-------------------------<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> <24 November 2002> Contents: ----------- 1) <Devotional> "Treasury of David - Psalm 23:4"- C.H.Spurgeon 2) <Bible-Study> "Levitical offerings" (Pt-16)-C.E.Wigg 3) <Doctrinal> "The Church" Pt 3/3 - FJR 4) <Devotional> "Earthly or heavenly?" - M.J.Stanford 5) <From-the-Gleaner> "Top-stories-of-the-week" - Ben 1) <DEVOTIONAL> TREASURY OF DAVID - PSALM 23:4 C. H. Spurgeon EXPOSITION Verse 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. This unspeakably delightful verse has been sung on many a dying bed, and has helped to make the dark valley bright times out of mind. Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. Yea, though I walk, as if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God. To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul, which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed. The dying saint is not in a flurry, he does not run as though he were alarmed, nor stand still as though he would go no further, he is not confounded nor ashamed, and therefore keeps to his old pace. Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. Death is not the house but the porch, not the goal but the passage to it. The dying article is called a valley. The storm breaks on the mountain, but the valley is the place of quietude, and thus full often the last days of the Christian are the most peaceful of his whole career; the mountain is bleak and bare, but the valley is rich with golden sheaves, and many a saint has reaped more joy and knowledge when he came to die than he ever knew while he lived. And, then, it is not "the valley of death," but the valley of the shadow of death, for death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. Some one has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is. Death stands by the side of the highway in which we have to travel, and the light of heaven shining upon him throws a shadow across our path; let us then rejoice that there is a light beyond. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man's pathway even for a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. I will fear no evil. He does not say there shall not be any evil; he had got beyond even that high assurance, and knew that Jesus had put all evil away; but "I will fear no evil;" as if even his fears, those shadows of evil, were gone for ever. The worst evils of life are those, which do not exist except in our imagination. If we had no troubles but real troubles, we should not have a tenth part of our present sorrows. We feel a thousand deaths in fearing one, but the psalmist was cured of the disease of fearing. "I will fear no evil", not even the Evil One himself; I will not dread the last enemy, I will look upon him as a conquered foe, an enemy to be destroyed. For thou art with me. This is the joy of the Christian! "Thou art with me." The little child out at sea in the storm is not frightened like all the other passengers on board the vessel, it sleeps in its mother's bosom; it is enough for it that its mother is with it; and it should be enough for the believer to know that Christ is with him. "Thou art with me; I have, in having thee, all that I can crave: I have perfect comfort and absolute security, for thou art with me." Thy rod and thy staff, by which you govern and rule your flock, the ensigns of your sovereignty and of your gracious care -- they comfort me. I will believe that thou reignest still. The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succour of my soul. Many persons profess to receive much comfort from the hope that they shall not die. Certainly there will be some who will be "alive and remain" at the coming of the Lord, but is there so very much of advantage in such an escape from death as to make it the object of Christian desire? A wise man might prefer of the two to die, for those who shall not die, but who "shall be caught up together with the Lord in the air," will be losers rather than gainers. They will lose that actual fellowship with Christ in the tomb, which dying saints will have, and we are expressly told that they shall have no preference beyond those who are asleep. Let us be of Paul's mind when he said that "To die is gain", and think of "departing to be with Christ, which is far better." This twenty-third psalm is not worn out, and it is as sweet in a believer's ear now as it was in David's time, let novelty hunters say what they will. _______________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> THE OBLATION OR MEAL OFFERING - AN EXPOSITION OF SOME OF THE LEVITICAL OFFERINGS - CHAPTER 2 (PART-16) Charles E. Wigg THE FOOD OF THE PRIESTS: After the handful had been burnt on the altar, the remainder was given to the priests and was to be eaten by them. The fact that the handful, the memorial was burned, reminds us that it was the sufferings through which the Lord Jesus passed, whether in His life, or when hanging on the cross, that made the sweet odour to ascend to God. The remainder being given to the priests, would teach us that whenever any of us offer to God audible praise or worship in the assembly of His people, then others are enriched also, since what we offer makes them think about the One whom we worship. What a rich and holy diet this is then, as we feed on what Christ is, for thus He will be lived out in our lives. What we eat becomes part of us, gives us strength and sustains the life of God in us, enables us to walk and to witness. All this is used by God, through the Holy Spirit's power, to conform us to the image of Christ, (2 Cor.3;18, & John 7:57.) Thus God will be able to find His pleasure in us as He found it in Christ. It was not only the priest but also his family who ate the residue of the oblation, showing that not only ourselves, but also our families are to be fed on this rich and holy diet. We are to share these things and thoughts with our children, so that from their earliest days they may begin to appreciate and to love our Lord Jesus Christ. DIFFERENT WAYS OF PREPARATION: From verse four to ten we learn that the oblation could be prepared and presented in different ways, but always with the same ingredients. Here we are told that whether cakes or wafers were offered, all must be unleavened. Verse eleven also warns that neither leaven or honey was to be included in any oblation. LEAVEN: represents the principle of sin in the flesh. Leaven is like yeast, (though I am told that one is a bacteria and the other is not), it works unseen and puffs up, or inflates the dough that is made of the other ingredients. It is called in 1 Cor. 5;8, "the old leaven", i.e. that which is related to the "old man" the "old nature", and it is said to be the "leaven of malice and wickedness", and the opposite to "sincerity and truth". As we have seen in the previous chapter, the Lord Jesus was not indwelt by the nature of Adam, in Him was no sin. The flesh is abhorrent to God, and He has condemned it. We also notice that a distinction is made between what is mixed or mingled with oil, and what is anointed with oil. That which is mingled with oil is to show that the Lord Jesus, of whom it speaks, was saturated or permeated in every part of His being by the richness and power of the Holy Spirit. Being anointed with oil, as we have already referred to, is a more public thing., something witnessed by others. One is the inner power, fullness and richness of grace; the other is outward manifestation of the grace, power and enabling of the Holy Spirit, in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is significance also in the different means used in the preparation of the different forms of oblation. --- [Reproduced with permission] _______________________________________________________ 3) <DEVOTIONAL> EARTHLY, OR HEAVENLY? Miles J. Stanford "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). The New Testament believer's spiritual growth is not based upon Old Testament doctrine. We are not to neglect the Old, but its introduction of the law was designed to lead to the grace of the New. For a believer who is not yet established in the risen Lord Jesus, it is a temptation to go to the promises of the Old Testament for comfort. This may result in some help at times, but also may bring frustration. It is simply not our ground. "So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but under [obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life]" (Romans 7:6, Amp.). "'The Law made nothing perfect' (Hebrews 7:19). It was given to discover sin and imperfection, not to impart holiness or perfection. The Lord Jesus has poured out His blessed Spirit that we believers, while on earth, might walk in that spirit of life and liberty that prevails in heaven where Christ is. God has given unto us His human-divine nature, and put within us His Holy Spirit. Shall we not therefore walk in that liberty in which Christ liveth? For He lives the same life of blessed freedom from bondage, and of joyful service to God, within us by His Spirit, as He does seated in a body, in heaven before God His Father." -W.R.N. "If I would bring forth fruit and live to God, I must see myself as having died to law. Law is a principle on which we cannot live to God any more than we can be justified." "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God" (Galatians 2:19). --- © Copyright 1996-2002 TrueBranch Ministry _______________________________________________________ 4) <DOCTRINAL> "THE CHURCH" 3/3 F.J.R* That kind of stuff reminds me of Rom 8:29 every believer is to be conformed to the image of His Son. Gal. 2:20 Not I but Christ to be seen. That is what the Gold speaks of and that is why Peter tells us that we are partakers of His divine nature, 2Pet.1:4, clothed in gold the garments of salvation, Isa.60:10, clothed in white, the robe of righteousness, 1Cor.1:30 the righteousness of Christ is placed on the believer. Brothers and sisters that kind of wardrobe alone no Rothchild, Rockefeller or Onasis with all their Millions will ever be able to provide for you. That kind of wardrobe should constantly remind you whom you belong to. The precious blood of Christ has no parallel. Its the only currency to make you a child of God. Rom.5:19 tells us that in Adam we were made sinners but to refresh our minds, consider what God has made us in Christ. Romans 6:18 God has made us free from sin, Romans 8:2 God has made us free from the Law. 1Cor. 1:30 God has made Christ unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 1Cor. 12:13 all made to drink into one Spirit. 1Cor. 15:22 God has made us alive in Christ. God has made us what we could never do for ourselves. Eph. 1:6 God has made us accepted in the beloved. Eph. 2:6 God has made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 2:13 God has made us nigh by the blood of Christ. Coll. 1:12 God has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Coll. 1:13 God has made us citizens in the kingdom of His Son. Titus 3:7 God has made us heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Heb. 3:14 Made partakers of Christ. Rev. 1:6 Made us Kings and Priests unto God. God sees all believers no longer in Adam, but in Christ eg. covered in gold. --- *Courtesy F.J.R _______________________________________________________ 5) <FROM-THE-GLEANER> A-GLANCE-AT-THE-TOP-STORIES-OF-THE-WEEK Ben TERRORISM - SAUDI ARABIA DENIES FUNDING HIJACKERS: Saudi Arabia has denied allegations that the Saudi Government helped finance two of the hijackers involved in last year's 11 September attacks on the United States. 9-11 HIJACKERS: A SAUDI MONEY TRAIL? The FBI is investigating whether the Saudi Arabian government—using the bank account of the wife of a senior Saudi diplomat—sent tens of thousands of dollars to two Saudi students in the United States who provided assistance to two of the September 11 hijackers, according to law-enforcement sources. US CAPTURES AL-QAEDA'S PERSIAN GULF CHIEF: The United States has caught Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, suspected mastermind of the bombing of the USS Cole. US ISSUES WORLDWIDE CAUTION FOR AMERICANS: The latest threats by terrorist leader Osama bin Laden prompted the State Department today to issue a worldwide caution for Americans at home and abroad. SPATE OF ATTACKS RAISES ARAB TERRORISM FEARS: AMERICANS came under attack across the Middle East yesterday, prompting fears of a new wave of terrorist strikes at vulnerable Western targets in the Arab world. IRAQI ATTACKS ON ALLIED AIRCRAFT INCREASES TENFOLD: Iraqi anti-aircraft fire on U.S. and British warplanes patrolling the no-fly zones increased tenfold this week, and Allied aircraft responded with airstrikes on four of the past five days, the Pentagon said. PUTIN WARNS BUSH ON ATTACKING IRAQ: Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Bush on Friday the United States should not wage war alone against Iraq, and he put Bush on the spot by questioning whether White House allies like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are doing enough to fight terrorism. IRAQ PREPARES FOR IMMINENT US ATTACK: Iraq will cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors to convince the world it has no weapons of mass destruction, though it is also prepared to withstand an attack if the United States invades, a senior Iraqi official said Friday. IRAQ PREPARES MISSILE, AIRCRAFT NEAR SAUDI BORDER: Iraq has prepared medium-range missiles and aircraft in underground shelters near the Saudi border in what could mark preparations to launch a strike against Israel. RUMSFELD: US WILL RESPOND TO NO-FLY-ZONE FLIRINGS IF UN WON'T: The United States will not let Iraq continue to fire on planes patrolling two "no-fly" zones, even if the United Nations does not consider the shootings a justification for war, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday. ISRAEL - PRESSURE MOUNTS ON SHARON TO EXILE ARAFAT: Pressure was growing on the Israeli leadership yesterday to take the fateful decision to send Yasser Arafat into exile after the Jerusalem bus bomb that killed 11 people ISRAEL ASKED TO UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPT PALESTINIAN STATE: The revised U.S.-backed "roadmap" to peace calls for Israel's unconditional endorsement of a Palestinian state, drops references to democratically-elected Palestinian leadership and requires an immediate halt to the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. ISRAELI FORCES RAID BETHLEHEM AFTER BUS BOMBING: Israeli troops and armor fanned across Bethlehem early Friday, a day after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 11 people when he blew up on a Jerusalem bus crowded with school students and commuters. US TO DEPLOY AEGIS DESTROYER TO GUARD ISRAEL FROM IRAQI SCUDS: The U.S. Navy plans to deploy an Aegis-class destroyer in the eastern Mediterranean by January to help guard Israel against an attack by Iraqi Scud missiles. EU - NEW TURKISH PM SEEKS EU MEMBERSHIP: Turkey's new prime minister presented his program to parliament Saturday, saying his top priorities are joining the European Union and revitalizing the slumping economy. SCIENCE - COURT MAY TACKLE QUESTION OF WHEN LIFE BEGINS: By the end of the year, the Michigan Supreme Court may take up a case that has already reignited the age-old debate of when life begins. SCIENTISTS PLANNING TO MAKE NEW FORM OF LIFE: Scientists in Rockville are to announce this morning that they plan to create a new form of life in a laboratory dish, a project that raises ethical and safety issues but also promises to illuminate the fundamental mechanics of living organisms. RUSSIA TO OFFER RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: MOSCOW — Russia is to introduce Orthodox religious education in schools for the first time since the czars. Under a proposal by the education ministry, head teachers will be able to schedule courses in a subject called Orthodox Culture. ---------------------------<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 _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963