-------------------------<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: ben@...] [<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> archives/read online: http://associate.com/groups/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <23 January 2003> Contents: ------------ 1) <Devotional> ""For me to live is Christ." - Charles Spurgeon 2) <Bible-Study> "Be wise as serpents..." (Pt-6/6} - Charles E. Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "Outline of prophetic events" (Pt-4) - B. Anstey 4) <Poem> - "And the Lord went His way" - C.M. J. Heart 1) <DEVOTIONAL> "FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST" - PHIL 1:21 Charles Spurgeon The believer did not always live to Christ. He began to do so when God the Holy Spirit convinced him of sin, and when by grace he was brought to see the dying Saviour making a propitiation for his guilt. From the moment of the new and celestial birth the man begins to live to Christ. Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have. He has so completely won our love, that it beats alone for Him; to His glory we would live, and in defence of His gospel we would die; He is the pattern of our life, and the model after which we would sculpture our character. Paul's words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ--nay, his life itself was Jesus. In the words of an ancient saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life. Jesus was his very breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life. Can you say, as a professing Christian, that you live up to this idea? Can you honestly say that for you to live is Christ? Your business--are you doing it for Christ? Is it not done for self-aggrandizement and for family advantage? Do you ask, "Is that a mean reason?" For the Christian it is. He professes to live for Christ; how can he live for another object without committing a spiritual adultery? Many there are who carry out this principle in some measure; but who is there that dare say that he hath lived wholly for Christ as the apostle did? Yet, this alone is the true life of a Christian--its source, its sustenance, its fashion, its end, all gathered up in one word--Christ Jesus. Lord, accept me; I here present myself, praying to live only in Thee and to Thee. Let me be as the bullock which stands between the plough and the altar, to work or to be sacrificed; and let my motto be, "Ready for either." _______________________________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> "BE AS WISE AS SERPENTS, AND AS HARMLESS AS DOVES" - (PART 6 OF 6) Charles E. Wigg .... WATCHFULNESS: Some birds have two eyelids, and these meet over the eyeball every time their eyes close. Some have one eyelid, which is attached to the bottom of the eye socket and covers the eye when it closes. Others have one eyelid attached to the top of the eye socket, and likewise it covers the eyeball whenever it closes. But the Dove has none at all! This means that its eyes are always open, it never misses anything. How often the Lord Jesus exhorted His disciples to 'Watch therefore". There is always the tendency for us to go to sleep spiritually. To become totally unaware of our circumstances or what is going on around us. This happened in the garden of Gethsemane, when the Lord Jesus took Peter James and John a little further than the rest of those that were present. He told them to 'watch', but they went to sleep, and when He came and found them sleeping, he asked them "Were you not able to watch with me one hour". Matt. 26:40-41. LOYALTY: I was ministering once in the North of India on the 'Offerings' of the Old Testament, and was teaching about the dove in the 'Burnt Offering'. A brother was there from U.S.A. and he informed me that when two doves mate, the hen will lay two eggs. One egg will hatch onto a hen, the other into a male. The same parents feed them, they grow up together, they learn to fly together, and they leave the nest together, and remain together for the rest of their lives. This is a beautiful picture of loyalty. The Lord Jesus expects such loyalty from all that would serve Him. May He become ever more precious to each one of us. Let us not be like Demas, who left Paul, because he had developed a love for the world! 2 Tim 4:10. NO AGGRESSION: The dove totally lacks aggression; it never quarrels with anything. I have seen them on India's roads in the early morning when travelling, they are just a picture of innocence and of peace. Though some birds will destroy crops etc., yet a dove never does. The Lord Jesus uses the word ''harmless'' and it is interesting that the same word is used of himself, as our Great High Priest. Heb. 7:26. Thus we may rightly deduce that our blessed Master desires that we might be like Him! Then let us lay these things to heart. Herein lies the secret of success in our service for Christ. How different things would be if we really did this. God would truly be glorified, others would be blessed, and we would have that deep sense of satisfaction, knowing that the will of God has been done, in the way God desires. May He bless His Holy word, for His holy Name's sake! - [Charles E. Wigg. 13.1.2003] [Concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission - We are grateful to Br. Charles (Appachen) for the article which, I am sure, has been a blessing to us. May the Lord continue to strengthen him to be a useful tool in His hands - Ben] _______________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "OUTLINE OF PROPHETIC EVENTS" (PART-5) B. Anstey THINGS HEREAFTER (IN HEAVEN) When the Lord's coming happens, all who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, whose sins have not been washed away by the cleansing power of His blood, will be left behind on earth to enter the tribulation. (Mt. 25:10-12, Rev. 3:10) The gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) which promises justification through faith in Christ; and heaven as an eternal home for all who believe, will no longer be preached. Those who have consciously rejected this "great salvation" will never have another opportunity to be saved. This is a very solemn thing. (Heb. 2:3, Acts 13:38-41) The Lord will lead His saints whom He has "caught up" to heaven into "the Father's house." (Jn. 14:2-3, Heb. 2:13) After the Lord will have taken His people home into "the Father's house" on high, He will sit them down at His table and come forth to serve them heavenly happiness and unspeakable joy. (Lk. 12:37) THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST The judgment seat of Christ will be set in heaven upon which the Lord Jesus will sit as Judge. He will review each believer's life. The order of the session will be; review, reward, and rejoice. There are two kinds of judges in this world. Christ will execute judgment after the order of both. One is a judge in a penal character vested with authority to pass a sentence of judgment on a guilty offender. [i.e. a judge in the judicial courts of the land] The believer will never be found before Christ as a Judge in this character (Jn. 5:24, Rom. 8:1). Christ's judgment with the believer will not be a judgment of their sins. It is not the believer's sins that are in question at the judgment seat; that has been settled once and for all through their faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Knowing this gives the believer great boldness as he anticipates the day of judgment. (1 Jn. 4:17) He can rest with perfect confidence in the sure Word of God that tells him, he "shall not come into condemnation." (Jn. 5:24, Rom. 8:1). The other kind of a judge is that of an umpire, having knowledge sufficient to decide on the merits of an object in question. [i.e. a judge at an art show etc.] The judge in this case is there to appraise the quality and workmanship of the article on display. It is in this second character that Christ is seen as a Judge with believers. God keeps books [records]. When a person gets saved, He closes the debt side of the ledger and opens the credit side. From that moment forward everything in the life of the believer that is done for Christ will be recorded for future reward. Each believer will be rewarded for faithfulness in their life after they have been saved. The judgment seat of Christ is the time when the rewards will be given out. --- [Reproduced by permission] _______________________________________________________________________ 4) <POEM> "AND THE LORD WENT HIS WAY" GEN 18:33 C.M. J. HART When Jesus, with his mighty love, Visits my troubled breast, My doubts subside, my fears remove, And I'm completely blest; [I love the Lord with mind and heart, His people and his ways; Envy, and pride, and lust depart, And all his works I praise;] Nothing but Jesus I esteem; My soul is then sincere; And everything that's dear to him, To me is also dear. But ah! when these short visits end, Though not quite left alone, I miss the presence of my Friend, Like one whose comfort's gone. [I to my own sad place return, My wretched state to feel; I tire, and faint, and mope, and mourn, And am but barren still.] More frequent let thy visits be, Or let them longer last; I can do nothing without thee; Make haste, O God, make haste. ---------------------------<BrethrenVoice>--------------------------- Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, eMail: <brethrenvoice-faq@...> <BrethrenVoice> Home: www.brethrenvoice.net <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