-------------------------<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> <28 January 2003> Contents: ------------ 1) <Devotion> "A worthy goal" - Jill Carattini 2) <Bible-Study> "The letters to the 7 curches in Asia" (Pt-3)- C.E.Wigg 3) <Prophecy> "Outline of Prophetic events" - (Pt-8) - B.Anstey 4) <Poem> "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord" - L.M.I.Watts 1) <DEVOTIONAL><SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "A worthy goal" Jill Caratiini John Wesley once looked his mother in the eye and asked a massive question. "Mother," he said, "can you give me a definition for sin?" That brilliant woman who raised two giants in the faith-John, the preacher, and Charles, the great hymnist-said this: "Son, whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things. In short, if anything increases the authority and the power of the flesh over the spirit, that to you becomes sin however good it is in and of itself." Few theologians have said it better than that! But in a world that vehemently rejects the depravity of humankind, and much less desires a definition for the word sin-a word deemed prehistoric and intolerant-what can we glean from this perspicacious statement? Volumes. The thought I suggest is simple. No successful corporate entity exists for long without a mission statement-a final goal by which all distractions are judged and removed. Mrs. Wesley defined sin as anything that distracts you from that ultimate mission. In our attention deficit disordered culture, distractions abound. But you will never understand what a distraction is until you clearly enunciate your final goal. Have you defined that goal for your life? Boris Becker was interviewed after his second Wimbledon victory. In the glory of accomplishing that goal many dream of, Boris was asked a simple question. "What is your greatest challenge in life?" He answered quickly. His greatest challenge, he said, was to keep from committing suicide. My dear friend, choose your goals carefully. If when you accomplish your goals, you find your life still lacking, it may have been a worthy goal, but it was not a goal worthy of defining your life's purpose. It was not meant to be your final goal. A news reporter once asked Deion Sanders why he chose to become a Christian. Deion responded, "It happened the night we won the Super Bowl. I just finished ordering my Lamborghini and I lay there in bed thinking every goal I had ever attempted had now been reached. Yet I was emptier than ever before. That was the night I got on my knees. Only God is big enough to fill this heart of mine." When your mission statement in life is a relationship with God, you will find there is no greater purpose, nothing that gives your life more significance. Then to His glory you will say of your goals: I can accomplish all things through Christ who strengthens me. --- © 2000 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries _______________________________________________________________________ 2) <BIBLE-STUDY> "THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA" - (PART-3) Charles E. Wigg .... PROPHECY Verse three of chapter one, clearly states that there is a promised blessing to the person that reads the book, and hears the words of the prophecy contained in it; and keeps the things written therein. This confirms our belief that in the whole book, there are prophetic statements and gives us warrant to seek to interpret the letters to the seven Churches in Asia, in the way that we do. There is a clear division in the book at the end of chapter three. Because chapter four begins with the voice of God, offering to show John, "the things that must be hereafter". Therefore we may rightly assume that the first three chapters refer to the "things that are", (1:19). The "things which thou hast seen", refer to John's vision of the Lord Jesus personally, dressed in judicial garb, with His affections restrained, standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Peter tells us that "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation". Or as Mr. Darby translates that passage, "the scope of no prophecy is had from its own particular interpretation". It is plain from scripture that often prophecies are not fulfilled by one event alone. For example the prophecy of Joel was not completely fulfilled by the events of Pentecost. Because at that time God's Spirit was not poured out upon "All flesh" and the evidence of this was the presence of scoffers. It will be finally fulfilled when the Lord Jesus comes in His glory to reign over the earth. This gives us license to apply the prophecies as to the seven Churches in the way that we do. As we interpret these letters to the seven Churches in Asia, it is necessary to keep in mind the historical setting in which they are placed. These seven Churches were the product of the working of the Holy Spirit, but especially through the ministry of the Apostle Paul. His visits to some of these places are recorded for us in the book of the Acts. But not all of his visits to each place are recorded, and perhaps one of the reasons for this was the fact that Luke the beloved physician and historian was not with Paul at that time, having been left with Timothy at Philipi. [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission] _______________________________________________________________________ 3) <PROPHECY> "OUTLINE OF PROPHETIC EVENTS" (PART-8) B. Anstey .... PROVIDENTIAL JUDGEMENTS The Lord's first dealings with the earth in the tribulation period will be providential in character. [i.e. earthquakes, famines, pestilence etc.] These dealings are called "seal" judgments. (Rev. 6:1-17, Mt. 24:6-7)Not long after the Jews have returned to the land of Israel, conditions in the Middle East, western Europe, and probably America [known as the prophetic earth] will turn to unrest. Strife will arise in every aspect of life. Violence and bloodshed will abound. Civil peace will be taken from the earth. (Rev. 6:3-4 - 2nd seal) Wars and rumors of wars will be in the air. (Mt. 24:6-7) As things progress during the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation, agriculture will begin to fail and widespread famine will follow. Grief and sorrow will be multiplied. (Rev. 6:5-6 - 3rd seal, Mt. 24:7) The wealthy upper class ["the oil and the wine"] will not be affected initially by the dearth. Many of these will be Jews who have amassed great riches to themselves. The labouring classes however, will suffer severely. (Rev. 6:6) Pestilence [disease] will sweep over western Europe ["fourth part of the earth"]. Death through these pestilences will follow. (Rev. 6:7-8 - 4th seal, Mt. 24:7) As the scene on earth continues to darken, the corrupt religious system of Rome with her totalitarian rule over the newly united nations of western Europe, will begin to martyr the Jewish witnesses that have been preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Rome will see these witnesses as revolutionists who are trying to undermine its control of the newly formed empire, by propagating doctrines of another government or power that will overthrow it. [As we mentioned earlier, the Gospel of the Kingdom that these witnesses will preach is the tidings of the coming of the Messiah of Israel to put down every dominion, power and nation; and to establish His throne of universal government in Zion - Jerusalem, where He will rule over the world.] As a result of Rome's anger many of these godly Jewish witnesses will be put to death for the Word of God and the testimony they will hold. (Rev. 6:9-11 - 5th seal, Mt. 24:9, 1 Kings 19:1-3*) SATAN CAST TO THE EARTH As things near the middle of Daniel's seventieth week there will be war in heaven. Michael [the archangel] and his angels will overcome Satan and his angels casting them out of heaven onto the earth. (Rev. 12:7-12) The heavens will rejoice when Satan is cast out. They will be cleansed of the presence of evil. From this time forward Satan's sphere of operation will be restricted to the earth. (Rev. 12:12, Compare Job 15:15, Eph. 2:2, 6:12) Being cast out of heaven, Satan will concentrate his energy in an all out attempt to lead the world after himself and away from God. He will first cause a great convulsion in the western part of the earth. He will enter the political arena causing a general upheaval. There will be a collapse of the whole order of civil and governmental authority in the west. The government under the leadership of "the great whore" [the false church] will become chaotic. Disorder and anarchy will result. (Rev. 6:12-17 - 6th seal) This will strike terror in the hearts of the earth-dwellers as they see the breaking up of the establishment [i.e. the government offices, businesses, organizations etc.]. There will be "distress of nations with perplexity, and men's hearts failing them for fear," as they sense the rumblings of judgment to come. (Rev. 6:15-17, Lk. 21:25-26) [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission] _______________________________________________________________________ 4) <POETRY> "MY HEART REJOICETH IN THE LORD" 1 SAM 2:1 L.M. I. WATTS Lord, what a heaven of saving grace Shines through the beauties of thy face, And lights our passions to a flame! Lord, how we love thy charming name! When I can say, "My God is mine," When I can feel thy glories shine, I tread the world beneath my feet, And all that earth calls good or great. While such a scene of sacred joys Our raptured eyes and soul employs, Here we could sit and gaze away, A long, an everlasting day. Well, we shall quickly pass the night To the fair coasts of perfect light; Then shall our joyful senses rove O'er the dear Object of our love. [There shall we drink full draughts of bliss, And pluck new life from heavenly trees; Yet now and then, dear Lord, bestow A drop of heaven on worms below.] [Send comforts down from thy right hand, While we pass through this barren land, And in thy temple let us see A glimpse of love, a glimpse of thee.] ---------------------------<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