-------------------------<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@...] [The Moderator would welcome your comments/feedback] [<SUNDAY-GLEANINGS> archives/read online: http://associate.com/groups/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <SUNDAY-GLEANINGS> <26 January 2003> Contents: ----------- 1) <Devotional> "Treasury of David - Psalm 19:7"- C.H. Spurgeon 2) <Bible-Study> "Peace offerings" (Pt-5)-Charles E.Wigg 3) <Bible-Study> "Dispensation of Law" - J. Stephen 4) <From-the-Gleaner> "Top-stories-of-the-week" - Ben 1) <DEVOTIONAL> TREASURY OF DAVID - PSALM 19:7 C. H. Spurgeon Verse 7. "The law of the Lord is perfect;" by which he means not merely the law of Moses but the doctrine of God, the whole run and rule of sacred Writ. The doctrine revealed by God he declares to be perfect, and yet David had but a very small part of the Scriptures, and if a fragment, and that the darkest and most historical portion, be perfect, what must the entire volume be? How more than perfect is the book which contains the clearest possible display of divine love, and gives us an open vision of redeeming grace. The gospel is a complete scheme or law of gracious salvation, presenting to the needy sinner everything that his terrible necessities can possibly demand. There are no redundancies and no omissions in the Word of God, and in the plan of grace; why then do men try to paint this lily and gild this refined gold? The gospel is perfect in all its parts, and perfect as a whole: it is a crime to add to it, treason to alter it, and felony to take from it. "Converting the soul." Making the man to be returned or restored to the place from which sin had cast him. The practical effect of the Word of God is to turn the man to himself, to his God, and to holiness; and the turn or conversion is not outward alone, "the soul" is moved and renewed. The great means of the conversion of sinners is the Word of God, and the more closely we keep to it in our ministry the more likely we are to be successful. It is God's Word rather than man's comment on God's Word which is made mighty with souls. When the law drives and the gospel draws, the action is different but the end is one, for by God's Spirit the soul is made to yield, and cries, "Turn me, and I shall be turned." Try men's depraved nature with philosophy and reasoning, and it laughs your efforts to scorn, but the Word of God soon works a transformation. "The testimony of the Lord is sure." God bears his testimony against sin, and on behalf of righteousness; he testifies of our fall and of our restoration; this testimony is plain, decided, and infallible, and is to be accepted as sure. God's witness in his Word is so sure that we may draw solid comfort from it both for time and eternity, and so sure that no attacks made upon it however fierce or subtle can ever weaken its force. What a blessing that in a world of uncertainties we have something sure to rest upon! We hasten from the quicksands of human speculations to the terra firma of Divine Revelation. "Making wise the simple." Humble, candid, teachable minds receive the word, and are made wise unto salvation. Things hidden from the wise and prudent are revealed unto babes. The persuadable grow wise, but the cavillers continue fools. As a law or plan the Word of God converts, and then as a testimony it instructs; it is not enough for us to be converts, we must continue to be disciples; and if we have felt the power of truth, we must go on to prove its certainty by experience. The perfection of the gospel converts, but its sureness edifies; if we would be edified it becomes us not to stagger at the promise through unbelief, for a doubted gospel cannot make us wise, but truth of which we are assured will be our establishment. _______________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> THE PEACE OFFERING LEVITICUS CHAPTER 3 AND CHAPTER 6:11-37. (PART-5) Charles E. Wigg FEEDING ON THE SACRIFICE: The thought of feeding on the sacrifice of peace offering is suggested to us, both in the Gospel of John, and in the Epistles to the Corinthians. In John's Gospel a whole chapter , one of the longest chapters in the New Testament, is devoted to the subject of spiritual food, that is chapter six. In verse 57 of that chapter the Lord Jesus said, "He that eats Me shall live because of Me." Eternal Life is given to us as a gift, but that life needs to be nourished and sustained by our eating the right kind of spiritual food. When the people ate the peace offering, they were appropriating and enjoying that which God Himself enjoyed and appreciated. This thought of eating the sacrifice is not confined to our partaking of the Lord's Supper. At such a time, it is the burnt offering that is presented, and that is wholly for God. This suggests more: what the believers enjoy together in sweet fellowship, the outworking of the enjoyment of the Peace of God. Such as when the believers meet in fellowship for the study of the word of God. What the Lord Jesus teaches in John chapter six about eating His flesh and drinking His blood is not a reference to the Lord's Supper, but rather what the believers enjoy day after day, as they feed on Christ, that is as they think about Him, and what the word of God tells us about Him. We feed our bodies through our mouths, by what we eat and drink, so also we feed our souls and our spirits, the "inner man", the "spiritual man" through our minds, through what we think about, what we read, what we watch and what we listen to. Eating His flesh is more of an individual thing, what I am to do always, to be thinking about Him, meditating on Him as much as is possible. But what is suggested in eating the peace offering is what we do together, it is enjoyed by a company or family of people as they fellowship together and rejoice in the Lord's presence. This is what is presented to us in 1 Cor.10 & 11th chapters, and also in chapter 14. In the first two chapters referred to, what we eat and drink is stressed. The emblems of the Lord's Supper are referred to here, but also the Lord's Table which involves more than the Lord's Supper. Every time the believers gather together for fellowship and for ministry, it is to partake of the "Lord's Table", a feast table, a banqueting table. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission] _______________________________________________________ 3) <BIBLE-STUDY> "DISPENSATION OF LAW" - EX 19 TO ACTS 7 J. Stephen STEWARD: Moses (Exod 19:3) and the Israelites MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY: In this dispensation, God very clearly defined what was good and evil so that man was utterly without excuse as to how to please God morally and spiritually. Man's responsibility was to obey the voice of the Lord (Exod 19:5) and all of the commandments constituting the law which had the following components: 1. MORAL: The Ten Commandments were given to govern the moral life of Israel (Ex. 20). 2. CIVIL: The judgments were given to govern the individual Israelite in his dealings with others (Ex. 21). 3. CEREMONIAL: Provisions were formulated by which an atonement for sins could be made (Lev. 16). The Law, or the Mosaic Covenant, was conditional. Those who were placed under it were responsible for keeping all of the Commandments. There were 638 commandments that Israel was expected to keep (see Lev and Deut). Israel would receive the blessings of God when Israel obeyed His voice (Ex. 19:3-7). Note Exod 31:14-16 (who was this commandment applicable to?), Numbers 15:32-36, Mt 12:1-8, Col 2:16 (what about this one?) MAJOR EVENTS (OR CHARACTERISTICS) OF THIS DISPENSATION: Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years due to their disobedience. It is here that we learn of their comfort in Egypt and their lack of trust in God (Exod 16:2-3, 17:2-3, 32:1, etc). It should have taken them less than a month to reach their destination!!! Moses was given the blueprint for the tabernacle, the Aaronic priest-hood and mode of worship of the congregation (Exod 25:8-31:17) Once in the land, Solomon built the more permanent temple (1 Kings 6) which was destroyed (2 Chron 36:19-20) and then rebuilt in Ezra and Nehemiah's time and which was extended about the time of the birth of the Messiah. This temple was also destroyed in 70 AD (prophesied by Christ in Mt 24:2) and will be rebuilt very soon (When God takes up where He left off with the house of Israel). (See notes on Dispensation of Grace and the Church). Note the recurring verses throughout the bible, God's desire for a people: Gen 17:8, Exod 29:45-46, Jer 24:7, 31:33, 32:38, Ezek 11:20, 14:11, 34:30, 37:23, 27, Zech 8:8, 2 Cor 6:16, Rev 21:3. This people was Israel (2 Sam 7:23), is currently us (2 Cor 6:16) but will again be Israel during the Kingdom though we too will in a future day be trophies of His grace (Ephes 2:7). Israel despised Theocracy and desired a king like the other nations (1 Sam 8:19) God promised that David's kingdom would be everlasting and that his seed would build Him (God) a house (2 Sam 7:5-16) This kingdom's everlasting king will be the Lord Jesus Christ in the Kingdom Dispensation once God takes up His people Israel again. (From the time of David, Israel expected The King Of The Jews!). The history of the kingdoms is seen in the vision interpreted by Daniel in Daniel 2. The dispensation was also characterised by many judges (Judges), many kings (few good, many evil) (1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chron), several notable miracles, many prophets see Mt 21:33-44). God's appearances to man and His miraculous signs grew fewer and fewer until there was about 400 years of utter silence, no voice of God, no prophets, no signs until the arrival of the promised Messiah! (Note last verse of Malachi!) The seed comes (Mt 2:1-2), note the expectation of the wise men and Jerusalem. It was not joyous as the carols say but uneasy, Herod wanted all boys under 2 to be killed, (Satan's attempt to eliminate the seed once again! Mt 2:16-18, compare with Exod 1:16, proof that Satan is not omnipotent because he got it wrong both times. The Messiah was not to come through Moses who was a descendant of Levi but through Judah and, he failed to locate and kill the right child in Herod's day as well. Even when he did get Him crucified, God raised Him from the dead with power! Romans 1:3-4.) The Gospel of the Kingdom (Mt 3:2, 4:17, 4:23, 9:35, 10:7, 24:14, Mt 10:5-6) is preached to the lost sheep of Israel (as opposed to the Gospel of Paul 1 Cor 15:3-4, Rom 2:16, 16:25, 2 Tim 2:8) preached to all. The King of the Jews is despised and rejected (Mt 11:21-24, Mt 21:43, 22:41-46, Mk 15:13, Isa 53:1-5) The Jews were given one last opportunity to repent nationally but they did not! They stoned Stephen after his convicting message cut them to the heart! (Acts 7:54-60) God's dealing with the House of Israel was put on hold temporarily (Romans 11, Zech 10:6, Mt 21:43-44 etc) MAN'S FAILURE: Idol Worship (Ex. 32:1-.6, Judges 3:7, 8:33, 1 Kings 9:9, 2 Kings 17:9, 16, Jer 22:9, 1 Cor 10:7). Unbelief (Num. 13:26-33). Murmuring (Num. 16: 1-8, 1 Cor 10:10). Fornication (Num. 25:1--3, 1 Cor 10:8). Rejection of Messiah (John 19:15,16). Also see Jer. 31:31-32, Jer 17:9, Isa 1:1-18, Isa 29:13, ... Neh 9:6-31, Romans 3:10, 3:20-23, Jas 2:10 etc. JUDGEMENT: This dispensation had several judgments which include: The Assyrian Captivity (2 Kings 17:4-6; 15-18). The Babylonian Captivity (2 Chron. 36:11-21). The temporal setting aside of Israel in unbelief after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60, 28:27-29, Romans 11 predicted in Mt 21:43-44) The Crucifixion of the King of the Jews, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the promised seed (Gen 3:15) which was threatened by Satan's plans but never in danger by God's overruling. The Lord Jesus Christ was judged on behalf of the world, fulfilling the law (Mt 5:17, John 3:16, Romans 3:23-25, 6:23, Heb 10:9-14, 1 John 2:2, ...). GRACE AND SALVATION: By the shedding of the blood of the lamb of God, atonement was made for the sin of all mankind and provision was made for whosoever believeth (John 3:16, Rom 10:9-13, Heb 10:9-14, ...) to be saved! WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS DISPENSATIN?: In innocence we wanted the knowledge of good and evil, in conscience we wanted rules and human government, in human government we wanted promises, in promises we wanted black and white definition, but even with the law so carefully defined, we failed. We need a Saviour! When they were able to commune directly with God in tangible person, when they heard His voice, felt His presence, saw His miraculous wonders, carried with them His presence in a physical tabernacle, were physically fed, given water, clothed, rescued from their enemies, fully provided for and given prophet after prophet after prophet to confirm His word and remind them of all He had previously done for them, they did not accept His final Word to mankind, the Messiah (Heb 1:1-2, 2:1-2)! These things were written for our instruction (1 Cor 10:11). It is clear from scripture that we cannot say that if only God did this or if only God performed a miracle or if only God spoke audibly that we would live better lives, that our loved ones would be saved or that our assembly's spiritual growth would increase. God's dealings with man in previous dispensations clearly demonstrates that this kind of reasoning is false. We have also seen that contrary to popular teaching, the Lord Jesus Christ, the promised seed, was to be the King of the Jews before the Church was even revealed to man. He is never called King of the Church but the Head of the Church. We learn that God's covenant with the Jews was always conditional. What is the Christian's relationship with Him? Is it conditional? (See notes on The Dispensation of Grace for the answer.) _______________________________________________________ 4) <FROM-THE-GLEANER> A-GLANCE-AT-THE-TOP-STORIES-OF-THE-WEEK Ben BUSH SPEECH TO FOCUS ON IRAQ: President Bush will tell Americans in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that Saddam Hussein possesses "massive piles of weapons of mass destruction," but has not decided what to say about providing more time for U.N. weapons inspectors to look for those arms in Iraq. THE MESSAGE FROM THE BUSH CAMP: "ITS WAR WITHIN WEEKS": President George Bush is determined to go to war with Saddam Hussein in the next few weeks, without UN backing if necessary, according to authoritative sources in Washington and London. The US president is "to turn up the heat" in his state of the union address on Tuesday. SADDAM SON WARNS U.S. OF LOSSES: President Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday has warned the United States of huge losses and a calamity worse than the September 11 attacks if it goes ahead with plans to invade Iraq. IRAQ FORCES MASSIVE U.S. MISSILE BARRAGE: They're calling it "A-Day," A as in air strikes so devastating they would leave Saddam's soldiers unable or unwilling to fight. DON'T WAVER, BUSH WARNS FRANCE AND GERMANY: President George W Bush made clear his growing exasperation with wavering allies last night, warning countries such as France and Germany that they would be "held to account" if they did not back tough action to disarm Saddam Hussein. AUSTRALIAN TROOPS HEAD TO MIDDLE EAST: An Australian navy transport ship carrying 350 sailors and troops steamed out of Sydney Harbour on Thursday toward the Persian Gulf and a possible military conflict with Iraq. GERMANY RULES OUT IRAQ WAR SUPPORT: Germany has declared that it will not back war against Iraq, adding its concerns to the mounting reservations about military action within the United Nations Security Council. VIOLENCE SURGES DAYS BEFORE ISRAELI ELECTION: Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians and unleashed air strikes on Friday after militants killed three soldiers in a surge of bloodshed four days before Israel's general election. TORAH FLIES ABROAD SPACE SHUTTLE: Israel's first astronaut held up a tiny Torah scroll aboard space shuttle Columbia on Tuesday, fulfilling a promise made by a Holocaust survivor 59 years ago. FRANCE AND GERMANY DREAM OF EU EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD: The European Union would have its own diplomatic corps with embassies throughout the world under new plans to strengthen its international image. POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE ROCKS MEXICO, 19 DEAD: A powerful earthquake struck central and western Mexico on Tuesday night, killing at least 19 people on the Pacific coast and sending panicked residents rushing into the streets in tears. WHAT ABOUT THOSE END TIMES, MR. PRESIDENT?: The image is jarring: U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, presidential candidate, appears on an infomercial asking evangelical Christians to donate money to "rescue a Jew." VATICAN SAYS POLITICIANS SHOULD OPPOSE ABORTION: The Vatican issued guidelines for Roman Catholic politicians Thursday that underlined the church's unyielding opposition to abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriages and told Catholics not to promote laws in favor of those practices. ---------------------------<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