-------------------------<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> <3 & 4 December 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "The evil is out there" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Bible-Study> "Tragedy strikes-2/2" (Pt-25)-Charles Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-96)- A.W.Pink 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "THE EVIL IS OUT THERE" Ravi Zacharias When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, His last petition was, "Deliver us from evil." In a time when wars and rumors of wars abound, His sentiment is echoed countless times. Yet we tend to view evil as the characters of the X-Files view truth: it is "out there." The problem, friend, is that evil is not just "out there." It is also "in here." A universal epidemic exists, and it is one of evil in the heart. Almost just as universal is the human tendency to deny this. I have never defended the existence of God at a university campus without being asked about the question of evil in the world, yet only on one occasion have I been asked how to cope with the evil within. And this is where the real issue lies. Many years ago I was speaking in Boston, and a young woman responded to my message. She came forward and was counseled by one of the pastors there. He then brought her to meet me and handed me the card she had filled out, expressing her desire to commit to Christ. In a complete shock to me, I noticed that under the section marked "profession" she had written "prostitute." My expression must have betrayed my surprise, for she said, "It's true. And I am sorry. I was on my way to the street tonight, feeling so dirty inside but so helpless. I saw the sign outside, saying you were talking on the theme of a new life. I wanted it so badly. God has spoken to me tonight. I leave this place a new woman." In this one life, think of the evil that was stemmed from that night on. That is the power of God multiplied in changed lives, lives that God has made new. This is the deliverance from evil that begins with the self, rather than with the philosophical attack upon a disembodied idea of external evil. And the change God brings is not just a psychological one. Scriptures tell us we are transformed by the renewing of our minds such that we may grasp the truth and are made wise to withstand evil. Is this all just an escapist's haven? Absolutely not. G.K. Chesterton said that the problem with Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it has been found difficult and left untried. God alone has the power to deliver us from evil and give to us a new life if we will but seek Him. ---- 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> "TRAGEDY STRIKES 2/2 " (PART-25) Charles E. Wigg .... Then the woman unburdened her soul, and revealed that her distress was centred in the son that God had given her, in answer to Elijah’s prayers. So he sent off Gehazi with strict instructions as to what he was to do, and not to do, and put his staff in Gehazi’s hand. But the mother of the boy had greater discernment at this point than Elisha did, and she refused to return without him. She knew that no display of unbending official power, would bring back the life of the boy she loved. The prophet himself must come, she would not leave him! Perhaps she discerned the nature and condition of Gehazi. Maybe she saw the self-seeking and covetous nature of his wicked heart. This comes to light in the next chapter. Also it seems that Elisha himself had a lesson to learn, and that was that resurrection could not take place without total identification with the dead person. This too was what took place when Elijah raised the son of the widow to life, and also Paul did this with Eutychus, (Acts 20:9-10). Once Elisha had come to the house, he went into the chamber, and shut the door upon them both. This was to be a secret matter no others were to know what took place. First he prayed, this is of first importance in any situation. Then he stretched himself on the dead boy. He put his eyes on his eyes, his mouth on his mouth, and his hands on the boys’ hands. This was total identification, and as a result the boy’s flesh became warm; he imparted his own warmth to the dead boy. Revival, or resurrection, will never come about through the exercise of mere legal power, or authority. Gal. 6:1, tells us what we are to do when one is taken in a fault. The spiritual are to restore such a one, not with boastful pride, but in a spirit of humility. When he had done this, the man of God then walked up and down in the house, as if he suspected that something was wrong there. Because often where spiritual death or departure takes place, it is because things are not right in the house, the family, or the Assembly. He then went back up to the death chamber, and stretched himself once more upon the child. He did not give up at the first attempt, faith never does! Then the boy sneezed seven times, as if there was something in his head that he needed to get rid of, and then he opened his eyes. What was a death chamber, now throbbed with life, coldness gave place to warmth. The man of God did not rush down to convey the good news to the broken hearted mother, but sent the message by his servant to call her. She then came and with amazement saw the miracle of resurrection before her very eyes. The prophet then told her to take up her son. But before she did so, she first fell at his feet in affection and thankfulness to him, and to the eternal Jehovah, whom he served. She then took up the boy, whose lifeless form she had laid on that bed many hours before, held him to her bosom and went out. What rejoicing there would have been in that house that night, yet the father of the boy had no part in all that had happened since before noon. Yet he was not criticised or rebuked, perhaps the events were rebuke enough? [To be concluded] --- Reproduced by permission] _____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-96) THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON - PART 1/2 Arthur W. Pink .... The Battle of Armageddon! What extravagant speculations have been indulged concerning it! What unscriptural theories have been entertained respecting it! To begin with; this appears from the term employed. Nowhere in the Bible do we read of "The Battle of Armageddon." The Scriptural expression is "The Battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14). This Battle of the great day of God Almighty will bring the Tribulation period to a close and will witness the return of Christ to the earth to usher in the Millennium. This "Battle" is the subject of numerous prophecies, several of which we shall briefly examine. The Battle of that great day of God Almighty will terminate the most blatant movement of all in the impious career of the Anti-christ. After he has thrown off the mask, denied both the Father and the Son and openly defied Heaven, he will seek to exterminate everything which either directly or indirectly, witnesses to God. His first effort in this direction is brought before us in Rev. 17:16--"And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the Beast (the "ten kings" vs. 12), these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire"--in other words, completely abolish her. Who this "whore" is we learn in the previous verses. It is "Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth" (vs. 5). It is the Papacy, which before this time will have succeeded in gathering within its fold the whole of apostate Christendom. After the Rapture of the Church, the whole of Christendom will render allegiance to the Pope who will still claim to be Christ's "vicar" on earth. Then it is that "the whole" of the three measures of meal will be completely leavened (Matt. 13:33). At first, Christendom (the "Whore") will be supported by the Beast (Rev. 17:3), but at the end he will turn against her and cause his ten satellites to bring about her destruction. Having accomplished the destruction of the one system in Europe, which still professed the name of Christ, the Son of Perdition will then turn his attention toward Palestine where the last witness of God on earth will be found. The godly remnant of the Jews will still refuse to worship him. This enrages the Beast and he gathers together his forces and leads them against the Holy Land in a determined attempt to annihilate those who dare to defy him, in fact it would seem from several Scriptures that the Gentiles headed by the Man of Sin will aim at the complete destruction of all of David's descendants. Unknown to himself, however, he will be but carrying out the eternal purpose of God--"Now also many nations are gathered against thee (the daughter of Zion), that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion, But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they His counsel, for He shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor" (Micah 4:11, 12). The time for God to take vengeance on the nations who have flocked to the banner of the Anti-christ has come, and He employs the Beast to concentrate his forces so that He may pour out His wrath upon them--"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy might ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down: for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more" (Joel 3:9-17). [To be concluded] ---------------------------<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." 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