship there, (as God had commanded), sooner or later they would turn again after the son of David. So he devised a means to prevent this. He made two golden calves, and put one in Bethel and the other in Dan. The one in Bethel, was as near as he could get to Jerusalem, the place that God had chosen to set His name there. The one in Dan was as far away as he could get from God’s centre. The idea behind the golden calf, was to degrade the God of Israel, from being the mighty Lord of all, and make Him a to be a servant. This was a very convenient form of god, one that can be manipulated by man. Yet the calf was the animal of sacrifice as well as the animal of service. Showing in the type that though they were willing to trust in the redeeming power of the blood, yet they wished God to be their servant, and (being made of gold), He would be the source of their prosperity, and they could thus worship the gold, as they worshipped the god. Such an idea is common today, but is just as hateful to God as the golden calves were. All this was to prevent them from returning to God’s chosen way. He also exalted the High Places, where sacrifice was offered, and immorality was practiced, all in the name of religion. He also made priests of the lowest classes, whereas God had said that none were to serve Him as priests, but the sons of Aaron. We see this around us everywhere today, where men have introduced a special class of men to act as priests, and thereby rob the people of God of their priceless privilege. The priest or minister is paid a salary, and he does everything, while the people, (the laity), look on. Thus we see a parallel today in the sects and denominations that men have set up. These result in the perpetuating of the greatness and rule of man. Thus like Israel the people of God today are made to sin, and prevented from returning to God’s original thoughts, and from gathering to the name of the Lord Jesus alone. These are the sins that Jehoram clung to, such sins, though hateful to God, would lead to his continuing his hold over the people, and perpetuating his dynasty. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced with permission] _____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-86) THE REVELATION AND CAREER OF THE ANTI-CHRIST 2/9 WHO IS ANTI-CHRIST? Arthur W. Pink .... The second Scripture which proves that the Anti-christ will be super-human, the offspring of Satan, is found in John 8:44--"Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it." In the Greek there is the definite article before "lie"--the lie, "The Lie." There is but one other passage in the New Testament where "The Lie" is mentioned and that is in 2 Thess. 2:11 where again the definite article is found in the Greek, and here the reference to the Anti-christ is unmistakable. A threefold reason may be suggested as to why the Anti-christ should be termed "The Lie." First, because his fraudulent claim to be the real Christ will be the greatest falsehood palmed upon humanity. Second, because he is the direct antithesis of the real Christ who is "The Truth" (John 14:6). Third, because he is the Son of Satan who is the arch-Liar. But to return to John 8:44--"When he (the Devil- speaketh (concerning) The Lie, he speaketh of his own." His "own" what? His "own" Son--the remainder of the verse makes this very plain--"for he (the Devil) is a Liar and the father of it" i.e., of "The Lie." The Lie then is Satan's "Son"! The third Scripture which proves that the Anti-christ will be superhuman is even still plainer. In 2 Thess. 2:3 he is expressly said to be "The Son of Perdition." Who is the Anti-christ? He will be a man, a Jew, a supernatural being, the "Seed" of the Serpent, the Son of Perdition. Where is he today? It is possible that even now he may be on the earth, though personally we hardly think this is likely. But if he is not yet born then the unequivocal answer is, He is in the Abyss or Bottomless Pit (Rev. 11:7). This Scripture contains the first reference to "the Beast" in the Revelation. The question naturally arises, How did he get there? and when was he sent there? In answering this question we are well aware that we shall call down upon us the criticism and censure of brethren that we honor and love, yet, notwithstanding, we must again be true to our convictions and faithful in presenting what we believe to be the teaching of Holy Scripture on this solemn and mysterious subject. When was the "Beast" consigned to the Bottomless Pit? We answer, when Judas Iscariot died! The Anti-christ will be Judas Iscariot re-incarnated. The proof for this startling assertion (we may say, a by no means novel one, though our study of this point has been conducted independently) will now be humbly submitted to the critical attention of our readers. Who was Judas Iscariot? He was the one by whom the Lord of Glory was betrayed. He was a "man" (Matt. 26:24). But was he more than a man? Let Scripture make answer. In John 6:70 we read, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a Devil?" It is hardly necessary to say that in the Greek there are two different words for "Devil" and "demon." There are many demons but only one Devil. Further, in no other passage is the word "Devil" applied to anyone but to Satan himself. Now here in John 6:70 our Lord says of Judas that he is "ho diabolos" not "daimonizomai": the definite article is employed--one of you is "the Devil." Judas then was the Devil incarnate, just as the Lord Jesus was God incarnate. Christ Himself said so, and we dare not doubt His word. Again, in John 17:12 He said, "Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition." Here then is the answer of Scripture itself. Who was Judas Iscariot? He was the Devil incarnate; he was the Son of Perdition. [To be concluded] _____________________________________________________________________ 4) <DEVOTIONAL> "YOUR INHERITANCE?" Octavius Winslow "He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God and he will be my son." Rev. 21:7 How vast, how illimitable, then, the inheritance of the saints, inheriting "all things!" This is a beautiful idea of heaven; it is a lovely picture, on which the eye of faith delights to dwell. The earthly heir looks at his inheritance, surveys it, walks through it, luxuriates amidst its beauties, and anticipates its full possession. The heir of glory has his inheritance too; it is heaven! He looks to it, he longs for it; and soon the Saviour will come in personal glory, and institute him into its full and eternal possession! ---------------------------<BrethrenVoice>--------------------------- Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, eMail: <brethrenvoice-faq@...> <BrethrenVoice> Home: www.brethrenvoice.com <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