-------------------------<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/groups/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <16 December 2002> Contents: ---------- 1) <Devotional> "The wealth is nearer than you think" - Ravi Zacharias 2) <Bible-Study> "The borrowed axe 2/2." (Pt-34)-C.E Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-105)- A.W.Pink 4) <Comments> "On the Redeemer's Return" (Pt 103) - C.E.Wigg 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "THE WEALTH IS NEARER THAN YOU THINK" Ravi Zacharias There is an ancient Eastern parable instructively titled, "The Wealth Is Nearer to You Than You Think." It tells of a wealthy merchant on a lengthy journey, carrying with him his most valuable jewels. Along the way, another traveller befriends him, with the sole intent of laying his hands on those precious stones. At the end of each day the men would share a room, and as was customary, each received a mat and pillow as well as a wash basin and towel. The merchant, suspicious of his newfound friend's real motives, devised a scheme to safeguard his valuables. Before they slept, he would graciously offer the would-be thief the privilege of washing up first. Then he would hastily hide his precious stones under the thief's pillow. When the thief returned, the rich man would go to wash up. With predatory glee, the rogue would plunge into the rich man's belongings, rummaging through his bag, ransacking the man's pillow. His feverish and fruitless attempts left him utterly frustrated, and eventually he would lay his sleepless head on his pillow. Finally, as it came time to part, the rich man began his farewell pleasantries and, to the speechless astonishment of his companion, revealed the truth. He said, "You poured all your energies into looking everywhere for the jewels—except under your own pillow. The wealth was nearer to you than you realized." This parable has a clear injunction that stirs the Eastern imagination by weaving a simple truth into a profound proverbial climax. Yet it offers a wealth of wisdom to the West as well, which appears at this time in its own cultural journey to be in search of an all-embracing value by which to define itself. The last few decades have shown the frenzied search to be cast in terms of materialism, novel relationships, and anything related to self-realization, ranging from the beautiful to the contemptible. More recently we are witnessing a resurgence in "spirituality," as people are realizing that the quests of earlier years have only begotten a gnawing emptiness. Yet the wealth is nearer than we think. As the apostle Paul told the religious men in Athens, God "is not far from each one of us." It is in Him and Him alone that the soul finds its rest and satisfaction. When that discovery is made and the soul is restored in a disfigured culture, we find the greatest treasure of all. May you know that God is not far off; He is nearer than we realize. ---- 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 BORROWED AXE 2/2" (PART-34) Charles E. Wigg .... John the Baptist was a skilled axe man. He said that (in his preaching), the axe is laid to the root of the trees, and that every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Luke, 3:9. But he had been prepared for such a ministry by spending years alone with God in the wilderness. He had denied himself the luxuries of his time, the luxuries demanded by the religious leaders. He had exercised a rugged self-discipline, and wore the roughest clothes, a garment of camel's hair, with a belt of leather about his loins. Such things are not comfortable to the flesh. Thus he was qualified to use the axe, and the axe that he used was not borrowed from another. We are commanded to 'Buy the truth and sell it not', (Prov.23:23.) showing that whatever we gain in the knowledge of truth will cost us something. Elisha then asked, where fell it? He then cut down a stick, and cast it into the water, and the axe head was made to swim. The erring one was then told to take it up to himself. The stick was a young tree, and before the disaster could be fixed, it must be cut down and cast into the Jordan. I suggest that this speaks to us of the sufferings and death of Christ. He could say through the Psalmist, "Take me not away in the midst of my days", Psalm 102:24. Isaiah says that He "Was cut off out of the land of the living". Ch. 53:8. Thus the errors that sometimes follow immaturity, and inexperience, have cost the Lord Jesus His sufferings and death. The iron was made to swim, thus was restored to usefulness. Thank God for restoration, for resurrection, but the cost of it all was the surrender of the perfect sinless life of Christ. The end result seemed to be that those immature people saw their error and mistake, because we never read of that larger place being erected. I seems that their project was abandoned. So the prophet's presence had the desired effect. Though he did not have to resort to rebuke or even correction, yet the desired end was reached, and though sadder, yet wiser because of their mistakes, they returned to their place, after having learned their lesson. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission] _____________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "THE CONSUMMATION OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN OR THE MILLENNIAL REIGN" (PART-105) THE MILLENNIUM IN RELATION TO SATAN Arthur W. Pink .... In our last chapter we saw that Christ descends from Heaven to find an organized effort to prevent him coming back to the earth. Under the leadership of Anti-christ, the kings of the earth with their armies assemble together at Armageddon with the express purpose of making war upon the Lamb (Rev. 17:14). It is in connection with this impious revolt that we read, "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh" (Ps. 2:4), laugh at their folly and madness, "The Lord shall have them in derision." As well might a worm seek to resist the tread of an elephant as the creature hope to succeed against the Almighty. As well attempt to roll back the ocean as aim to frustrate the counsels of the Most High. "For the Lord of hosts hath purposed and who shall dis-annul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" (Is. 14:27). A short work will our Lord make of the proud rebels--"And the Beast was taken, and with him the False Prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into the Lake of Fire burning with brimstone" (Rev. 19:19). This accounts for two of the persons in the Trinity of Evil. But one other still remains to be dealt with. Before the Messiah's Kingdom can be set up, the great Usurper must first be cast out. There can be no thousand years of righteousness and peace on earth while the great Enemy of God and man is at large. Post-millenarians, who expect the Kingdom to be brought in by the preaching of the Gospel and the activities of the Church, and Peace-idealists and Social-reformers who look for a Golden Age to be brought about by legislation and civilization, all leave out of their schemes and considerations one dominating factor, namely, the Devil. Behind all anit-christian systems back of all the inveterate opposition to the Gospel, beneath all the evil and wickedness which stalks rampant through the earth, is that old Serpent, the Devil. And nothing finite can remove him. Nothing human can disturb him. None on earth can bind him. Man is incompetent to cope with his mighty adversary. Legislation cannot reach him, and the Church is powerless to rid the world of his awful presence. The only One who is mightier than he, is God--the Almighty, and there can be no Golden Age, until the Son of God Himself returns in person and removes and imprisons the Arch-Foe. [To be concluded] _____________________________________________________________________ 4) <COMMENTS> ON "THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-103) - THE RETURN OF CHIRST TO THE EARTH ITSELF PART 6/6 by Charles E. Wigg [We are grateful to Br. Charles Wigg for his comments on the above article which is reproduced as follows. If any of our readers would like to respond to Br. Charles, they could email their responses to <brethrenvoice@...> - God bless - Ben] "Dear brother The statement copied below seems to me to be a little astray. The Lord clearly says that those deputed to execute judgment are angels, Matt. 13:39 and 41. The saints of Jude 14 are Holy Ones, J.N.D. translates that verse, "amidst His holy myriads". The author claims that angels are never called saints. However Dan. 4:13 & 23 clearly calls an angel a 'holy one' or 'saint' (Quaddiysh) and watcher is Aramaic, 'Iyr' meaning one who wakes or watches, an angel. I am not finding fault, but just advance this other point of view. If it means the saints of past and present ages, then it may involve retribution or veangance and this does not seem proper for sinners saved by grace. Please let me know what you think about this. What I have read of the rest of the articles is very sound and there are many Bible Teachers that share Bro. Pink's view. Love in Christ, Chas." "Those armies are not "angels" as some teach, though these "armies" will certainly be accompanied by angels as we learn from 2 Thess. 1:7. That the "armies" are not angels appears from Jude 14, where those who accompany the Captain of their salvation are denominated "saints" a term which is never applied to angels; and also from Rev. 17:14, where those that are "with Him" are styled "called and chosen and faithful"--language which is applicable to none save the children of God. The saints who are one with Christ, then made "like Him," will fully share His feelings and participate in His victory, though He alone will do the fighting." ---------------------------<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 _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail