Living Word July 2014

These three remain: faith, hope and love.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)

I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved.

John 10:9 www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk

In this month’s issue: 4.

When Weakness Is Dynamite

Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)

5.

Unveiled Faces

Kenn Legg (Australia)

6.

First Love Discipleship Series – Ephesians

Dr. Tony Keys (Australia)

7..

Revelation 17 - The Fall of Babylon

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

10.

The Valley of Brokenness

Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

12.

Neither Angels nor Principalities (Part 2)

Reinhard Bonnke (CfaN)

14.

Faith-builders Bible Study Mark 10

Derek Williams (UK)

17.

In Depth Study – 1 Corinthians 16

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

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Faithbuilders Bible Study Guide – Mark

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When Weakness Is Dynamite An extract from “Royal Insignia” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey BUY ON KINDLE! £3.86 Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers.

Out of weakness were made strong (Heb. 11:34).

Image © Mark Winder

W. B. Godbey, an old-time revivalist and an excellent Greek scholar, was much used of God in his travels, and his constant petition to Conference was that he would be sent to the hardest and most difficult field of labor. He shares with us a secret he had learned from communion with the Almighty: “I am an old revivalist.

We always had to have a repetition of Gethsemane and Calvary before we could reach the triumphant resurrection and the glorious ascension. On arrival, finding all elated over the new evangelist and shouting over the revival in sight, I knew that we had to get rid of great carloads of human lumber and trash before we could see the glory of God. Soon my plain, hard, rough preaching and earnest crying to God would disgust them, so all their hopes would evanesce, and giving up all expectation of a revival, they would be very sorry they had called me, feeling it was the mistake of their lives.

because they were all disgusted with me. When we reached that significant crisis, a shout always began in the deep interior of my heart, because I knew victory was at hand. I never knew a failure when all human resources and hopes evanesced away. When we reached the place of nothing but insults, destitution, weakness, persecution, and tight places for Christ’s sake, then the dynamite came and blew down the walls of Jericho, burst the devil’s kingdom, revealed the glory of God and the victories of Christ on all sides to the unutterable surprise of everybody.

“Then came the salient point of the campaign. Frequently at that epoch they would run me off, of course defeating the enterprise outright.

When they bore with me in utter desperation, all blue as indigo, feeling that it was infinitely worse than a failure, they all got out of the way and I was out of the way,

“In many cases when they all so fell out with me that I had no home, but stood for days and weeks alone with Jesus, preaching the truth fearless of men and devils, unearthing all the hidden things of darkness, exposing all Satan’s refuges of lies, cutting every cable with the sword of the Spirit, after the power came and the tide swept over everything, they almost pulled me to pieces to take me to their home. “Depend upon it as a maxim, never letting it slip: ‘When I am without strength then am I dynamite.’ Our resources, power, and hope must evacuate the field before omnipotent grace can glorify God. Poor humanity must get out 4

of the way before the power and glory of God can be revealed. The reason why we don’t have revivals everywhere after the Pentecostal style is because we have too much power, too many resources, and too much encouragement. You will never see the glory of God till all this gets out of the way. “‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, in order that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us’ (2 Cor. 4:7). All the splendor, pomp, pageantry, gold, silver, and adornment appertaining to the priesthood, tabernacle, and temple of the former dispensation had been entirely eliminated, not a vestige surviving. Hence the folly and impertinency of filling the world with it during the Gospel ages. It was all symbolic in its day and passed away with all the types and shadows superseded by the glorious Antitype.

Hence the Gospel ministry is all in the valley of humiliation. . . . Whenever we bring in human power, learning, wealth, and influence, we thereby put a veil over the popular mind, disqualifying them to see the Invisible One. . . .

“In every subsequent age, when human power, wealth, and culture come to the front, we see the Holy Spirit retreat away, leaving them to run their own machinery, and, pursuant to first principles, picking up others—poor, weak, and uninfluential—from the low places of the earth, and sending them out, the custodians of this invaluable Heavenly treasure. God is not going to change His Gospel economy to suit any of us, giving His glory to another. The humiliation of the Gospel is here exemplified by the Apostles themselves, down at the very bottom of society, the contempt of the world’s elite.”

The Surpassing Glory Of The New Covenant

Unveiled Faces: Grace Roots

by Ken Legg Order your copy online PDF AUS $9 Print AUS $19 At one of my Radical Grace seminars I was teaching on what it means to live in the glory of the new covenant and someone asked me, “What about the Old Testament? Should we not read the Old Testament anymore?”

That’s a good question. First, let’s be clear that we are living in the era of the new covenant. The old covenant has passed away and has become obsolete. Sadly, some Christians are still trying to relate to God on the basis of a covenant which no longer exists. And others attempt to mix covenants, or have one foot in each. If we place ourselves under the old covenant we will experience an ongoing struggle in our Christian lives.

Under the old covenant, God gave a law and promised to bless Israel as long as they obeyed its commandments.

It was a conditional covenant, and because of this it became a broken covenant. It is now null and void.

The new covenant was made between the Father and the Son. Jesus has fulfilled it in its entirety and, because we are in Christ, we are now reaping the blessings of His obedience. That’s grace. Our response to grace is faith. We believe in His finished work and are qualified for every good thing. This is how God wants us to live.

The old covenant had a glory, and this is seen when Moses received the law. His face shone so brightly that he had to wear a veil to cover his face. This represents the glory of the old covenant. Its glory is that it brought to us the knowledge of God’s holiness and our sin. Through the law people would be conscious of their need of a Saviour. The new covenant has a glory that surpasses that of the old covenant, and brings a fuller revelation of God’s character. “The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn.1:17).

If Moses’ face shone so brightly that people could not look upon it, and yet the covenant he brought ministered condemnation, how much more glorious will the new covenant that brings righteousness be? If there was glory in that which brought death, how much more glory is there in that which ministers righteousness and life?

What About The Old Testament?

But that brings us back to the question of the place that the Old Testament occupies in the life of a Christian. First, we need to understand that the Old Testament is the only Bible that the early Christians had. And yet they taught Christ from those Scriptures. Read the sermons that were preached in the book of Acts, especially to the Jews. You will discover that they all quote the Old Testament, and they were all about Jesus. That’s the key.

The Pharisees knew the Old Testament better than anyone. The problem is that they knew what it said, but not what it meant. Jesus said to them, “You search the 5

Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). All their Bible knowledge never brought them to Jesus. They rejected Him and ended up crucifying Him. The Veil Is Taken Away In Christ In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul contrasts the two covenants and points out that a veil was over the minds of the Jews, and still is, each time they read the Old Testament. The veil is only taken away when one sees that Christ is the central message of the Scriptures.

This is what Paul said: “But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Cor.3:14-16 – emphasis mine).

This applies to the New Testament also. If we fail to see that Christ is the main theme there will be a veil over our minds. Do you know someone who tends to be legalistic? Most likely they are reading the Bible with a veil over their eyes. Their minds are blinded to the true meaning of God’s Word.

But whenever one turns to the Lord, i.e. sees that God’s message is the finished work of Jesus, the veil is taken away.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor.3:18).

This Month’s Featured Resource: First Love Discipleship Series Ephesians

By Dr. Tony Keys. Available now for £8.80 from Amazon.co.uk Ephesians – The Believer’s Riches in Christ! (1:7-8) V.7-8 Paul in these verses shows us the full gravity and the cost of our redemption. To Paul, there are three underlining factors we must consider: firstly, our deliverance; secondly, our forgiveness and, thirdly, that we have received wisdom and prudence.

Then joy fills Paul’s heart as he recalls that we were liberated by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Paul says, “through His Blood”. It seems for a moment that Paul’s thoughts move from the joy of the experience back to the cost of the experience. No doubt his mind would reflect upon the Old Testament sacrifices that were supposed to set aside sin by the shedding of blood. Yet, in the conscience of man, there could be no such accomplishment until Christ came. He came, and not only did He set aside sin, but He defeated it and released man from its bondage.

1.1 Redemption Paul begins with our ‘redemption’, which in the Greek is ‘apolutrosis’, which means ‘to ransom’.

It is a word used for ransoming a man who is a prisoner of war or a slave. It is a word used of delivering a person from a situation from which they are powerless to liberate themselves or from a

penalty that they could never afford to pay.

understanding and infinitely beyond any earthly wealth.

Today we hear much of hostages being held in the Middle East for a large sum of money and, if that amount is not met, then they face death. One can only imagine the sense of their own powerlessness, the despair that must fill their lives as the enormity of this situation closes in on them every day as they think upon the cost of their redemption, not only in finances but also in world events, as nation jostles against nation. Here we see Paul’s mind thinking back to the time when he, and we, were once captives of Satan and of the overwhelming powerlessness that haunted us as we were held, not hostages, but slaves of Satan.

1.3 Wisdom and Prudence

1.2 Forgiveness The people of the ancient world, not only Jews but Gentiles too, were haunted by the sense of unforgiven sin and its punishment.

In ancient plays, once a man had done evil, Nemesis was hot on his heels to punish him. In mythology, Nemesis was the Greek goddess of divine retribution -her name meaning ‘to give what is due’. Our modern playwrites, such as Shakespeare in Richard the Third, portray thoughts of our inability to escape our consciousness of unforgiven sin. Yet, Paul sees this all changed because of Christ’s “forgiveness” towards us. To Paul, forgiveness is freedom. The Greek word for ‘forgiveness’ as used here is ‘aphesis’, which literally means ‘the loosing of a person from that which binds him’. The forgiveness of Christ releases us from the sin that binds us.

This has been accomplished through the richness of God’s grace which is beyond our

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The word “prudence” is translated as ‘sound sense’ in more modern Bibles. The Greeks said that if a man had “wisdom” and prudence (sound sense), he was perfectly equipped for life. To the Greeks, ‘sophia’, here translated to ‘wisdom’, was the answer to the eternal problems of life, death, God, man, time and eternity. Paul proclaims that Jesus has brought us into all wisdom and, because of this, He has answered all the eternal problems of life, death, God, man, time and eternity, for He is in fact all wisdom.

Did not Jesus say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”? ‘Prudence’ in the Greek is ‘phronesis’, or ‘soundsense’, and means the same today as it did then: ‘the ability to solve practical problems of life’. Yet the Greeks knew that it was impossible to accomplish this because of the haunting problem of the lack of ‘sophia’, or ‘wisdom’.

Paul shows us here that because Christ brought us into wisdom, the eternal problem of life is answered, and we are able to have prudence, sound sense to handle life’s problems. To Paul, Christianity has brought a perfect balance in life, the answer to life, which gives us confidence to live life.

Dr. Tony Keys is a prolific author with degrees in biblical/theology, education and leadership/ management.

Revelation 17 The Fall of Babylon The Mother of Harlots

In the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Revelation, John sees a vision of the destruction of all that is opposed to God; which comes as a judgement from God on the spirit of rebellion in the hearts of men, and on all its manifestations. In this chapter, we see its manifestation in terms of religious observance, whilst in chapter 18 we see its political and commercial manifestation. Throughout church history, true believers have been persecuted by those who opposed them with a religious agenda. For example, it was the scribes and Pharisees who plotted to crucify our Lord, and who persecuted Peter, John and the other apostles. It was his religious zeal that led Saul of Tarsus, later the apostle Paul, to make havoc of the church, casting men and women into prison and causing them to be put to death.

Later, it was a religious jealousy that led the Jews of Asia to stir up trouble for Paul; and so on goes the list.

It would be impossible for us to imagine the horrors of the many Catholic inquisitions, where men, women and even children were horribly tortured and executed because they would not recant their faith in Christ. In the modern day, it is more often in Moslem lands that believers in Christ are persecuted, as well as in those countries where atheistic and communist ideology means that God is said not to exist.

These are the modern expressions of the same phenomenon of religious persecution.

Truth for Today A brief extract from our forthcoming book.

By Mathew Bartlett

There are those who believe at the end of time, all false religions will be joined together in their rebellion against God, and that the religious manifestation of Babylon, dealt with in this chapter, is, in its final

Image © Pidiyath100

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form, the so called “false church” made up of all false religions in the end times. This may well be the case, although the fact that our text united these manifestations of religious evil under one banner— The Mother of Harlots—does not necessarily imply unity between each group.

17:1-2 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. "Come," he said, "I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth's inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality."

One of the angels who had poured out one of the seven bowls of God’s wrath came to show John the judgement which God had prepared for “the great harlot, who sits on many waters.” Verse 15 informs us that the waters represent all the nations, peoples and tongues of earth. The word ‘harlot’ is often used in Scripture to denote those who reject the true God and turn to false idols (Jer. 3:6). If this harlot is, as Derek Williams suggests, the personification of idolatry then she represents all the false religious forms and practises which dominate the nations until this day. The men of earth—whether leaders or followers—submit themselves to be seduced by this spiritual adultery, which is idolatry. They are described as intoxicated, completely taken over (Jer. 51:7), for behind every idolatrous practise, demon spirits are active (1 Cor. 10:20).

17:3 So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous

names and had seven heads and ten horns.

particular woman’s name has three parts:

The angel carried John away in the spirit to a solitary place, which Tatford refers to as a spiritual wilderness. Upon his first sight of the harlot he is struck by the fact that she rides a scarlet beast who has seven heads and ten horns. This beast, since it is the embodiment of blasphemy, must be the same “beast” which rose out of the sea in chapter 13, a world-wide dominion led by Satan, and ultimately to be given into the hands of the antichristian ruler. The vision denotes that the woman dominates this empire for a time, but only until the antichrist exerts his own power.

MYSTERY - a reference to occult mysticism and the devil worship of idolatry,

17:4 Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality.

John is also struck by the great wealth of the woman, a wealth of this world’s luxuries denoting sinful pleasures and excess, for her wealth obtained by unjust means. The golden cup in her hand shows how she drinks in and thrives upon her disgusting immorality and idolatry.

17:5 On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: "Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth."

Although she might pretend herself holy, anyone with eyes to see can penetrate her disguise. It is so clear that it is written on her forehead.

Derek Williams says that Roman prostitutes used to wear labels with their names on their brows. This

BABYLON THE GREAT - which Derek Williams says is symbolically the source of all commerce, politics and religion.

MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS - she has produced all that is opposed to God and His Christ and filled the whole earth with it.

17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her.

The woman was drunken with the blood of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Her drunken state implies her demonic pleasure she takes in their suffering and death, but also signifies that “her sin was full and ready for judgement” (Derek Williams). When John saw the crimes that the woman had committed, he was filled with horror.

17:7-8 But the angel said to me, "Why are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth — all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world — will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.

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Since John had not understood the vision, the angel explains what the woman and the beast she rides on represent.

Again, the beat is connected with that seen in chapter 13. For there, the beast signified both the antichrist and his brief earthly kingdom. The antichrist will apparently die and rise again to the amazement of all who had failed to love the truth and so have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life. The rise of his kingdom— which some say will be similar to that imposed by the Romans—will also astound them. It does not astonish us, for God has forewarned us of it, and we know the end of it.

This seemingly invincible beast will be captured and thrown into the lake of fire. The only person of whom it is clearly said that he will rise from the abyss before being thrown into the Lake of Fire (perdition) is Satan. In Revelation, the kingdom of the beast and the instigator of it are seen together, for the empire is synonymous with its ruler and founder Satan.

17:9 (This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: These verses require God-given wisdom to interpret. The seven heads of the beast represent seven mountains on which the woman sits. This suggests that whilst her influence affects the world, she has a headquarters in a literal city, which many accept to be Rome, built on seven hills. Nevertheless, Derek Williams points out that a number of other cities claim seven hills, among them Jerusalem, which we have already identified as the headquarters of the antichrist.

John’s vision reveals that the

woman represents the city which rules the world. In John’s time that certainly would have been be Rome. However, at the time of the end it will be Jerusalem. Please note that the original Babylon itself was built on a plain.

17:10-11 five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction.

But these seven heads have another, dual meaning. As well as the seven hills of a city, they represent seven kingdoms or empires, five of which had already fallen. If only one is still in existence at the time of John’s writing then the Roman Empire is meant. The seventh to come after it will only endure for a short time, and is thought by many to be a revived version of the Roman Empire. The final world empire, although it rises from the seven, since it is world dominion, is Antichrist himself, who rules the world until his kingdom is cut short by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

17:12-13 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

As we have already noted in these notes, Antichrist will give his authority to ten regents who will rule each area of the earth on his behalf, to ensure his will is done.

They will each hold this office in absolute devotion to the beast, yielding themselves fully to him,

since in fact all the power these regents have will be derived directly from him. They cannot rule without him.

17:14 They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful."

As we have also seen already in these studies, the Antichrist, his regents, and the people of the world, will join together to make war against the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, at the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:19). It is there that the Lamb will return from heaven to conquer them, for He is the Lord of lords and King of kings.

With him will be all those who are called by Him, chosen and faithful to Him. 17:15-16 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

The ten horns that you saw, and the beast — these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire.

But before that final battle, as part of his aim to rule the world, the beast will influence his regents to destroy the power of the world religion represented by the harlot.

They will wipe out all trace of it taking her wealth, killing her priests, and destroying her temples. By ridding the earth of all other “religion”, they pave the way for the direct Satan worship which will be introduced and enforced by the beast and his false prophet.

17:17 For God has put into their minds to carry out his purpose by

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making a decision to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.

Whatever the purposes of Satan on the earth might be, this verse is a timely reminder that actually all things are in God’s almighty hands, and in his sovereign will. He has given the nations of the world over to follow their own evil hearts but only until the time comes for the fulfilling of his word in judgement.

We have already seen why this is.

God gives them up, who harden their hearts against him, that they might face the consequences of their actions.

Conclusion With this in mind let us conclude with a reminder of what John has begun to be shown - he is only shown the great whore, that he might be shown her judgement.

Since John had seen the end of all false religion and all that is opposed to God, no wonder he wrote to young Christians saying keep away from idols (1 John 5:21). He could have said, as Paul did, keep away from all that is evil (1 Thess. 5:22).

God calls his people to withdraw and be separate from all that are opposed to God in the world.

Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?...Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? (From 2Co 6:14-18) That is why the warning comes ringing in chapter 18: ‘Come out of her my people lest you share in her plagues’.

A Bible Study by Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Photo: © Ellah By kind permission of CfaN, an extract from Daniel’s new book- Live before you die. £9.99 BUY NOW.

Years ago I had a vision in which I saw a dam. On one side was a mighty river, but on the other side was dry, cracked earth. I understood that the river represented the glory of God and the dry ground represented the world. I knew intuitively that the river was supposed to flood the dry ground, as the Scriptures say, “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). But the dam’s mighty wall seemed impenetrable. Suddenly I saw something else.

Tiny cracks began to form in the wall, and razor sharp spurts of water were shooting out of these broken places.

Soon larger and larger chunks of the wall began to fall away until water was pouring in from all sides. Suddenly in one moment the entire wall was swept away, and the river flooded the dry ground, leaving no place untouched.

I knew instinctively that those cracks in the wall represented “broken” men and women. They are those who have surrendered their lives to God, praying with Jesus, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”

Suddenly I knew how the glory of the Lord would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. In fact, it is through these people that, even now, the

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kingdom of God is invading the fallen world.

God’s eternal glory will penetrate the natural world through broken men and women. And when the kingdom of God comes into contact with the fallen world, we begin to see heavenly effects: the sick are healed, the dead are raised, bondages are broken, and the supernatural begins to happen.

This is exactly what Jesus demonstrated when He was on earth. “Not my will, but thine, be done” was not just a prayer Jesus prayed one time before His crucifixion.

This was the unvarying posture of His heart. He was always

living and walking in perfect submission to the will of God. Everywhere Jesus went, He taught about the kingdom, but

He didn’t just talk about it, He demonstrated it!

First, the kingdom was inside of Him because He was perfectly submitted to His Father’s will.

And consequently the kingdom was manifest wherever He went: the sick were healed, the dead were raised, and demons fled.

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” was not Jesus’s hopeful musing for an imaginary utopia.

Jesus fulfilled His own prayer and showed us how it will be answered. Through Jesus God’s will was being done on earth as it is in heaven, and this is what God desires to do through our lives as well. But it all begins when we come to a place where our will is submitted to God’s— “Not my will, but Yours, be done.” It is in this place of submission that we will discover and fulfill God’s will for our lives.

The Greek term seek is an action word. It is ongoing and continuous.

This is important to understand because discovering God’s will for our lives is not simply a destination to be reached; it is a posture of the heart!

It is not simply a matter of choosing the right career path or marrying the right spouse. It is an ongoing stance of submission

to God’s will above our own. It is a lifelong prayer, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” As long as we live, we must continue to follow and obey. Discovering God’s will for our lives happens daily as we constantly and faithfully seek to know and to do His will.

As we travel on the journey of discovering God’s will, the narrow road cuts through a dark valley where God tests our hearts and breaks us. The breaking process is uncomfortable but very important to endure if we want to see God’s will done in our lives.

The valley of brokenness is where we learn to say, “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”

This brokenness, while painful, releases amazing power and makes us useful to God. When a cowboy wants to harness the potential of a beautiful and powerful stallion, he sits on the horse’s back. This is very uncomfortable to the animal. It has always been its own master. It has always done what it wanted to do. And when the cowboy begins to exert his will over the horse, a desperate struggle ensues.

The horse begins to kick and thrash and buck in an attempt to throw the cowboy off its back.

But the trainer will keep getting back on the horse and keep riding it until it stops kicking and bucking. The cowboy knows that until the horse’s will is broken, it 11

is of little use. So it is with God’s people. Until we are broken, we are of little use to God’s kingdom.

When God told Gideon he would become a mighty deliverer of Israel—and Gideon finally believed Him—the once fearful warrior may have pictured himself riding on a noble steed, commanding a legion of soldiers in glorious battle array. But God had something very different in mind. Gideon would not have a legion of warriors at his command, only a ragtag gang of three hundred roughnecks.

There were no archers, no cavalry, and no infantry. They were not outfitted with the latest battle equipment: no swords, shields, or spears.

Instead they carried curious trumpets and jars of clay. Finally the moment came for Gideon and his men to face the innumerable hordes of the Midianite army.

In obedience to God’s command they broke their jars of clay, in which were hidden fiery torches.

They blew their trumpets and began to shout. The Bible says the Midianites were thrown into confusion, and Israel won an unlikely victory. (See Judges 7.)

Paul, speaking about the power of God, says in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this allsurpassing power is from God and not from us” (NIV). Before the great power that is inside us can be unleashed, we must be broken like Gideon’s clay jars.

Part Two of a Three Part Study from Reinhard Bonnke

Neither Angels nor Principalities Image © Luca Oleastri

In my early days of mission work in Africa, what Africans heard from missionaries did not fit the mould of their thinking. The missionaries preached about God, but He was in a far distant heaven. His works were “spiritual,” but did not manifest in the natural realm. There was no evidence, no demonstration of divine power. A non-supernatural Gospel did not at all relate to the African mind-set.

Instead of adapting to African culture by applying the Bible’s teaching about the supernatural, the missionaries dismissed African experience as unreal and ignorant.

They confronted and attacked the foundation of the African worldview. To be Christian at all, converts had to think like Europeans and change to a more natural, secularized worldview. But that was impossible then, as it is impossible today. Africans could never be persuaded that the spirit world does not exist. They know it exists. To them, the spirit dimension is as real as the physical dimension.

Though Africans have enjoyed modern education at Oxford or Cambridge, they have not changed their mindset. Even at an

international football match in Kenya, one side accused the other of bewitching the goalposts. It is useless to try to persuade Africans not to believe in spirits and spells.

So the answer was not confrontation between West and East, but presentation of a true biblical perspective. Jesus offered a new answer to life’s questions – the power of the Kingdom of God. Expelling demons was the sign of His Messiahship and the hallmark of God’s Kingdom. Jesus said, “If I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20).

The Cross of Christ Defeats All Evil Africa is like the biblical world where people naturally accepted the supernatural, angels, and demons. Christ never denied the reality of the forces that oppressed multitudes. He came to bring deliverance.

My job as an evangelist is the same.

I preach the glory of the Cross of Christ and the defeat of all evil forces. Casting out enemy spirits is part of the Gospel we deliver in Africa. You cannot get rid of the devil by denying his existence. But 12

you can overcome him by the power of the Cross.

“Jesus – the name high over all, in hell or earth or sky.

Angels and men before it fall, and devils fear and fly.”

Deliverance to the Captives The people see this power demonstrated. Demons are cast out, the blind see, cripples walk, the deaf hear, and the sick are healed.

Do the witchdoctors offer a more effective remedy? Only the power of Jesus’ Gospel defeats the power of evil. That is how CfaN approaches the spiritual needs of Africa. We face every kind of evil, but we ride forward everywhere in a procession of victory. Some have even tried to put curses on me, but the curses boomeranged back to them.

“In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, demons will have to flee.

In the name Jesus, in the name of Jesus, we have the victory.”

This approach speaks to the African heart. Our God is no idle god of the past, but a God of might who bares His arm in the sight of multitudes: “The Lord will lay bare his holy arm

in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God” (Isa 52:10).

Of course there is much more to the Gospel than expelling demons, but power-signs confirm the Word.

When Africans see the Stronger Man liberate captives from the strong man, their hearts open in gratitude and faith toward Christ and the full message of salvation.

With their own eyes they see Christ overcoming the witchdoctors’ curses, and they know that Christ can save them from the curse of sin.

They surrender the witchdoctors’ paraphernalia. Then we publicly burn the fetishes, charms, and amulets. The people run to Jesus Christ as their shield and shelter, for no spirit can harm a person protected by His blood.

The Lord is a refuge, a rock, and a Saviour. The One who saves from magic spells can also save from God’s wrath. The curse of mankind was borne by Christ on the tree; liberation has come. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ – neither angels nor principalities, nor any other creature can pluck us out of His safe hands. There is a Deliverer, almighty to save to the uttermost. Jesus takes us from the dunghill, sets us among princes, and leads us to the very throne on which He sits.

Secularism is Dying Liberal missionaries reject Scripture’s plain testimony about angels and demons. They say Jesus thought as a first-century man. He was merely a child of His primitive culture.

But there is one indisputable fact.

Nobody today, no matter how extensive his or her knowledge, has

any way of proving that Jesus was wrong. “Knowledge” does not stand in the way of skeptics. Unbelief does – plain, arrogant unbelief, shared by the simpleton and the intellectual alike.

The German theologian Rudolph Bultmann said it was impossible for the 20th century people of his day – with radio sets, electric light and modern medicine – to believe in the supernatural. But I fail to see the connection between electric light and not believing in demons! How the existence of radio or television disproves the existence of the devil, I do not know!

A psychiatrist once said he had treated people for many years, and had never seen a single case of demon possession. But how would he have recognized such a case? By somebody having horns or a cloven foot? To him, demon possession would have looked like any case of mental derangement.

But now the world is changing.

Secularism is dying. The West is losing faith in science. Governments are introducing spiritual issues into their debates. For nearly one hundred years Pentecostals have run the gauntlet of unbelief in the corridors of power and been mocked for their faith in the demonstration of the Holy Spirit.

Meanwhile, the common people have responded by the tens of millions!

the reality of demon power, as well as God’s power to heal. Yes, some Charismatics took matters too far.

Demon-hunting became a hobby.

They attributed any sickness, phobia, or personal trouble to a demon. Yet, despite such excesses and extremes, the message of a Christ who sets people free had indeed arrived afresh, challenging our secularized age.

We need that kind of Gospel in the East and the West – in Germany as well as Rwanda. Demons oppress many Europeans, and older-style evangelicalism does not go deep enough to help them.

In Spain, for example, ordinary “decision” evangelism is spiritually outdated. Every village has a spiritual healer – often with clairvoyant powers, and the Catholic Church has its own kinds of wonders. The Spanish people are conditioned for something far more dynamic than a change of doctrinal emphasis.

That nation, like every nation, needs the authentic, supernatural, liberating power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Demon Power vs. God’s Power Then about 40 years ago, the Charismatic Movement began in the mainline churches.

Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists and Lutherans sought the anointing of the Spirit with signs following. They began to recognize

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This article reproduced with the kind permission of Christ for all Nations.

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Below is an extract from the study notes for Mark chapter 9.

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The ‘Faith-builders Bible study series’ has been developed a useful resource for today’s students of God’s Word and their busy lifestyles.

Mark Chapter 10 (an extract)

By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem Marriage and Divorce 10:1 Then Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan River. Again crowds gathered to him, and again, as was his custom, he taught them.

The Lord had by now completed his ministry in Galilee and moved into Judea in preparation for his entry into Jerusalem and eventual death.

Just as he did in Galilee, he taught the crowds of people who gathered to him.

10:2 Then some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’

A group of Pharisees approached Jesus with a question about the legality of divorce. These men were

experts in the law of Moses (Phil 3:5) and were trying to trap Jesus with a difficult question rather than seeking an answer. They hoped that Jesus might show a lack of moral values and compromise on Biblical ethics.

Jesus threw the ball straight back into their court by asking them what Moses had written concerning divorce.

Mark Chapter 2 (abstract)

By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem

Sometimes believers are faced with similar testing questions from sceptics. Like the Pharisees these people are not genuinely seeking for answers; they want to make Christians look foolish. Our answers to such questions should always be taken from the word of God and if we are not sure of an answer it is best to admit this rather than make an unsuccessful attempt and so appear foolish.

10:3 He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’

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10:4 They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’

Note the wording ”Moses permitted” which suggests that Moses was making a concession for a particular reason when he allowed a man to make out a certificate of divorce and send his wife away (Deut. 24:1).

10:5 But Jesus said to them, ‘He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts.

Jesus explained that the reason why this concession became necessary was the perverseness and hardness

of heart of the people towards the things of God.

10:10 In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this.

10:6-7 But from the beginning of creation he made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother,

This teaching of the Lord's disturbed the disciples. It was quite possible that most of them were married; certainly Peter was (Mark 1:30).

They had been brought up to believe that if they wanted to they could dispose of their wives.

Perhaps they felt that the words of Jesus were a threat to a privilege they thought they were entitled to.

Like the Pharisees they could not see beyond the letter of the law to the Spirit of the law (Gal. 3:3-6). So when they were with Jesus they asked him to explain the matter further.

Long before the law was given it was the plan and purpose of God to create humankind male and female (Gen. 1:27; Gen. 5:2). God ordained that a man should leave his parents and take a wife; being united to her in marriage (Gen. 2:24) for the rest of their lives (Rom. 7:2). The marriage ends at death, for there is no marriage in heaven (Matt.

22:30); except the “marriage” of the Lamb (Jesus) to his people (Rev. 19:7).

10:8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

By coming together the husband and wife cease to be separate people in the eyes of God; they become one flesh. This does not mean that they are no longer individual souls or that one or other's personality disappears, it means that they become one body with the husband as the head (1 Cor. 11:3).

10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’

Marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God; therefore the solemn charge that Jesus gives is also the answer to the Pharisees question in verse 2. When God has united two together, let no one separate or divide them. The seriousness of the wording here suggests that if anyone should try to separate them then they will fall into the hands of the living God and be punished according to his justice.

10:11-12 So he told them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’

The law said ‘you shall not commit adultery’ (Ex. 20:14), but Jesus added to this “whoever so much as looks at another woman with evil desires for her has already committed adultery” (Matt. 5:28).

Here he says that if a man divorces his wife and marries someone else then this is adultery against his first wife (the same applies vice-versa, if the wife divorces her husband and remarries). In Matthew's account of this it records that Jesus said that the only legitimate reason for divorce is fornication (Matt. 19:9) God considers marriage to be so sacred that in Ephesians 5:24-33 the relationship between Christ and his church is likened to a marriage.

Children Important to Jesus Turning from the subject of marriage and divorce, Jesus next deals with one of the results and

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purposes of marriage: children (Gen. 1:28). The other main purpose is fellowship according to Genesis 2:18.

10:13 Now people were bringing little children to him for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them.

Why did the disciples become so angry when the people brought their children to Jesus? They would have been well acquainted with Old Testament which describes God’s view of children in these words: “children are a heritage of the Lord” (Ps. 127:3); and they were allowed to be present at religious gatherings (2 Chr. 20:13).

In the New Testament, Jesus reveals that God has set angels to watch over the children (Matt. 18:10) and their praise to the Lord was received by him (Matt. 21:15).

Whatever reasons the disciples had for sending the children away their parents knew why they had brought them: that Jesus might touch them and bring the blessing of God onto their lives.

10:14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Jesus saw the attitude of his disciples and was angered by their treatment of the children. He commands the disciples to allow the children to come to him, and explains that even little children may believe and so enter the kingdom of heaven. Indeed, recent surveys suggest that the majority of people who become Christians do so before their fifteenth birthday.

10:15 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’

Only those who receive the kingdom of God in a childlike manner will be able to enter in. This requires a humbling ourselves; realising that like little children we are dependent on God for all that we have. Most importantly, God has provided the only way whereby we might be saved and enter heaven: through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

gospels reveal that this man was young, rich and a ruler. His use of the word “inherit” may indicate that he thought he could obtain eternal life in the same way that he had obtained his riches, by inheritance from his parents; or possibly he thought that he might obtain it by good works. There are many today who believe they can obtain favour from God because they have done good works, as this young man had.

But an entrance into heaven cannot be obtained in that way (Eph. 2:89).

10:16 After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.

10:18 Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

The Lord opened his arms to embrace and bless the children.

They received from him what their parents had brought them for in spite of the obstacles put in the way by the disciples.

Jesus answered the young man with a question of his own in order to direct his thoughts to the only one who is good, that is God. For if the young man were fully aware of what he is saying by addressing Jesus as “good” then he would know that he was addressing him as God.

Seeking, Finding, Losing 10:17 Now as Jesus was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

This verse (along with the verses in Matthew 19:16-21 and Luke 18:1826) tells us a lot about the person who came to Jesus. The fact that he was running reveals his eagerness to find what he was seeking for; and his earnest desire to obtain it. His kneeling before the Lord indicates his humility and his addressing Jesus as “good teacher” shows his willingness to learn; that he came to Jesus with an open heart, ready mind to receive whatever teaching the Lord would give to him.

Yet there is something strange about his question. He asks how he might “inherit” eternal life. Other

10:19-20 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' The man said to him, ‘Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.’

The Lord knew that this young man understood all the demands of the law and that he had endeavoured to keep them. Nevertheless, he had not found the assurance of eternal life which he needed (Rom. 3:20; Rom. 8:3). If he had, he would not have come to Jesus seeking for it.

10:21 As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, ‘You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have

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and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

Then come, follow me.’

As Jesus looked on this man he saw something that caused his heart to reach out in love towards him. Was it his eagerness, earnestness, or his openness toward the things of God? Whatever it was, Jesus also saw that there was something lacking in his life. Jesus knew that wealth was the most important thing to him; so he challenges him: if he really wants what he is seeking for then he must give away all that he had to the poor. In return he would have an eternal treasure in heaven (Matt.

6:19-21). A similar attitude is necessary toward anything which we put before God in our hearts.

Having disposed of his riches then the young man would be free to walk the path that Jesus would take him as his disciple.

10:22 But at this statement, the man looked sad and went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.

This young man came seeking, found the answer he was looking for and yet he chose to keep his worldly goods that would perish, instead of grasping the opportunity to receive eternal life. This is the only man who is recorded as going away from Jesus sad. The Amplified N.T. says “his countenance fell and was gloomy, and he went away grieved and sorrowing, for he was ‘holding great possessions”. He was not willing to let go. Even after we have received eternal life, the Lord will continue to show us things in our lives that we put before him. He does this so that we might be willing to let them go and receive better, spiritual and eternal things in their place.

Our In Depth Study 1 Corinthians 16

By Mathew Bartlett Photo © Jacob Gegory

Scripture taken from the NET Bible®.

This article is an extract from The Pentecostal Bible Commentary available for £7.60 at Amazon.co.uk

Offerings for the Poor 16:1-2 With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come.

The Corinthians, like many other churches at that time, had promised financial help for the poor saints of Jerusalem and Judea who were the poorest and most badly affected during the worldwide famine (Acts 14.17). Morris elaborates that although the Jews outside Palestine sent help to their fellow Jews, the Christians would not be given any such help, but were the objects of special hostility and persecution (1 Thess. 2:14). If Christians did not reach out to other Christians, no one else would. Sharing what they had was an important part of life in the early church and should still be today (Acts 2:44-45; Gal. 2:10).

How was this to be done in practice? Paul gives the same guidance he had already given to the Galatians (it should be noted that this advice is not on record in Galatians). They were not to wait till

Paul came to take up an offering.

There may be several reasons for this. Some may have thought that the money was for Paul's personal use. Others, who made a big show of giving, would want Paul to see how much they gave; whilst still others may have felt pressurized by the creation of a big occasion in order to ask them for money.

Christian giving must never be pressurized, for it is to be done in a spirit of generosity, not obligation (2 Cor. 9:7), and is to be regulated by how much one can afford to give (2 Cor. 8:12). It is an act of worship to God, and is not for men's applause (Matt. 6:1-4). Every week, each believer was to set aside however much they could afford and were willing to give, and save it up until Paul’s visit. It is generally accepted that the money was to be saved in one central treasury, like an offering box, each Sunday.

Another thing of great importance, although incidental to the verse, is that we see the habit of Paul and the other first century Christians was to hold their meetings on the first day of the week – that is, Sunday. Observance of the ‘Lord’s Day’ was not a later addition to Christian tradition. It was kept on

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this day mainly in memory of the day of Christ’s resurrection.

16:3 Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

Paul would not handle the money himself, nor appoint his own representatives. It would be proper for representatives of the church at Corinth to oversee the matter, so that they could see the full amount of their offering handed over to the Jerusalem church. These Christians were to be given letters of commendation from Paul himself, since he was well known to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

16:4 And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.

In addition to the letters, if it were appropriate, Paul would accompany these representatives personally.

Some commentators suppose that Paul means that if the offering was a worthwhile amount, then he would go with them but it is more likely that Paul meant that he would go if he could find the time around his other commitments.

Paul's Planned Visit to Corinth 16:5 But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia -- for I will be going through Macedonia.

Paul had already made plans to travel through Macedonia and hoped to have time to visit the Corinthians after his journey through the province.

16:6 And perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go.

He had yet to make definite plans for his stay, but his intention was to stay for some time. If events turned out right he might winter there before his return journey (ships did not usually travel in winter).

16:7 For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.

All this was of course, subject to the Lord's will and direction. Paul knew that his life and future were in God's hands. Paul did not always presume to know God's will, at least not ahead of time. How much better it is to entrust ourselves to God than for Him to entrust His plans to us! As an old hymn says ‘God holds the key of all unknown, and I am glad. If other hands should hold the key or if He trusted it to me I might be sad’.

16:8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost.

One thing was sure. Paul had made plans to stay in Ephesus at least until Pentecost, so that he could continue his God-blessed ministry there. This verse, together with verse 19 indicates that Paul was in

Ephesus at the time of writing his first epistle to the Corinthians.

16:9 Because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.

For God was doing many great works in Ephesus through Paul; and many from the region were being converted, despite great opposition from those involved in idol worship and its associated trades (Acts 19:10-12; 19:18-20).

Possible Visits of Timothy and Apollos 16:10-11 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord's work, as I am too. So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers.

Timothy had been sent by Paul into Macedonia, accompanied by Erastus (Acts 19:22). It was quite possible that he would visit Corinth on his return journey. Though not as widely respected as Paul, because of his younger years, Paul had the greatest regard for his son in the gospel. On one occasion, Paul said that he had no one else like him (Philip. 2:20). Because of this, he warned Timothy that he should let no man despise his youth (1 Tim. 4:12). Now he admonishes the church, see that he has nothing to fear and let no one treat him with contempt; that is, ‘make sure he is not opposed or belittled by you, for he is the Lord's servant and about the Lord's business’ just as Paul was. He had been sent for a specific reason by Paul who, together with his companions, was eagerly awaiting his return. Paul expected nothing less from the Corinthian

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church than that they should treat Timothy as himself, and give him all he needed to help him on his journey to re-join the other apostles.

16:12 With regard to our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was simply not his intention to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.

Paul, always concerned that the church should be going on in the Lord, urged his fellow worker Apollos, who had already done much to build up the young church at Corinth, to return there and continue his teaching ministry.

However, it is noteworthy that even in apostolic circles Paul was not ‘he who must be obeyed’. Apollos had a free mind and a free will and clearly did not feel bound to obey Paul.

Although he did intend returning to Corinth, he had other work to attend to first. Paul fully accepted Apollos’ answer; indeed, he could in no way object, for he was staying at Ephesus for the very same reason.

Was Apollos right to resist Paul’s exhortation? Each of us will stand before God to give an account for ourselves and not another. It is important and interesting to notice that the relationship between the two men was one in which neither claimed authority over the other.

Stand Firm in the Faith 16:13 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong.

Here is Paul's farewell exhortation to the church. They were to be on their guard, for the devil had laid many schemes to lead people from the truth. They were to resist him by standing firm in the faith, and not being moved away either by

false doctrine or opposition. They were to face their trials and hardships bravely like men, not like winging children. They were to be strong in the grace and strength of Christ (2 Tim. 2:1; Eph. 6:10).

16:14 Everything you do should be done in love.

Love is something worth standing for and holding on to; let everything you do be covered by love for your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Local Leadership Recognized 16:15 Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints.

It was not only Timothy who should be respected. There were others in Corinth—such as the family of Stephanus—who had willingly dedicated themselves to caring for and serving the church.

16:16 I urge you also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard.

These people were worthy of respect and obedience, as are all church leaders (Heb. 13:7, 17).

A Joyful Visit for Paul 16:17 I was glad about the arrival of Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus because they have supplied the fellowship with you that I lacked.

Stephanus and two others had come to Paul at Ephesus, bringing gifts for his continuing ministry.

These men brought great joy to Paul, for until then the Corinthians had not sent help to the apostle in his need.

16:18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, recognize people like this.

Paul's' spirit was refreshed by the genuine love and concern shown by these men whose help brought him relief and comfort. In addition, the spirit of the Corinthians was refreshed, in that they had an opportunity to demonstrate their love and faith by their actions.

Those who minister to the church in this way should be recognized and honoured, for in order to visit Paul they had left their own families and businesses and made the dangerous journey to Ephesus.

Final Greetings and Farewell 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house.

All the churches sent their greetings, as did Priscilla and Aquila who had once lived in Corinth, but travelled with Paul to Ephesus, where they hosted the young church in their home.

16:20 All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Paul conveys the greeting of all the Christians at Ephesus to their brothers and sisters at Corinth.

God's people were to have genuine love and concern for one another in their hearts, which according to custom was to be communicated by a kiss of greeting. This is called the holy kiss signifying it to be physically pure and morally blameless. It may not be the custom today, but the principle abides. Gill says their greetings ‘should spring from real love and true friendship, and be

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without hypocrisy, sincere’.

hearty

and

16:21 I, Paul, send this greeting with my own hand.

Being absent, Paul could only greet them personally by writing this line in his own hand. The rest of the letter was dictated.

16:22 Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed. Our Lord, come!

Those who did not have genuine love for the Lord Jesus are to be excluded from Christian fellowship, and not treated as if they were brothers. They did not share the desire of the believers that the Lord Jesus would come quickly, and indeed they would be lost forever.

Paul’s desire, on the other hand, for Christ’s quick return, is expressed as a concise prayer in this verse.

16:23-24 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

Paul's usual final benediction, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, was not restricted to one particular congregation of God’s people (see also Gal. 6:18, Eph. 6:24, Phil. 4:23, Phlm. 1:25) but to the whole church - all who receive Jesus Christ receive with Him God's wondrous grace. Paul was not a remote and aloof individual, nor was he an authority figure to be obeyed. He cared for this church as a father does for his children, and sends his personal and individual love to them all. Whilst those engaged in Christ's work must be sensible and chaste, they are never to be aloof or hands off. All Christian ministers should follow Paul’s example by loving their people.

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