-------------------------<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> <6 December 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "The endowment of Jerusalem- Ravi Zacharias 2) <Bible-Study> "Tragedy strikes" (Pt-27)-Charles Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-98)- A.W.Pink 4) <Q&A> "Rahab and the Hebrew midwives" 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "THE ENDOWMENT OF JERUSALEM" Ravi Zacharias The man who led the nation of Israel to her greatest spiritual recovery was young King Josiah. The Old Testament historian pays him supreme tribute: "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses." The four "alls" tell it all—all his heart, all his soul, all his strength, in response to all the Law of God. Josiah inaugurated his reign by challenging the false gods of his time and issuing a plea for righteousness to the temple leaders. He then stumbled onto the most surprising discovery of all. He found the Book of the Law, buried beneath the debris of a neglected temple. How unfathomable this is—that in the midst of the grand edifice whose trust was the teaching of the oracles of God, the Word that was central to those purposes was lost under the clutter of ecclesiastical politics! This discovery was life-transforming, for Josiah could not have lead a spiritual revival without a keen understanding of the character of God. For that he needed God's self-disclosure—the Book of books. Josiah gave the treasure of God's Book back to his people, and it is the greatest contribution of the Hebrews to young America as well. Let us be absolutely certain of this. It was not the code of Hammurabi that touched America's conscience. Nor was it the intent or content of the Koran. By no stretch of the imagination was it the pantheistic framework of Eastern mysticism. America's soul was indubitably formed in keeping with the basic assumptions and injunctions of the moral law of the Hebrews. Let us get beyond the debate of how orthodox or heterodox the founding fathers were. What is unquestionable is that the fundamental precepts by which they wanted to govern could only have been possible within a biblical framework, and not of any other religious system. Author Russell Kirk, in his book Roots of American Order, traces our heritage to four cities: Athens, Rome, Jerusalem, and London. We may now add that the imprints of Athens, Rome, and London are still upon us. Yet in many respects, the all-important endowment of Jerusalem has been tossed to the winds. May we recover God's Word in our lives so that we may understand His character and love that He desires to make known to all peoples. ---- 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 MAN FROM BAAL-SHALISHA" (PART-27) Charles E. Wigg .... The chapter closes by introducing us to an unusual man. Unusual, because in a time of famine; he seemed to have abundance. It is apparent that in New Testament language, he had been sowing to the Spirit, and he had reaped a harvest. He also knew and obeyed the instructions given in the law of God, regarding the first fruits that were to be given to God. So he gave to the man of God, twenty loaves of Barley, and full ears of corn. The prophet did not take this as his own, though it was given to him, but he shared it with the sons of the prophets. However amongst the many that were there, this seemed to be so little, so one asked, “shall I set this before a hundred men”? But the man of God commanded that it be done, saying that all would eat and leave some. It came to pass as he had spoken by the word of the Lord. This takes the mind to John’s Gospel chapter 6, the great food chapter of Holy Scripture. But there it was not Elisha who wrought the miracle, but Elisha’s Lord. He exhorted His apostles as He sent them out, “freely have you received, freely give. Mat. 10:8. It shows us that whatever we may have, though it seem so little, when we give it to the Lord in His hands it is multiplied. Let us be like that man from Baal Shalisha, let us sow to the Spirit, knowing that of the Spirit we shall reap eternal life. Even though there be a drought all around us spiritually! THE CLEANSING OF NAAMAN. The Lord Jesus said that though there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet none were cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. That seems to make the cleansing of Naaman rather special. Dispensationaly, this points on to the day when the grace of God would reach out to the sinners of the Gentiles, when we lost sinners would experience the cleansing of the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son. There are many encouragements for us to gain from this story, as well as warnings and instruction. Little did the mighty Naaman realise what blessing would result for him from the raid that he and his army made into Israel. He must have known that he was suffering from the dread disease of leprosy, and that his illustrious career as a successful General was about at an end. But he brought back a little maid that he gave to his wife as a servant. In time she noticed that telltale white patch on Naaman’s flesh, and realised that he, though so great and successful, was a filthy leper, and was doomed to die a lonely and bitter death. She could easily have been resentful and bitter. She could have rejoiced at the calamity about to fall upon the man that had cruelly taken her away from the parents whom she loved, and made her a wretched slave. She could have wished a curse upon that man, and rejoiced at his pending misery, but she did not. --- [Reproduced with permission] _____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-98) THE RETURN OF CHIRST TO THE EARTH ITSELF PART 1/6 Arthur W. Pink .... If to day the presence of the Lord on earth is urgently needed, how much greater will be this need at the close of the Tribulation period! The Anti-christ in full power, openly blaspheming and blatantly defying God! All the world worshipping this Son of Perdition and branded with his mark on their foreheads or in their hands as token of their allegiance to him! The godly remnant of the Jews in the very last extremity and crying, "Keep not Thou silence, O God: hold not Thy peace, and be not still O God. For, lo, Thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, and consulted against Thy hidden ones (the remnant in the "secret place" of Ps. 91:1; the "prepared place" of Rev. 12:6). They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent; they are confederate against Thee" (Ps. 83:1-5! All the forces of the Beast gathered together in a last daring effort to prevent the Lord Jesus coming back to this earth and entering into His inheritance! But now has struck the appointed hour of retribution. Now shall the Lord come "with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon all" (Jude 14:15). Yes, "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thess. 1:7-9). A full-length picture of our returning Lord is found in Rev. 19, a picture awful in its solemnity and fearful in its vividness. Let us sit down before it and study it in detail. "And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war" (Rev. 19:11). Every word here calls for close attention. Our Lord comes seated upon a "white horse." The Greek word intimates a-war-horse or "charger." Note its color. In Scripture, colors are used emblematically. Here, "white" is the fitting emblem of the Rider's spotless purity and unsullied holiness. Everything in the passage we are now examining is in marked contrast to our Lord's first Advent. Then He was seen, meek and lowly, seated upon the back of an ass. But now He is coming back to the earth for a different work from that which He performed when He was here before. He returns now for the purpose of subduing wickedness, to destroy evildoers, to overthrow Anti-christ and to remove Satan from these scenes. Hence, in keeping with His mission, He appears seated upon a white war-charger! "Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most Mighty, with Thy glory and Thy majesty. And in Thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; whereby the people fall under Thee. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of Thy Kingdom is a right scepter" (Ps. 45:3-6). [To be concluded] _____________________________________________________________________ 4) <QUESTION & ANSWER> "RAHAB AND THE HEBREW MIDWIVES" Dear Brethren I would appreciate if someone could answer the following question paused by a serious brother through an email list. Selected answers will be published here. Thank you - Ben --- Question: In Judges 2, we find the story of Rahab secretly hiding two spies and then blatantly lying about knowing where they were. How do you account that through a lie her faith was commended? Or was it? (Hebrews 11:31) What about the Hebrew midwives who lied to Pharaoh and were blessed of God? (Exodus 1) ---------------------------<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 _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus