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	<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY>
	14 February 2003

Today's Bible verse:
"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (1 Thes 5:24)

1) <Devotional> "Does prayer change things?"- Teressa Vowell

2) <Bible-Study> "Letters to the 7 churches in Asia" (Pt-18) - C. E.Wigg

3) <Exhortation> "Clothing - How Should I Dress?" (Pt-4/4) – James R. Martin

"DOES PRAYER CHANGE THINGS?"

They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change anything?

Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances? No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events.

Does prayer change your financial future? No, not always, but it does change who you look to for meeting your daily needs.

Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies? No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and comfort.

Does prayer change your wants and desires? No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires!

Does prayer change how you view the world? No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world through.

Does prayer change your regrets from the past? No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future!

Does prayer change the people around you? No, not always, but it will change you - the problem isn't always in others.

Does prayer change your life in ways you can't explain? Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out!

So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING? Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING!.

2) <BIBLE-STUDY>

"THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA" - (PART 18)

Before this happened, those that God had given the gift of teaching ability, began to move about (mostly on foot) the European countries to spread the truths that had meant so much to them. However in doing so, they discovered that believers in other countries were doing the same as they had been led to do. This showed that it was not a mere human movement, but a sovereign and simultaneous movement of the Holy Spirit of God. They then did not set up another denomination, or system, but just had fellowship together, in the things that were most precious to them.

As time went on, these believers began to be exercised about the lost souls in other lands. Some felt called by God to go to the country of His choice, and to take the message of the Gospel. These brothers and sisters did not form any missionary society, nor did they organize any body to support them, pay them or supply their needs. They simply followed the example set for us by the Apostle Paul and those with him, as is recorded in Acts chapter 13.

These faithful believers faced much hardship, and suffered much opposition from the local people where God sent them. As an example in Andhra Pradesh in India, a country that I know well, having been labouring there over the past 26 years. At a place called Parlekol, the pioneer missionaries, Messrs. Beer and Bowden, were stoned by the people of that town, and had to run away to save their lives. But today there are hundreds of New Testament Assemblies in that whole area. I have personally been to some of them. In the sub continent of India itself, it is believed that there are more than 2,000 such Assemblies, and their number increases each month, (in spite of much persecution). All this has been accomplished by the mighty God; through those despised 'brethren'!

Some of the strong points that characterized this worldwide revival were the realization of the importance of the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper. That is in the simple way that He instituted it, without the superstitions and mysticism that the denominations had clothed it with. At the meeting for that purpose, appointing no one to preside, giving that honour to the Holy Spirit alone. The importance of recognizing the gifts that the Holy Spirit sets in the local body of the Church, and allowing these gifts to function under the Holy Spirit's control, and direction. The rejection of the idea of a presiding Clergyman or Pastor; this being a grief to the Holy Spirit.

The return to the New Testament practice, of the government or rule in the local Assembly, being entrusted to the hands of a plurality of qualified male elders. The revival of the hopes of the Church. That is in the pre-tribulation return of the Lord Jesus to take her home to glory. Many other forgotten truths were re-discovered in the Holy Scriptures.

[Reproduced by permission]

3) <EXHORTATION>

CLOTHING (PART-4 OF 4)

The Bible clearly tells us, "Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discretely, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by means of good works" (1 Tim 2:9f). Although addressed to women, certainly these verses may be applied to men as well. These verses tell us at least three things about our clothing.

Our dress should be modest and moral. This is particularly appropriate in our "liberated" society. Decency in dress is expected (e.g. Lk 8:35), but that is for the people around us, not for God.

Our dress should be humble, simple and unpretentious. These verses certainly teach that our clothing should not be expensive, ostentatious or flashy. We are at a church meeting, not a fashion show. The goal is not to draw attention to ourselves. Dressing-up for meetings frequently ensures that the attention and eyes of others are on us rather than on the LORD.

Our real adornment should be Christ-like character. Rather than giving us a lot of commands for what physical clothing to wear, the New Testament instead instructs us to "put on the new man" (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10), "put on the whole armour of God" (Eph 6:11), "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ... and beyond all these things, put on love" (Col 3:12,14). See also Rom 13:12; Gal 3:27; 1 Th 5:8; 1 Pe 5:5; Rev 3:4-5. Even in glory, our adornment will not be fancy material clothing, but "the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev 19:8).

So 1 Tim 2:9-10 (and 1 Pe 3:3-5) teaches that we should adorn ourselves with our character, not our clothing. Are we to believe that God commands us not to try to impress each other with our clothing, but expects us to try to impress Him with it? Are we to believe that we are to be concerned with the inward, but God is concerned with the outward? Isn't this the opposite of 1 Samuel 16:7?

Regrettably there are those who are causing contention, bitterness and division among God's people by pushing a belief that has no biblical support. Insisting that we dress-up for meetings may be how they were raised; it may appeal to some human reason; it may be what the world expects; it is not the word of God. The Bible does not teach that we should dress-up for meetings. It teaches that our clothing should be humble and modest. Beyond that, the Lord desires us to adorn ourselves with Christ-likeness. Being dressed in the righteousness He gives is how we are saved, and being dressed in His character is how we daily bring honour to Him.

[Reproduced by permission - Actual quotations are from the New American Standard Version. The Lockman Foundation.]

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