Living Word June 2014

I am the true vine and my father is the gardener (John 15:1)

The one who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, John 15:5 www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk

In this month’s issue: 4.

God’s Mighty Minority

Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)

5.

The Right Kind of Ambition

Doreen Harrison (UK)

6.

Enemies of Faith

Don Sanderson (USA)

8.

First Love Discipleship Series – Ephesians

Dr. Tony Keys (Australia)

11.

Revelation 15-16 Righteous Saviour & Judge

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

14.

The Surrendered Will

Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

15.

Neither Angels nor Principalities

Reinhard Bonnke (CfaN)

17.

Faith-builders Bible Study Mark 9

Derek Williams (UK)

21.

Christ-dependent Christianity

Kenn Legg (Australia)

23.

In Depth Study – 1 Corinthians 15

Mathew Bartlett (UK)

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©Photos - above: Dave Bredeson. Cover: Andreus Left from top: Xxknightwolf, Luca Oleastri , Subbotina,. Brett Critchley. Facing Amandee Back Cover: A. J. Cotton.

Living Word is published in the UK by Sharon Full Gospel Church, 7 Park View, Freeholdland Road, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, NP4 8LP Editor: Mathew Bartlett

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Faithbuilders Bible Study Guide – Mark

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God‘s Mighty Minority An extract from “Royal Insignia”

by Edwin & Lillian Harvey

BUY ON KINDLE! £3.86 Image © Subbotina Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers. www.harveycp.com

The flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself (Amos 2:14).

GOD has always blessed quality rather than quantity in the promotion of His cause. He seeks not men but a man. Never has He been impressed or depressed by numbers, equipment, and ability.

Never has He been impressed or depressed by personality, prestige, or popularity. Much of what we call wisdom is sheer foolishness with God. Some jobs may depend on what you know, but the work of God depends upon Whom you know. You must know God. As far as God is concerned there are no “big men” in His work, for He putteth down one and setteth up another.

He inspects rather than respects our person. Fact is—humanity must be reduced to practically nothing before it can be induced to do much of anything for Heaven. When a person feels he has nothing, is worth nothing, and can do nothing, aside from Divine assistance, he is eligible for membership in the ranks of God’s “mighty minority.”

It matters little what you have so long as you have God; it matters little where you have been so long as you have been to Calvary; it matters little whom you know as long as you know God; it matters little what you possess as long as you are possessed of the Holy Ghost. God has been known to use a stick in the hand of Moses, a stone in the sling of David, and a staff in the hand of Benaiah. He used vermin to move Pharaoh, as ass to move Baalam, and a fish to move Jonah. His equipment is inexhaustible, and His methods of labor innumerable. All He needs is a yielded instrument.

History usually marks the man who has made a mark for God. Those who have succeeded in surrendering to God the whole man have been known throughout the whole world. Too many are waiting for God to move upon them, when they ought to be prevailing upon Him. We may all sing, “God is still on the Throne,” but I wonder who is sitting upon yours? He stood in honor of His faithful martyr, Stephen, and, no doubt, would stand more often if we gave Him occasion to do so. It is not a matter of whether or not we have 4

numbers—but do we have God? Someone has said, “If God be for us, what difference does it make who is against us?” Anyone plus God is a sufficiency. Some of history’s greatest conflicts have been decided by a minority of men in the hands of Divinity. —George Bowen.

As for me my bed is made: I am against bigness and greatness in all their forms, and (am) with the invisible, molecular, moral forces that work from individual to individual, stealing in through the crannies of the world, like so many soft rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, and yet rending the hardest monuments of man’s pride, if you give them time.

I am against all big organizations as such, national ones first and foremost; against all big successes and big results, and in favor of the eternal forces of truth which always work in the individual...underdogs always, till history comes, after they are long dead, and puts them on top. — William James.

F. A. Schaeffer years later reiterates the truth of William James and George Bowen: “Nowhere more than in America are Christians caught in the twentieth-century syndrome of size. Size will show success. If I am consecrated there will necessarily be large quantities of people, dollars, etc. This is not so.

Not only does God not say that size and spiritual power go together, but He even reverses this and tells us to be deliberately careful not to choose a place too big for us. We all tend to emphasize big words and important places, but all such emphasis is of the flesh. To think in such terms is simply to hearken back to the old, unconverted, egoistic, self-centered me.”

The Right Kind of Ambition Doreen Harrison Ask our office for more information about devotional books by Doreen Harrison here.

A riot had broken out in the prison and he wanted Gladys to come and stop the riot. “I can’t do that!” protested Gladys. “Why, they’ll kill me as well.”

The Governor looked puzzled. “How can that happen?” he inquired.

“You tell us that the Living God is with you. God cannot die — so how can you?”

© Brett Critchley (Here’s one for all of you studying hard for exams right now! – Ed.) Is it right that so much should rest on the results of High School or College exams? Is the future really determined by our present achievement?

Can someone’s potential be accurately defined by success or failure in particular tests?

A century ago, a small lady named Gladys Aylward, who lived in London, was quite unable to pass exams. She was a parlour maid but she had a burning ambition to go to China as a Christian missionary. So she enrolled in a college for missionary training.

However, after a few weeks the Principal sent for her and gently suggested that she should go back to her work as a parlour maid. “We do not think you are equipped to study,” he explained.

Gladys was certain that God wanted her to go to China and so she decided to take herself there. She took extra cleaning and serving jobs until she had saved enough money to pay for a one-way ticket to China.

She learned the local language and became a hard working witness for the Lord Jesus Christ, often on her own in remote villages, for many years. © J6789

One day, the Governor of the local prison in the Chinese town sent for Gladys in a hurry.

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This was not the time for a theological debate. Quietly, Gladys waited for them to open the prison gates. She stepped inside. The scene was violent, blood everywhere, dead bodies. She remembered a Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Taking a deep breath, she yelled, “Stop it at once!

Line up, here, in front of me!”

No schoolteacher was ever as successful as was Gladys! The noise stopped. So did the fighting. Those men came and stood in front of Gladys. With tears in her eyes she tried to share with them the power and the presence of Jesus.

Gladys Aylward had ambition. She had determination. She was not afraid of hard work. And, most of all, she had faith in God.

nation, they fail to address the root of our problem - the heart of man remains hardened in unbelief. But faith is the victory which overcomes! In a day when our faith is under attack, we as Christians need to stand firm in our faith. As we understand the nature of our faith will we be able to defeat the enemies of faith.

Defining Faith When someone asks a follower of Jesus, “what is faith?” most of us will quote this passage: Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see… But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him. (Hebrews 11:1, 6) Faith is absolute trust and confidence in God; that he is who he says he is and he will do what he says he will do. Yet the Bible defines several modes of ‘faith’ which a Christian can have. Firstly, and most importantly, there is:

Saving faith

Enemies of Faith by Don Sanderson Image © Salvador Ceja Don Sanderson is Lead Pastor at Grace Community Assembly of God, California.

It is no secret that we are living in troubled times – right before our eyes we are seeing scripture being fulfilled as a culture runs wildly towards destruction. In my lifetime I never imagined witnessing what we see today: evil being called good and good being called evil. My

heart hurts for our community and our nation as I realize there is not one thing you or I can do naturally to change things for the better.

Our voting will not turn the tide of evil. Nor will greater community organization, immigration reform, health care reform, a balanced budget or greater military power.

Whilst all these are all things are important and relevant to the security and prosperity of our 6

This faith comes to us as a gift from God and is the exclusive possession of all Christians. All true Christians possess saving faith, and only Christians possess it. Without it we would not be Christians!

For we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)

The Gift of Faith All the gifts of the Spirit are supernatural manifestations of power; and so when Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:9 speaks of faith (Greek: ‘pistis’) as a gift of the Spirit,

he is referring to a supernatural ability (given by God at a particular time) to meet a particular need or situation. The good news is all Christians can be recipients of this gift, if and when it is needed.

The fruit of faith Although exactly the same word for faith (‘pistis’) is used in Galatians 5:22 in reference to the fruit of the Spirit which is ‘faith’, we must understand that there is a difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. The gift of faith is a supernatural manifestation of Divine power; whereas the fruit of faith one of the fruits of the Spirit which are manifestations of Christ's character springing from his indwelling Spirit within us. Indeed, the word ‘faithfulness’ is probably a better translation than ‘faith’ in this context (I am indebted to David Petts’ book ‘Body Builders’ for the definitions used in this article).

Whilst Christians are only expected to exercise some of the gifts of the Spirit, they are required to show all of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

In Luke 18:8 Jesus asked a challenging and searching question: ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?’

During days of evil and backsliding in our nation, if we are to stand firm in the faith in the way Jesus implies, then we need to understand what our faith is; use the gift of faith, and develop the fruit of faith (or faithfulness). Of course, we will never be able to stand in our own ability; ‘reaching for our own bootstraps’ simply won’t be enough; but our faith in God will enable us to stand.

What are the Enemies of Faith?

The enemy of our souls uses a variety of weapons to undermine our faith; his ultimate objective being the destruction of our souls.

These weapons can rob us of the joy of our salvation, faith to see the answers to our prayers and experience God’s miraculous provision for our needs.

Doubt and Fear I believe these two are very effective tools of the enemy to steal away our confidence in God. Satan lies to you and me with accusing thoughts which sound something like this:

Unbelief Unbelief (Greek: ‘apistos’) is the opposite of faith (‘pistos’). It is a lack of faith, a withholding of belief: in the divine power (Mark 16:14); the promises of God (Rom. 4:20; Heb. 3:19); the divine mission of Jesus (Matt. 13:58; Mark 6:6); and by opposition to the gospel (1Tim. 1:13). It carries with it he added notion of obstinacy (Rom. 11:20,23; Heb. 3:12). It is a weakness of faith (Matt. 17:20).

Unbelief is an intentional decision demonstrated by our refusal to surrender to the Holy Spirit and his purposes.

You’re worthless! Your sin is too great! God can’t love you! God won’t heal you! It’s all your fault!

Our unbelief in God’s ability to move in us and through us can be seen in our attitudes and behaviour towards others, especially those in authority over us.

If you listen to these lies for long enough you will begin to believe them and then develop a fatalistic attitude and belief system that says “what’s the use; why bother praying, why bother serving, why bother, period?”

In these days of unbelief, Christians must stand firm in the faith to overcome these enemies of faith. If we want to see the blessing of God on our lives and our families, and to see his miraculous power at work, we must do two things:

These very things have been instrumental in bringing down some incredible men and women of God – no one is immune in our own strength.

1. Take authority over doubt and fear, recognizing that Christ has overcome the world, the flesh and the devil and through faith in him that we too, have the victory. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Spiritual depression, a fatalistic outlook to life and a mere ‘going through the motions’ are sure signs that doubt and fear are winning the battle in the life of a believer. If you are living in this place right now – I want you to know that this enemy of faith can be defeated!

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2. Crucify our flesh – bring this sin of unbelief and obstinacy to Christ, repent of our sin and rebellion towards God and those in authority over us.

Today, Christian, you can live in victory over the enemies of doubt, fear, and unbelief; and you can overcome all the world throws at you if you walk by faith in God.

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!

Week One All Spiritual Blessings Ephesians 1: 1-23 Day 1: Read Introduction & then Ephesians 1: 1-6.

Whilst reading today’s commentary shown below, think about the following points, keeping in mind what they mean to you as a believer.

• Why the phrase ‘heavenly places’ is an important phrase in understanding the book of Ephesians • The doctrine of adoption – considered to be one of the cornerstones of the Christian belief.

• What Paul meant when he wrote, “by which He made us accepted in the Beloved”.

When Christians begin to read and understand Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, something wonderful happens in our spiritual lives. We discover how rich we already are, for reading Ephesians is like reading the catalogue of our own treasures that we have in Christ.

A. The Greeting (1: 1-2) Paul begins his letter with the conventional first century Greek-

style writing of his day, which is that of the writer sending greetings to the reader. Yet, Paul takes this style of writing and lifts it to a higher plane, for he describes both writer and reader from the standpoint of their relationship in God through Christ Jesus.

The words found in these opening verses do not roll easily from Paul’s lips, nor are they words that are artistically shaped in the mind. They are words that come from one whose heart and mind are thoroughly Spirit-controlled.

V.1 Paul begins this verse by first describing his own personal relationship in God through Christ Jesus. He says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God”. Paul calls himself an ‘apostle’. The word ‘apostle’ comes from the Greek word ‘apostolos’, which comes from the verb ‘apostellein’, meaning ‘to send out’. The word was used of a naval squadron or an ambassador sent out on a special expedition.

Paul, by this word, not only shows that he is a member of a large task force for Christ but also that he is a man with a special mission. Yet, by coupling the word ‘apostle’ with ‘of Jesus Christ’, he gives the fullest meaning that can properly be applied to the word ‘apostle’, for he shows that he not only belongs to Christ and is under the authority of Christ, but also that the marks of his apostleship are clearly evident in his life and work.

Even though Paul makes the claim of one writing with authority, he goes to great pains to show us that this authority is not due to his own personal merit, aspiration or through usurpation, nor was he nominated by men, but that it came as a result of God’s initiative and

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sovereign will, for he says “by the will of God”.

Paul then continues on to describe the personal standing of his readers in Christ Jesus. He calls them both “saints” and the “faithful in Christ Jesus”. By the word ‘saints’, Paul describes the work of Christ’s salvation for them, that they have been set apart and consecrated to glorify Christ and to proclaim the message of Christ. By the word ‘faithful’, Paul expresses their part in remaining set apart in God and of proclaiming the message and yet he is quick to point out that, like him, they also need the strength of Christ to accomplish such a feat, for he says ‘in Christ’. Just as the strength of any tree is found in the soil and how deep its roots go into that soil, so the strength of any Christian is found in Christ and how deep we have placed our roots in Him. V.2 Paul then continues with the greeting of that day, “Grace to you and peace”. These words capture the riches of the Christian faith, for ‘grace’ represents a believer’s standing, and ‘peace’ the believer’s present and continued experience with God, the continued experience being expressed by describing God as “our Father”. The word ‘Father’ in the Aramaic is ‘Pater’, a word describing a father in a happy family relationship.

B. Praise to God for His Purpose and Blessing for Us in Christ (1: 314) In the Greek, V.3-14 is one long sentence. Paul’s mind seems to go on and on as each successive thought crowds one upon the other. His thoughts are like a snowball gathering momentum as it races down a hillside, as his mind

first contemplates the blessings of God, then the purpose of God in our lives, then the privileges we have in Christ.

As we read his words and take time to contemplate them, they almost seem like steps leading to an illustrious castle. Once we, like a pilgrim, begin to climb, the aim becomes to quickly ascend those steps without taking a breath in our bid to reach the castle as quickly as possible.

1. The Divine Plan of Salvation (1: 3-8) V.3 In this passage, Paul’s thoughts erupt into loud resounding praise to God. We can almost hear his voice ringing through the prison as he blesses God the Father or Our Lord Jesus Christ “who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing”. These words hardly seem the words of a man in prison facing the possibility of execution, and yet they are, though in this case the prisoner looks ahead to something far greater.

In July 2009, the reticent billionaire Chuck Feeney gave Queensland its biggest ever single gift of $102 million to three medical projects.

These projects are overseen by Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake remarked that the donation underscores Mr Feeney's personal commitment to giving; "The contribution of Chuck Feeney to QUT and the state of Queensland has been nothing short of remarkable," he said. Born in 1931 in New Jersey, Mr Feeney earned his fortune after setting up the Duty Free Shopping Network in Mediterranean seaports in the 1950s. By 1982, he had established

a philanthropic institution called the Atlantic Philanthropies and, according to Wikipedia estimates, by 2005 he had given away $3.457 billion, with most of it done in total anonymity. He eventually sold his interests in 1997, a sale which boosted his personal wealth and for the first time brought this shy, mysterious man to the public arena.

Up until that time, Feeney was the world's biggest secret philanthropist. There are only two other charities that have out-given him: the Ford Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Feeney’s foundation does not accept requests but rather it seeks out those who are most needy. He gives his money away because it brings him great satisfaction in helping others.

Yet how differently Paul in this verse describes our relationship with the One who blesses us with all spiritual blessings! To the world, Chuck Feeney is an enigma, a shy reclusive man whom we can never really know, who seems to appear out of nowhere, donating large sums of money and then, as surreptitiously as he appears, he vanishes. Paul does not describe God as shy or one difficult to reach but as “Father”. Throughout this wonderful Epistle, Paul continually assures us that it is from the parental heart of God the Father that the fountain of all blessing flows down upon our lives. Paul tells us in Rom 8:17 that every true believer is a joint-heir with Christ.

Our unique family relationship with Christ is further stressed by His words at His resurrection (Jn 20:17) when He said, “I am ascending to My Father and Your Father”. Jesus is a Son by nature and we are ‘sons’ by adoption.

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Paul continues to say that God has blessed us with “every spiritual blessing”. Writing of the blessings of God upon us, Paul is not speaking of them as being in the past or remaining only in the present, but rather as one continuous flow of blessing. Though the benefits of Chuck Feeney’s donations will aid tens of thousands of people, not everyone can access them; many billions of the world’s population will be left wanting and, even if he was to give away all his money, he could not assist all of them. Later on in Eph. 3:8, Paul describes these spiritual blessings from God as “the unsearchable riches of Christ” which he and the church are commissioned to preach to all. The word ‘unsearchable’ describes a resource that can never be emptied or measured, like a great unfathomable ocean. The verses in Eph. 1:3 and 3:8 tell us that God not only seeks us out to bless us but He also accepts requests to bless us.

God does not just bless us with temporal blessings that are consumed with time and effort but with spiritual blessings that find their source “in the heavenly places in Christ”, and this makes these blessings eternal, inexhaustible, glorious and wonderful beyond compare. The phrase ‘in Christ’ also shows us that we cannot enjoy these blessings without Christ.

Starting from this verse, the whole Epistle of Ephesians is a magnificent anthem of the believer’s riches in Christ, beginning with the grace and mercy with which God through Jesus Christ brought us into a special relationship with Him in that He, God, is now our Heavenly Father, the One who blesses us with every spiritual blessing. Amen!

The opening line of this verse so fills our heart and spirit with joy that we just want to jump up and sing for joy the praises of God, just as the hymn writer Fanny J. Crosby so well put it: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine… Praising my Saviour all the day long”.

One of the key phrases in understanding the book of Ephesians is the phrase ‘heavenly places’.

Paul sees that the heavenly places are those places where the real issues of life take place.

Paul speaks of these blessings as being both spiritual and of coming from heavenly places in Christ. He impresses upon us the fact that the blessings of God eclipse and are unlimited compared to material things that pass away, because their origin is not found in the commonplace of this world but far above, in Christ who is in the heavenlies. Paul here in this verse claims the privileged position of a Christian. As a citizen of Rome he may be in prison but, as a citizen of heaven, he is in heaven. He urges us, the readers, to accept the same privilege (Eph. 2: 6-7).

This verse in Eph. 1:3 is also directly linked to Eph. 6:12 where Paul speaks of wrestling with principalities and powers in heavenly places. Therefore, the spiritual blessing of which Paul is speaking relates to our success with wrestling with principalities and powers in heavenly places. The two verses (Eph. 1:3 & 6:12) resemble the beginning and ending of a document of war that contains military strategies to overcome principalities and powers in heavenly places.

In fact, Eph. 1:3 is also the declaration of a counsel of war. The words ‘heavenly places’ could be translated here as ‘God’s heavenly counsels’, a place where God puts His plans into operation. It is as if we have been ushered into the war counsel room of God and there in the heavenly places we have become privy to the plans and purposes of God. Paul continues to tell us in Eph. 1:3 that the plans and purposes of God, of which we are made part, are only accomplished ‘in Christ’. But, why does Paul say ‘in Christ’? It is because Paul sees that our relationship ‘in Christ’ is vital to the outcome of anything that we do.

V.4-5 The story is told of a group of theologians who were discussing the tension between the schools of thought of predestination and free will. Things became so heated that the group broke up into two opposing factions, but one man, not knowing which faction to join, stood for a moment trying to decide. At last he joined the predestination group. "Who sent you here?" they asked. "No-one sent me," he replied. "I came of my own choice."

"Free will!" they exclaimed. "You can't join us! You belong with the other group!" So he followed their orders and went to the other clique.

There someone asked, "When did you decide to join us?" The young man replied, "Well, I didn't really decide - I was sent here." "Sent here!" they shouted. "You can't join us unless you have decided by your own free will!"

So often we get caught up in the debate of predestination that we lose sight of the wonderful treasure of our own adoption into the family of God, of which Paul wants us to grasp hold. Paul now becomes 10

deeply aware not only of his own conversion and calling but also that of his readers. The words of Jesus in John 15:16 no doubt ring in Paul’s ears: “You do not choose me but I choose you”. As Paul contemplates his and our salvation, he becomes overwhelmed with the wonder of it, that it was not a last minute idea of God’s or a happy accident of fate, but rather an achievement of God’s that He initiated before the foundation of the world. Paul sees that this privilege could not possibly bring about the occasion of pride or boasting, for he says that we are adopted. Paul uses this word to describe both our present and past condition. Paul looks into the past and does not see us as a perfect child, squeaky clean and pressed by an adoption agency, presenting us to God as our parent-to-be, hoping that He will adopt us! Rather, he sees us as we really are: orphans of the street, dirty, neglected, wretched little urchins living in the gutters, repulsive to many people, living like dogs scavenging for food in the dumps of life, as sadly many children still do today. Also, we must remember that Satan has no desire to give us up and present us as squeaky clean to God

Dr. Tony Keys (from Victoria in Australia) is a prolific author with degrees in biblical/theology, education and leadership/ management. Tony is passionate about developing leaders and conducts leadership seminars for pastors around the world.

It is important to remember that the Book of Revelation was given to John by a series of signs and visions (Rev. 1.2) and that the events depicted in the visions do not necessarily follow each other in chronological order. Sometimes the same event is referred more than once, and the events in chapters fifteen and sixteen actually occur before events in chapter fourteen.

Revelation 15 & 16 The Righteous Saviour and Judge

The scene of this vision is the fulfilment of God’s wrath - no more patient forbearance and holding back in mercy, for the day of salvation will be over. Men will have no more opportunity to repent, for their hearts are long past repentance.

The great and wonderful sign John sees in heaven is seven angels carrying the seven last plagues. The word last denotes the finality of these plagues.

Throughout these chapters we see God as righteous in his character both as Saviour and as Judge.

God the Righteous Saviour

Truth for Today A brief extract from our forthcoming book.

By Mathew Bartlett Image © Pidiyath100

V2,3 Before the angels are sent out, we see a vision of those who standing on a sea of glass blended with fire, representing God’s holy judgment. These people are victorious over judgment, for they have not bowed down to worship the beast or his image or received his mark. They share in the victory which was won for them by the Lord Jesus Christ, the harps in their hands represent his salvation. This vision interrupts the vision of God’s wrath for a reason: to show that God is unwilling to pour out his wrath - so he has offered a way of salvation to all men. Those who respond and receive His salvation stand perfect before him in Christ, without fear of condemnation, for 11

our God is a Saviour before he is a judge. How tragic it is then, for those who suffer God’s wrath tragic, for it need never have been, they have only themselves to blame.

In contrast, how wonderful it will be to join in the song of the redeemed!

The song of Moses and the Lamb are not two different songs, but two blended into one. Derek Williams writes: “Just as the Israelites sang with Moses after their deliverance from Egypt, so the Lord’s people sing to the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has delivered from sin, its power and its judgment.” What God has done is marvellous in our eyes. It is done in grace, for it is undeserved on our part, but it is done in justice, for God has fulfilled his own law in making us right with him.

No one could fail to revere the Name of such a God, bow down to Him, honour and praise Him (Phil.

2:9 - 11). God alone is “perfectly and to the highest degree, holy”.

All the redeemed from every nation on earth will give Him due worship because of his righteousness in their justification, and his works on earth. Ps. 86:9.

V5 At this point, John saw the way into God’s presence open. It has been opened once and for all and will never again be shut, for Christ has made the way for all who believe.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh (Heb. 10:19-20)

How sad that even though the door is open, those who refuse to believe refuse to enter through it. The tabernacle of the Testimony in heaven is “the dwelling place and throne of God (the heavenly holy of holies).”DRW But if God is a righteous Saviour, he is also a righteous judge.

God the Righteous Judge V6 John’s attention now turn again to the seven angels bearing the plagues as they come out from the presence of God. Since they are to be the executors of God’s judgment, they are sent with marks of his divine authority, the white robes speak of His judicial impartiality and the golden sash is the mark of their office.

V7 From one of the four living creatures, each angel receives a golden bowl filled with the wrath of God “Who lives forever and ever.”

“The particular object in referring to this attribute here appears to be, that though there may seem to be delay in the execution of his purposes, yet they will be certainly accomplished, for he is the everliving and unchangeable God” (Barnes). God has always been the same. His anger against sin has never changed. It is simply that in his love and long-suffering, he gave all men opportunity to repent. But there is a time with God, when disobedience can no longer be overlooked. The time has come to carry out due sentence.

V8 As the angels were entrusted with their commission, God’s sanctuary in heaven was filled with the smoke of His glory and His power. No one could enter until the seven plagues of the seven angels

were completed, indicating that no intercessions could be made during this time for the guilty - the worthy recipients of God’s wrath.

The First Bowl: Ulcerated Sores.

V1,2 The angels are sent to empty their bowls, and as the first angel pours out his bowl, painful ulcerated sores break out on all those who have the mark of the beast, this is similar to the sixth plague that God sent to judge the Egyptians (Exodus 9:8 - 12) and may I remind you that the Egyptians had never heard of silicon chips.

The Second Bowl: Turned to Blood

All Seas

V3 The second angel empties his bowl on the sea which turns it not only into blood, but the foul, illsmelling blood of a dead body. In contract to the seven trumpets, when one third of marine life died, now every living thing in the sea dies. So we see God’s word means what it says - these are the final judgments.

The Third Bowl: All Waters Turned to Blood

Fresh

V4-6 The third angel pours his bowl on the rivers, springs and all the water sources which are turned into blood. This leaves no drinking water on earth. Truly God’s final judgment has begun. The angel who was in charge of the waters asserts that God is quite right to inflict this judgment, for those affected had shed the blood of God’s children and were only receiving what they deserved - they must now drink 12

blood to survive. I was interested, when I heard someone say after the Tsunami of 2005, when thousands were wiped out in a moment in Bande Ache, Indonesia, “Why would God judge the poor innocent fisher folk of Indonesia?” May I point out that in those poor innocent fishing villages, Christians were being publicly beheaded for their faith in Christ and their heads were bring carried around on poles in front of the jubilant villagers. I have seen photographs of these atrocities myself. Were they really poor innocent fishermen or callous murderers of God’s children?

National crimes merit national chastisement, and international crimes merit universal punishment.

Christ himself, who gave himself up as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross, echoes the sentiments of the angel, Yes, Lord God Almighty - they deserve this - for your judgments are true and right.

The Fourth Bowl: Burned by the Sun

Men are

V8,9 Scientists expect the sun to last at least another 100, 000 years.

But the sun is not under its own control. As the fourth angel pours out his bowl on the sun, it flares up to such an extent that people are severely burnt by its heat. Yet they do not repent or give God glory.

Instead they blaspheme and curse God for sending these plagues on them, as if they were not fair. I have said that God is righteous, that is all his ways are right. But man’s heart is so crooked that he calls God’s right way wrong. We have read how Christ and the angels have described God’s judgments as holy and fair; true and right. How many people today would say when hearing of these judgments, “This is

terrible, I will never believe in a God who could do such things - it is cruel and wrong.” In saying this, they reveal the sinfulness of their hearts in their perverted sense of right and wrong. Let me assert with serious dogmatism this morning- God is right even if the rest of the world is wrong! Let God be true and every man a liar; that you may be proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

The Fifth Bowl: Darkness V10,11 Divine judgment draws nearer to the Anti-Christ himself as the fifth angel empties his bowl on his throne in Jerusalem, although as DRW says it does not yet touch him personally. His kingdom was plunged into supernatural darkness, bringing confusion, disorder and distress (see Ex. 10:21-23). So terrible was this darkness that men “gnawed their tongues in anguish” (physical and mental pain, like hell had already begun on earth). DRW says: This is the only place in Scripture where this expression is found. Yet once again their only response to this judgment is to blaspheme and curse God.

The Sixth Bowl: Dried Up

Euphrates

V12 - 16 When the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the river Euphrates it was dried up, making it a road for the armies of the eastern nations as they march toward Israel.

Bear in mind that at this stage of the proceedings it is not Israel or the Jews they are attacking. This is made clear in later verses (Rev. 19:19). The devil sends out three filthy and grotesque evil spirits to

raise up a worldwide army, deceived into believing they have a chance in the fight by the miracles the demons perform, and gather them to fight Christ in the valley of Megiddo. The drying up of the Euphrates could be seen as God throwing down the gauntlet to the wicked, despising their rebellion.

Palm 2:1 At this point comes another interjection (v15).

Since all these things are about to be fulfilled - the coming of Christ is inevitable, even the demon inspired armies testify to this - so at the present time opportunity is given to us to be ready for Christ’s coming.

The Lord promises those who watch for His coming, those who stay loyal and faithful to Him, that they will not have reason to be ashamed when he comes.

The Seventh Bowl: The Earth Shaken v17 The seventh and final bowl is emptied into the air and is followed by a mighty voice from the throne of God, which cries, “It is finished!”

Tatford says “This is the last stroke, before the Saviour descends to battle.”

V18 The result of the outpouring of the bowl into the air is a great noise, with thunder and lightning, accompanied by an earthquake greater than any which have ever occurred since the creation of man.

V19-21 The great city (is that Jerusalem?) was rent into three parts by gaping wide chasms. All the cities of the nations fell flat in heaps of rubble. For now the entire Christ rejecting world system (symbolized

by Babylon) is to be fiercely punished. All the islands of earth

13

were destroyed (Derek Williams says they are possibly submerged by the earthquake) and every mountain was flattened down. At the same time comes a terrible hailstorm, with each hailstone weighing about 43 kg - that’s a builders bag of wet sand falling out of the sky. Once again, men blasphemed and cursed God, such is the enmity of the human heart against its creator. The language of these verses is neither poetic nor symbolic; but indicate quite literally that the end of the world has arrived.

Conclusion The world, as it is today, will not last forever. By divine decree it will come to an end. Where is your heart fixed? Is it on the good of this life - that will pass away? Or is it fixed on Christ who will return not only to judge the world, but to bring salvation and victory to those who trust and follow him? If so, then you will not be disappointed. The Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It reveals him as the everlasting and overwhelming victor. You cannot be safe without Jesus, and you cannot but be safe with Him. If you are not a Christian, may I urge you in light of God’s word to put your trust in the Lord Jesus today and ask him to save you from your sin and the wrath to come. If you are a Christian, then set your heart fully on those things in heaven which are yours, and will be yours long after this world has passed away. The hymn says, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.” For our God is a righteous God.

The Surrendered Will A Bible Study by Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Photo: © Sebastian Grecu

By kind permission of CfaN, an extract from Daniel’s new book- Live before you die. £9.99 BUY NOW.

I love the way the Lord’s Prayer is rendered in the King James Version. Jesus prayed,

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

While some translations say, “Your will be done on the earth,” the King James says, “Thy will be done in earth.” Genesis 2:7 says, “God formed man of the dust of the ground.” We are made from the earth, we are vessels of “earth,” and when God’s will is done in us, or “in earth,” then and only then can God’s will be done “on the earth.”

Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come,” and continued by saying, “Thy will be done.” These are two inseparable conditions.

Wherever God’s kingdom has come, there His will is being done. Likewise, when God’s will is being done, there His kingdom has come. If we are seeking the

kingdom first, then the kingdom is our main ambition, and this is demonstrated in two ways.

First, we want to see God’s will done “in earth” (in our own lives), and second, we seek to see His will done on the earth (in the whole world).

It all begins with the heart—it all begins with us. Many people want to change the world. They want to see the nations bow their knees to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Yet the hearts and lives of many of these people still aren’t surrendered. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, NKJV). What was Jesus talking about? He was talking about God’s will being done in the hearts of men.

Human kings fight over land and spoil, but the real estate God desires is that of the heart.

Jesus said in John 7:38, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’” 14

(NAS). He didn’t say we would see rivers of water flow from heaven— He said they would flow from inside His people!

God’s kingdom is not coming out of the blue sky; it’s coming from within us! God’s will is that every believer becomes an annexation of His kingdom, a portal through which He can pour His glory and release His power into the world. If you want to see God’s kingdom come on earth, it starts with God’s will being done in earth— in you! Romans 14:17 says,

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

This is the inward condition of people who have submitted themselves to God. They are filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost! It’s heaven in earth!

Part one of a three part Bible study by Reinhard Bonnke

Neither Angels nor Principalities Image © Luca Oleastri

The opening words of Genesis are like a Big Bang explosion of truth: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Three realities confront us: God, the heavens, and the earth! They form the triune environment in which we humans live. We came from God, we are creatures of the earth, and we are destined for the heavens.

God made the heavens and the earth as the two sides of Creation – the invisible and the visible – in a single act. God Himself is invisible because He is spirit (John 4:24). But He also made an invisible realm that is very real. At times we seem to sense and experience it – both for good and evil – which reminds us that it is there.

The Mystery Beyond Ourselves Creation transcends all science and human understanding. What our eyes can see is not the whole picture. There is something else – a mystery beyond us. And our spirit reaches out to that realm beyond the earthly and material sphere. But not everything in that invisible world is good. Even angels have sinned and fallen from grace (2 Pet 2:4). Perhaps to our surprise we read that, “the heavens are not

pure in His sight” (Job 15:15) or “from [His] face the earth and the heaven fled away” (Rev 20:11). Yet one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth “in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet 3:13).

Humankind belongs to God, to the earth, and to the heavens. People do not consist only of flesh, but also of spirit. Animals, on the other hand, are not made of spirit and flesh like humans; therefore, they are not morally responsible. But we are. We are the only creatures that sin – the only creatures on this earth that have a true spiritual nature combined with their flesh.

This combination will remain till death, when the spirit separates from the flesh. But even that is not the end of the flesh. For we receive a resurrection body – a whole new physical existence, perfectly fused with our spirit for immortality (Luke 24:39; Phil 3:21; 1 Cor 15).

Therefore, the work of Christ related to both realms. He came to deal not only with spiritual evil, but also with physical evil. 1 John 3 makes this clear. First it proclaims our spiritual liberation: “He was manifested to take away our sins” (1 John 3:5). Then it declares our physical release: “For this purpose 15

the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). What are these “works of the devil?” Acts 10:38 explains: Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” Jesus came with concern for people as they were – to be a Saviour for sinners and a Healer of those afflicted by Satan. He forgave sin, healed the sick, and expelled devils.

Spirit-filled Evangelism Evangelists in the New Testament were called to continue His work. In fact, Christ commanded them – and us – to continue His work. His work is our work. Pentecostal and charismatic evangelists have carried out the command to address both the visible and invisible from the start. They have recognized and emphasized the Scripture’s teaching about both the spiritual and natural realms. We must carry on this legacy!

Some ministers have ignored the evidence of the invisible world manifesting in the visible. Others even say that scriptural manifestations like miraculous healing and tongues are demonic.

Yet, biblical faith is filled with

miraculous and supernatural signs occurring on earth.

People throughout biblical history knew they were dealing with a miracleworking God. “You are the God who does wonders,” the Psalmist wrote (Ps 77:14). So we have a right to ask as Gideon did, “Where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about?” (Judges 6:13). The same is true in the New Testament. Jesus performed signs, wonders, healing, and deliverance. Then His apostles and followers did the same. Acts 2:4 describes them speaking with tongues, displaying a unique example of the Spirit working in the natural world – through the flesh of people. Tongues are a spiritual and physical work of God: “They began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

God has not retired or set His miracle-working powers aside.

Neither has He “pensioned off” the angels, even if we, like Elisha’s servant, do not see them (2 Kings 6:17). Too often the same people who declare their faith in the Bible – with its many references to angels – treat modern reports of angels with skepticism. Or they treat the devil and demons as mythical figures. Yet, in Scripture, Christ and His followers would never deny these realities. People’s lives were at stake!

For example, a demon once interrupted a synagogue service (Luke 4:31-37). (Perhaps because there was something worth interrupting.) Today they rarely upset the order of church worship, with hymn numbers on a board and sermons without fire. But if one did interrupt, how many ministers would know how to handle it? Yet the clash of good and evil in the spirit world is still real today.

Devotees of voodoo work hard at becoming possessed; they want special powers to carry out spells and curses. And when we preach Jesus in the power of the Spirit, they become extremely distressed.

It is common in CfaN’s African meetings to minister to sixty demonized people at a time, expelling the unclean spirits.

© Lucian Coman A Continent Supernatural

Steeped

in

the

Recent times have enthroned reason and encouraged ignorance of heavenly realities. Education and knowledge have been secularized, dismissing demons as medieval nonsense. The great maxim has become “seeing is believing.” Only the visible is real. In Europe, science has become the judge of all truth, and has denied what it cannot control. New authorities have appointed themselves above the Word of God. Faith in natural reason has usurped faith in divine reason. Secularism is the modern worldview, and nobody escapes its influence. We in the West were born and raised in the naturalist tradition. We live in secular waters like fish live in the sea. In my early days as an evangelist in Africa, I observed missionaries taking a nonsupernatural Gospel to a continent steeped in the supernatural. Africa 16

was – and still is – a different world from the West. But those missionaries were strongly orientated to the sphere of the visible. Meanwhile, Africans took full account of the invisible world in their day-to-day life. Africans lived in an environment of witchcraft, demonism, possession, spirit worship, ancestor worship, tribal gods, and animism. They feared haunting, curses, spells, and dark forces living in trees, rivers, and graves. Missionaries believed it was all unscientific and primitive, while Africans shared their world with spirits.

So while missionaries suffered from naturalistic tunnel vision, Africans accepted the reality of the spirit realm. But their belief in the invisible realm was not a positive experience. To them the spirit world was unfriendly, even dangerous – a dimension of everpresent terror. Now, even today, witchcraft continues to flourish. The press reported that the President of Zimbabwe supports witchdoctors – alongside western-style physicians – as part of the African culture.

Apparently people still seek witchdoctors for protection from spirits, spells, and curses. They need deliverance from this oppression!

And the full, supernatural Gospel of Jesus Christ has the answer!

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

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

Pastors, home or study group leaders and indeed for anyone wishing to study the Bible for themselves will benefit from using Faith-builders studies.

Each volume is the result of many years of group Bible study, and has been revised again and again to be relevant, challenging and faith building whilst remaining clear and easy to understand.

Each chapter has thought provoking questions to aid study and sample answers are provided.

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

Buy paperback now for £5.20 Kindle Edition only £2.01

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 9 (an extract)

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

of

the

Coming

9:1 And he said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.’

What did Jesus mean? There were those who were standing among the people who would still be alive when the kingdom of God was ushered in; that is after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. From that time on the kingdom would be seen amongst the people, coming into being with great power (probably a reference to Pentecost).

9:2-3 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain

privately. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them.

shining from him to such an extent that his garments appeared whiter than anything on earth.

Mark Chapter 2 (abstract)

By Derek Williams & Mathew Imagebefore © Rorem 9:4 Bartlett Then Elijah(UK) appeared

Jesus chose Peter, James and John to go with him to the summit of a high mountain where they could be alone. Jesus’ choice of these three was not based on favouritism, for we are all equal in God's sight (Acts 10:34). Rather, it appears that these three were the most spiritually responsive to the teachings of Christ.

Whilst they were on the mountain (presumably in prayer) Jesus’ physical body was transformed as the glory which he had with the Father before he came to earth shone through (John 17:5). The disciples saw his eternal glory 17

them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

The text does not explicitly state that the disciples recognised Elijah and Moses; the Lord may have addressed them by name. The presence of these two men was full of significance.

For Elijah represented the prophets, and Moses the law of God. Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of both the law and the prophets.

One would very much like to know what they were talking about with Jesus. It seems most likely that it was concerned with his approaching crucifixion and the

salvation that he would obtain through it. These two men had waited in faith for this salvation; and the sacrifice of Christ which made it possible is the endless theme of the glorified saints in heaven (Rev. 5:9).

9:5-6 So Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters -- one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’

(For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.)

The disciples seemingly could not understand what was happening, and this strangeness brought fear to their hearts. Peter, for want of something to say proposed to build three booths (made of tree branches) for each of them. Such booths were often made as temporary protection from the hot sun. The text does not reveal what Peter had in mind – for he did not know himself! Even so, Peter did get one thing right - it was good for them to be there. What better place could there be than where we can behold the beauty and the glory of the Lord?

9:7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, ‘This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!’

At this point God intervened, descending in a cloud which covered the frightened disciples. As he spoke to them, acknowledging Jesus as his beloved Son, God gave these disciples the true lesson which the experience was meant to teach them – by commanding that they should listen and obey him.

9:8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus.

Suddenly it was all over - the cloud, the voice, Elijah and Moses had gone; only Jesus remained.

9:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

As they were coming back down the mountain Jesus strictly ordered them to tell no one about the things they had seen until after he had risen from the dead.

9:10 They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.

And this is what they did; although they did not understand what he meant about being raised from the dead.

9:9-13 Then they asked him, ‘Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?’ He said to them, ‘Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised?

But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.’

Realising afresh from this experience that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, the disciples asked why the experts in the law taught that Elijah (whom they had witnessed speaking with Jesus) must first come before the Christ would be manifested (Mal. 4:5-6).

Jesus replied that the lawyers were correct in their interpretation of scripture, for truly someone must first come in the spirit and power of Elijah to make Israel ready to receive the Christ. But this Elijahtype role had been fulfilled by John the Baptist (Luke 1:17); and just as 18

the religious and political leaders of Israel had rejected John and mistreated him, so they were about to do to Jesus.

Belief and Unbelief 9:14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them.

While the three disciples were with Jesus enjoying the mountain top experience the other nine were having a tough time down in the valley. When Jesus arrived on the scene he found them being interrogated by the scribes and losing the argument.

9:15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him.

Something of the glory of the transfiguration must have still been upon the Lord for when the people saw him they were amazed at his appearance and eagerly ran to greet and welcome him.

9:16 He asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’

Seeing his disciples greatly disturbed he asked them what they were discussing. This was not because Jesus did not know, but he wanted to bring the subject out into open discussion.

9:17 A member of the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute.

Neither the scribes nor the disciples answered him; instead someone from among the crowd called out.

He had brought his son who was

possessed by a dumb spirit to Jesus to be delivered.

9:18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.

On discovering that Jesus was not with the disciples, he had turned to them expecting that they could cast out the dumb spirit. The man must have heard, or may have witnessed the disciples casting out demons when Jesus sent them on an earlier mission (Mark 6:13). By the description that the man gave it would seem that it was only at certain times that this demon took hold of his son throwing him into a fit which left him almost lifeless and that it was slowly destroying his body. The disciples had been powerless to cast out this demon.

9:19-20 He answered them, ‘You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you?

Bring him to me.’ So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

One might wonder to whom the Lord addressed these words: the scribes, the crowd, the father of the boy or to his own disciples. They are certainly words of rebuke to all who have no faith. They would certainly apply to the scribes, who did not believe in Jesus at all. There were probably many in the crowd who were sceptical of Jesus’ claims. The father of the boy had some faith in bringing his son to Jesus in the first place, yet confesses later that his faith is small. What about the

disciples? The Lord had rebuked them on a previous occasions for lacking faith (Mark 4:40). So perhaps all of those standing there merited the rebuke.

Jesus reproof was aimed at provoking faith in those who lacked it. When he asked “how long am I to put up with you?” he already knew the answer; for he knew when his hour would come. As the boy was brought to Jesus the demon immediately manifested itself in the presence of the authority and power of Christ, throwing the boy to the ground in a convulsion.

9:21-22 Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood.

It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’

Jesus’ purpose in asking the boy’s father for details of his son's condition was not to enable him to diagnose; but to bring a full realization to the father and the disciples of the hold and length of time the demon had bound this child (the importance of this fact is brought out later in verse 29).

9:23 Then Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able? All things are possible for the one who believes.’

Jesus placed the responsibility for the boy’s deliverance on the father.

'If you can believe - for all things are possible to him that believes’. This is a promise that we can also claim (see Mark 11:24).

9:24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’

The man realized what Jesus was saying to him and knowing his own 19

deficiency gave out an heart rending cry; and weeping confessed ‘Lord, I believe’ but, ‘constantly help my weakness in faith’ (Amp. N. T.) or ‘when I begin to doubt help me to continue to believe’.

9:25 Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’

On seeing the crowds approaching the Lord immediately rebuked the unclean spirit and commanded it to come out of the boy. He further charged the spirit never to enter him again (this is the only time that it is recorded that Jesus does this).

9:26 It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out.

The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, ‘He is dead!’

The demon did not leave willingly; yet it simply had no choice but to obey the authority of Jesus. Such was the violent exit of the demon that the boy appeared to be dead.

9:27 But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.

But whenever the Lord delivers or heals he does so completely without any adverse effects. Taking the boy by the hand, Jesus lifted him; he had been made completely whole.

9:28 Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn't we cast it out?’

The disciples were eager to find out why it was that they failed to deliver the boy. Was it their lack of faith? It is always good for us to

enquire of the Lord why we seem to fail at something which we have tried to do for him.

9:29 He told them, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.’

Jesus tells them that it was not their lack of faith alone which hindered them. The demon was so powerful and had such a hold on the boy (having possessed him since he was a young child) that it could only be effectively dealt with after time spent in prayer and fasting.

A Quiet Time with Jesus 9:30 They went out from there and passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know, At last Jesus found an opportunity to spend time with his disciples alone, leading them through Galilee in order to avoid the crowds. There are times when the Lord leads us in quiet paths so that he might teach us and show us the way in which he would guide us.

9:31-32 for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’ But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him.

Jesus wanted to use this time to teach his disciples. Mark records only a summary of the content of Christ’s teaching: the Son of Man (Jesus may have explained to them the meaning of his preferred title that it meant him to be God manifest in human form) would be delivered into the hands of men and killed; and that he would be raised from the dead on the third day.

Whether or not Jesus went into greater details about his offering of himself being sacrifice for sin, or about his resurrection bringing victory over death is not clear.

Whatever the case, the disciples clearly did not understand what he was saying to them and were afraid to ask him to explain it more clearly.

anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.’

Jesus soon brought them down to earth as he sat with them to resolve the argument. Whoever has a desire to be first, or the greatest, must humble himself and consider himself to be the least and servant of all.

The Greatest is the Least 9:33 Then they came to Capernaum.

After Jesus was inside the house he asked them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’

On their way to Capernaum all was not well between the disciples; for a dispute had arisen among them (which they thought the Lord had not heard) about which of them was be the greatest. Jesus, as the Master, would have walked in front and the disciples would have followed in single file behind him; so it was quite possible for them to talk among themselves without Jesus hearing. Nevertheless, when they arrived at the house they were surprised and embarrassed when Jesus asked them what they had been arguing about. He knew of course; for nothing is hid from his sight or hearing (Heb. 4:12-13).

9:34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

The disciples were too ashamed to admit that they had been arguing about who would be the most important and have the most honoured place in the kingdom of God. They were all rather ambitious and sought to exalt themselves.

9:35 After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, ‘If 20

© Regina555 9:36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, Taking a little child, Jesus placed him in the middle of the disciples so that they might compare their selfimportance to the humility of a child. Then he takes the child into his arms to show that those who become as little children are the ones welcomed in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:4; Matt. 10:15).

9:37 ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’

Whoever accepts and receives a child in the Lord's name and for his sake is counted as having received Jesus Christ and the Father who sent him into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).

believe the good news of the gospel are restored to favour and fellowship with Him. Then, the main goal of Christian ministry is to help believers learn to live Christ-dependent lives.

There are two enemies to Christdependent Christianity; these are independence and co-dependency.

1) Independence

Christ-dependent Christianity An Extract from Grace Roots by Ken Legg Order your copy online PDF AUS $9 Print AUS $19 ($22 outside Australia) A group of scientists were confident that they were so advanced in their knowledge and ability, that God was no longer needed. They said to Him, “Through cloning we can even create a man. In fact we challenge you to a man-making contest.

Anything you can do, we can do.”

God agreed. As one of the scientists bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt to begin his work God said to him, “Hey, put that down! You go and get your own dirt!”

Whether people like it or not there really is no such thing as total independence from God. We owe our existence to Him and we depend on Him for our next breath.

Dependence upon God is the way life is structured. It is the norm. Yet people seek to live their lives more and more detached from Him. The gospel is a message of reconciliation to God. Those who

There is something very unique about mankind. Only he has body, soul and spirit. Plant-life has body.

Animals have body and soul. But only man has a spirit. This is because we were created to be indwelt by God. As God resided in man, He would live His life through him. Then the world would see the moral image of God; they would see God behaving in man. But when Adam sinned, God vacated the human spirit and the soul was plunged into darkness.

The original image of God was lost and man ended up with the image of a fallen, independent Adam. This is emphasized in the following two verses: First the original created man - “In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God” (Gen.5:1 – emphasis mine).

Then after Adam sinned we read, “And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image…”

(Gen.5:3 – emphasis mine).

Though originally created in the image of God, man is now born with the image of a fallen Adam. The Bible has a term for this, i.e. ‘flesh’.

Flesh refers to man as he is apart

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from God. Man in Adam lives independently of God, trusting in his own understanding, ability and resources. It is said that the most requested song at a funeral in the UK is, ‘I Did It My Way’. That sums it up!

This life form is passed down to us from Adam. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (Jn.3:6).

In the next verse He revealed mankind’s only hope: “You must be born again.” When we are born again we are no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, through the new birth, comes to live in our spirit, imparting the life of Christ to us. We then have access to divine resources. God’s life can once again be manifested through a human being. We refer to this as the fruit of the Spirit.

Yet, although we no longer live in the flesh the Christian can still live according to the flesh. We can still choose to live independently of God, trusting in our own efforts and resources to succeed in life. Before we came to Christ that’s how we learned to survive. We developed a lifestyle of self-sufficiency.

We trained ourselves to be comfortable with, and confident in, our strengths. But the Christian life is one of abiding in Christ, i.e. trusting that in Him we are sufficient for the totality of life.

Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (Jn.15:5). He is the true vine. God doesn’t want us to do anything but be branches. A branch does not produce fruit; it bears fruit. We don’t have to try to make things happen. Resting in Christ, we are conscious of His life flowing through us. Divine fruit is the result.

“Without you, Lord, I can do nothing.” That’s humility. And God gives grace to the humble.

2) Co-dependency When we discover the limitations of independence there is a temptation to look to others, instead of trusting in the Lord.

Sadly, some consider the local church as their life source. They even shop around from church to church in search of one that can meet their perceived needs. This consumer mentality turns people into parasites.

In a survey conducted amongst several Christians the question was asked, “What is the purpose of the Church?” 84% answered, “The Church exists to meet my needs and the needs of my family”. Only 16% said that the Church’s role was to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world.

Why is it that people will depend upon those who represent God, but not upon God Himself? Ministries are meant to be channels of God’s grace to others, not the source of life to them.

Our Father is the Vinedresser

Image © Otmar Winterleitner

Our Father is the vinedresser. It is His role to see that we abide in Christ. “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God” (2 Cor.1:21). He does this best of all when we are conscious of our inadequacies.

What is your weakness or problem right now? Is there an area where you feel insufficient? Maybe in your marriage, your health, your

finances, your job, your Christian walk, your ministry, etc. you are experiencing lack. Your Father, the vinedresser, will use these things to remind you to abide in Christ. He is your sufficiency. By trusting in Him you will experience supernatural grace. “God gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Pet.5:5). To be humble is not to say that we are nothing, because God does not say that about us. Rather it is to say, 22

The co-dependent person is taught to look to people and ministries instead of fixing their eyes upon Jesus. Spiritual co-dependency disempowers the one whom Christ wants to empower.

Dear friend, feel comfortable about your dependence upon God. That’s the way He created you. And remember, the goal of true Christian ministry is to help others make the transition from independence and co-dependency to Christ-dependence. This is how success in Christian ministry is measured.

Our In Depth Study 1 Corinthians 15

By Mathew Bartlett Photo © Xxknightwolf

Scripture taken from the NET Bible®.

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

The Resurrection of the Dead Introduction Having dealt with spiritual gifts and order in public worship, Paul turns his attention to challenge a certain false teaching which had arisen in the church at Corinth. The key verse for this section is verse 12. How is it that some of you preach that there is no resurrection from the dead?

The tone of Paul's letter shows that many who formerly had sincerely trusted Christ had more recently become enthralled by this teaching – that there is no resurrection. Yet, as Johnson notes, ‘the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of believers were early in the church recognised as absolutely essential matters of Christian belief’.

In response to this theological problem at Corinth, Paul declares the absolute historical certainty and the doctrinal necessity of the resurrection of Christ.

The Gospel of Christ 15:1-4 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if

you hold firmly to the message I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received -- that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.

When Paul came to Corinth he preached the gospel, which many Corinthians had believed. As elsewhere in the New Testament, Paul emphasizes that the gospel was not his own idea, for it originated with God and he had received it directly from God (Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Tim. 1:11). The very fact of the tremendous change which the gospel had wrought in their lives should be taken as proof positive of the validity of the resurrection. The Corinthians had been dead in trespasses and sins, living in a darkness which was characterized by the behaviour described in 1 Corinthians 6:10-11.

The gospel of Christ had delivered them from death and darkness, and brought them to light and new life in Christ. So Paul finds it necessary to begin by reminding them of the content of the gospel which he preached.

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Christ died for our sins. Christ's death was one of ‘vicarious atonement – paying the penalty we deserved to pay on our behalf’.

Jesus Christ had no sin of His own, but died on behalf of guilty sinners, satisfying the righteous demands of the law both by fulfilling its obligations and by discharging its penalties. The fact that Christ truly died is attested by the Old Testament prophetic writings (according to the Scriptures - e.g.

Isa. 53:8; Ps. 22:15).

He was buried. This phrase emphasises the finality of our Lord’s death. Christ did not swoon or faint, He died. The burial of Christ is mentioned in all four gospels as conclusive proof that Jesus actually died. Morris says ‘the burial of a dead body is the necessary prelude to an empty tomb’.

The third day He was raised to life.

God the Father raised Christ from death to live forever. Once again this was in accordance with the Scriptures; for just as Christ's death is attested by the Old Testament prophetic writings, so also is His resurrection (e.g. Isa. 53:10; Ps. 16:9-11).

Indeed, no one in the early church could fail to understand the

prophetic meaning of Psalm 16:9-11 in the light of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, where having quoted those same verses, he went on to declare: Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay.

This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, 'The Lord said to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

'Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:29-36).

That Christ’s resurrection from the dead was literal and bodily is attested to by all the gospel writers.

For example, at His resurrection appearance in Luke 24:39, Christ challenged His disciples to, look at my hands and my feet; it's me!

Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have. The fact of Christ’s bodily resurrection is further demonstrated by His eating with His disciples (Luke 24:42-43; Acts 10:41). As Wright affirms, ‘Resurrection’ does not refer to some part or aspect of the human being not dying but instead going

into a continuing life in a new mode; it refers to something that does die and then is given new life…

When Paul said ‘resurrection,’ he meant ‘bodily resurrection’ (Wright 2003:314).

The gospel which Peter had preached was the same gospel which Paul had preached, and it was that which the Corinthians had believed (Rom. 10:9). At its heart was the atoning death and bodily resurrection of Christ. It was only as they held on to the truth of this gospel that the Corinthians would stand firm in Christ (that is, be kept from falling away); for since there is no other gospel, letting go of this rudimentary Christian teaching would entail abandoning their Christian faith altogether.

Evidence for the Resurrection 15:5-6 And that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Not only did the prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament bear witness to the fact of Christ's resurrection, many people who had seen and heard the Lord Jesus after He rose from the dead also bore witness. They touched Him (1 John 1:1; Luke 24:39), ate and drank with Him after His resurrection (Acts 10:40-41).

Paul's list of sightings of the risen Christ is not exhaustive. The first witness he calls is Peter. He was not the first person to see the risen Lord (that was Mary Magdalene), but the first of the twelve apostles to see Him. It may perhaps be the case that Peter was singled out for mention 24

since he had denied his Lord and utterly failed to stand by Him during His trial. Yet this personal and individual appearance of the risen Christ to Peter revealed God’s full acceptance of Jesus’ atoning work, which sealed forever Peter’s acceptance with God; thus paving the way for his full restoration and later ministry.

Later that same day, the Twelve met the risen Lord. This phrase the Twelve is taken to be a generic term of reference for the original apostles of Christ, bearing in mind that they were no longer twelve in number, for Judas was no longer present, having killed himself.

Thomas, also, was not present at Christ’s first manifestation to this group of men, but was present when He reappeared to them a week later (John 20:24-28).

After this, Christ appeared to over 500 at once, whom we may safely assume to be the crowd of disciples gathered in Galilee at a place appointed by Christ in obedience to His command (Matt. 28:7-16). Not only were these witnesses reliable, most of them could still be called upon and questioned, for they were still alive at the time of Paul's writing. The law required two or three witnesses to establish whether any matter was conclusive.

Here were over 500!

Blomberg comprehensively demonstrates how verses 3-7, ‘refute all the classic suggestions’ that the account of Christ’s resurrection might be explained by something other than ‘a literal bodily resurrection’. The idea of Christ’s not actually dying but swooning is refuted, as is the suggestion that His body was stolen, because ‘eventually a body could have been produced and the

disciples story laid to rest’.

Furthermore, the ‘number of witnesses… seems to rule out mass hallucination’.

15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Of all the evidence given for the resurrection so far, Paul’s own experience was perhaps the most compelling. As Saul of Tarsus he had persecuted and made havoc of the early church until the day when he met the risen Christ on the Damascus road. If Christ were not raised, then there would be no possible way of accounting for this dramatic conversion.

From the gospels we piece together how Jesus' family only came to believe in Him after He appeared to them subsequent to the resurrection. That is why they were not among the original disciples, but were all in the upper room at Pentecost. So at some point during the forty day period over which Christ manifested Himself to His disciples after He had risen from the dead (Acts 1:3), He appeared to James (his brother, the eldest child of Mary and Joseph) and to the others whom (although not among the original Twelve) were similarly commissioned to take the gospel to the world. Christ's last appearance was on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem from which He ascended to heaven (Luke 24:50-51).

15:8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

But there was to be one final appearance; last of all implies an event never to be repeated. The risen Christ appeared to Paul - not in a vision, but in person - on the Damascus road. By one born at the wrong time Paul indicates that if he had been born at all during Christ’s ministry, then he was but a small boy by the time of Christ’s resurrection and ascension. So his own personal meeting with Christ came much later, after Christ's ascension, at which time he was commissioned to be an apostle.

Thus we see that all the apostles were appointed by Christ in person.

Although by His grace Christ had called Paul to ‘the highest office in the church’, Paul constantly recognized his unworthiness.

Remembering the injury which he had previously caused to Christ and His church, Paul did not even consider himself worthy to be called an apostle, remaining continuously amazed at the grace of God which had saved his soul and changed his life completely.

15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them -- yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

It was God's will that by showing His grace to the chief of sinners He might provide an example for others who would later believe (1 Tim. 1:15-16). When, by God's grace, Paul was made the apostle of Christ to the Gentile nations, this grace had such an effect on him that he worked more tirelessly and strenuously for his Lord than any of the other apostles. Yet whatever had been accomplished by his efforts had been achieved through the help of God's grace which strengthened and enabled him to do all that God asked of him. So not 25

only Paul’s conversion but the whole of Paul’s subsequent life and ministry provided adequate evidence of the resurrection of Christ. Throughout his life, the living Christ was manifested, as Paul declared to the Galatians, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20).

15:11 Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.

The Corinthians could not fail to recognize that the message of Christ's death and resurrection was the universally accepted truth within the Christian church, which was preached not only by Paul but by all the other apostles as well.

The Significance Resurrection

of

Christ's

15:12-13 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

The Corinthians had become Christians through the preaching of a crucified and resurrected Saviour, and so Paul questions the sagacity of their claim that there was no resurrection of the dead. Paul maintains that if the dead do not rise, then Christ Himself, whom until now you have believed in, is not risen either.

15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.

If Christ had not actually risen from the dead then the gospel message would be nothing but a fairy story -

empty words without substance; and the faith of the Christians would be make believe, unable to accomplish any real spiritual change.

15:15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised.

If Christ were not actually raised from the dead then all the witnesses whom Paul has set forth in earlier verses would be found out as impostors who had misrepresented God. For if they said that God raised Christ from the dead, and in fact He could not possibly have done so, if the dead do not rise.

15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.

If the general fact is that there is no resurrection then the particular fact is that Christ is not raised, a circumstance which if it were proven would have serious ramifications for the Christian faith.

15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins.

If Christ is not alive, then either God has not accepted His sacrifice as sufficient atonement for the sins of all people, or the whole thing was just a hoax from the beginning.

Belief in Christ is useless if He is still dead, for a dead Saviour cannot save anyone. If Christ is not raised then we are all still under the condemnation of our sin.

15:18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.

Consequently, there is no way of salvation, and those who have fallen asleep (i.e. died) trusting in Christ are now in hell.

15:19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Death was not the original purpose of God for His world. It was through the sin of one man, Adam, that death came to all humankind. Even so it is by one man, Jesus Christ that resurrection from the dead to eternal life is made available to all humankind.

If our hope in Christ does not extend to life after death, then we are to be pitied more than all people, for why should we deny ourselves anything at all, or suffer persecution for our faith, if life on earth is all that there is?

The Consequences Resurrection

of

Christ's

15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

But... It is to be remembered that Paul has previously stated and substantiated the fact that Christ is indeed risen from the dead. The first fruits were the part of the harvest which grew first and were offered to God as holy, thus consecrating the whole harvest.

They were taken as a pledge of God's favour, an indication that the whole harvest would follow.

Though Christ was the first to rise from the dead He will not be the last. Christ has risen from the dead as the head of a new creation, and all those who receive Him become part of this new creation and will share in His resurrection. Those whom Christ raised from death during His earthly ministry died again. But Christ has become the first of a new order, the children of God who will rise from the dead never to die again (Heb. 7:16).

15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.

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Š David A. 15:22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Just as all people (who are all the descendants of Adam and so share his nature) are subject to mortality and death, so all those who are in Christ already share the nature of His resurrection life and will one day share in His immortality (Phil.

3:21; 1 John 3:2).

15:23 But each in his own order: Christ, the first fruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.

All people will not be raised from the dead at the same time. First, it was necessary for Christ to rise from the dead as the prototype of the new creation. Then those who belong to Him shall rise from death at His coming (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

15:24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.

Then comes the end. The events which lead up to the occasion described as the end are clarified in the book of Revelation. Following the resurrection of believers (referred to as the first resurrection in Revelation 20:5) Christ shall reign over all the earth until no other authority remains but His. This must be understood in the context of the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth (Rev. 20:4-6). Immediately following this millennial period there will be a second resurrection, when unbelievers shall rise in their bodies to stand before the Great White Throne of God (Rev. 20:1115). Only after this has occurred shall the final blessed state of believers begin, which is ultimately what Paul is referring to here by the end, or the end state (see Rev. 21:1).

15:25-26 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be eliminated is death.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Morris says that ‘at present no man can resist the touch of death - then death will be able to touch no man’. With the matters of eternal life and judgment having been forever settled, sins punishment (death, both physical and eternal) will never again be a matter requiring God's (or our) attention.

15:27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says "everything" has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does

not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.

Paul quotes Psalm 8:6 to show that God has subjected all things to His risen and exalted Son (Eph. 1:20-22; Heb. 2:8; Matt. 28:18; Phil. 2:9-11).

Since it is God who put all things under Him, it should be apparent that God Himself is not put under Him, for the Son enjoys equality with the Father rather than dominion over Him. 15:28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Yet Paul tells of a time when the Son, though co equal and eternal, will joyously submit Himself to the Father, that God may be all and in all. All that God has given to Him, He will gladly hand back to God, that God might reign through Christ eternally. There follows my own adaptation of a lengthy comment

by Gill: It is best to understand it of the Son's giving up the account of His kingdom to His Father; when it will be seen that He has done all things in His name, acting by His power, and to His honour and glory. Having accomplished everything he undertook and was entrusted with, he delivers up the result of His work to God. His work being finished, he remains as God-man and our High priest for ever, for the virtue of His sacrifice and intercession will always remain, but he will no longer need to plead and intercede for us as he now does; He will then be the immediate light of the saints and will reign in and over them for ever - but not on His own, but as God and with God - the Father, Son, and Spirit.

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That God may be all in all; for by God is not meant the Father personally, but God essentially considered, Father, Son, and Spirit, who are the one true and living God; to whom all the saints will have immediate access, in whose presence they will be, and with whom they shall have uninterrupted fellowship. All the three divine Persons will have equal power and government in and over all the saints.

Baptism - The Symbol of Death and Resurrection In order to further defend the doctrine of the resurrection, Paul reminds the Corinthians of their baptism.

15:29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them?

Some of the most capable commentators remain undecided about the correct translation of this verse.

Whilst over thirty explanations have been given, I will treat the verse as referring to baptism which all believers undergo following their conversion. Why were you baptized if the dead do not rise? For baptism is an outward expression of our inward faith in the risen Christ. By it we affirm our union with Christ by burial into His death and inclusion in His resurrection. We have died to the old life that we might live for Christ.

If there is no resurrection then the symbol of baptism is meaningless.

Christian Endurance – Further Evidence for the Resurrection 15:30 Why too are we in danger every hour?

Why would the apostles continually put their lives on the line by preaching the gospel of a crucified and risen Saviour if it was all untrue? What advantage did they gain by suffering in this life, if in reality this life is all that men and women can expect to see?

15:31 Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The believers knew that Paul was continually laying down his life for the church, and that their own church in Corinth was a result of his selfless ministry - a daily dying to this world for Christ's sake. Why would he give his life for others, gaining no worldly advantage, if there was no profit in the next life either for them or him?

15:32 If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

The same thing could be said of his ministry in Ephesus, where Paul carried his life in his hands at all times. A violent riot which lasted over two hours was stirred up by the silversmiths, who were angry that the conversion of many to Christ was destroying their trade, which was associated with idol worship. These furious men are the wild beasts referred to in this verse.

Why would Paul choose to make a stand in the face of such opposition if he - and his converts - had nothing eternal to gain by it - for they certainly made no material gain by it?

Paul sums up the attitude of those who deny the truth of the resurrection by quoting from Isaiah

22:13 let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. In other words, enjoy life while you can, for there is nothing hereafter. If there truly were nothing hereafter then such advice might be suitable. But the plain truth is that it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27); and that is why Paul (like Moses) chose rather to face hardship and persecution with the people of God than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25).

False Teachers Rebuked

(compare Acts 5:13). They were so careless in matters of faith that lying teachers were accepted without scrutiny (compare Rev. 2:2).

An Illustration from Nature 15:35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?"

Paul foresees an objection: ‘how can the dead rise, seeing as their bodies have returned to dust?’ (Gen. 3:19)

15:33-34 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God -- I say this to your shame!

These verses provide both a stern rebuke and a warning. A person is what they believe, in the sense that their belief will govern their behaviour. Those who gave their ears to false teaching were allowing their good character to be undermined, for the teaching that there is no resurrection produces the licentiousness described in verse 32 (i.e. the attitude that that it doesn't matter how we live). Such false teaching can lead us from Christ to everlasting despair.

So Paul tells his readers to wake up to the truth which leads to righteousness and godly living. Stop listening to the lies which lead you to godlessness by giving you an excuse to sin! Stop sinning! Those who propagated and received this doctrine did so because they did not know God or the Lord Jesus Christ.

This rebuke should have shamed the Corinthians, for they were living in such a way that these people could feel at home among them 28

Š Nicalfc 15:36-37 Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed -- perhaps of wheat or something else.

Such objectors are devoid of understanding - fools. Even in nature, what we plant in the soil dies. When someone plants a grain of wheat, what grows is not a grain of wheat but a living plant. The original grain is no more; it has died, its purpose having been fulfilled.

Thus the principle of resurrection is illustrated in nature.

15:38 But God gives it a body just as he planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

God the Creator is behind this spectacular every day miracle; and God has purposed that each seed should produce fruit after its kind (Gen. 1:11-12).

15:39 All flesh is not the same: People have one flesh, animals have another, birds and fish another.

So it is with all living creatures.

Animals have bodies very different from plants; and we may readily observe the differences between different kinds of animals, fish, and birds.

15:40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another.

Such variety can be observed in all things God has made - whether on earth or in the heavens.

15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.

The celestial bodies: the sun, moon and stars, are all different. Each star is unique in its size and glory.

Mankind is still finding out how vast and varied the universe is. Cannot the God who gave such differing bodies to all these created things in a moment of time by His Word, give a resurrection body to the dead?

We Shall be Changed 15:42 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.

In a similar way, the body which shall be raised differs from our

present body of dust. The human body is at present subject to deterioration; but in the resurrection it will not be subject to any decay. This means it will never age, weaken, or become tired or sick. The principle of death will not be present in it.

15:43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

The human body is sown in dishonour, for the human body is made of the dust of the earth. In this sense, humanity is not of great significance (Ps. 8:4). This is humankind in its lowly state; yet when we are raised in glory; our nature will not be derived from the earth, but from God. We shall then possess the full honour of being children of God (Matt. 13:43; 1 John 3:1-2).

Even the fittest and strongest human body is feeble and weak. No undefended human body can resist a knife blade or bullet. This frailty is derived from the dust of which we are created. But the life of the body that is raised shall not be sustained by flesh and blood but by the power of God. 15:44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Though exalted above all the animal creation, people are made with bodies which function rather like the bodies of animals; for our natural bodies are suited to our earthly environment. We have lungs with which to breathe oxygen which is then carried into our bloodstream; we have a heart to pump that blood around the body, and so on. The spiritual body will

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need none of these organs, and will not be subject to the present limitations of earth. Vine describes the spiritual body as being ‘such as is suited to the heavenly environment’.

15:45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living person"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

The first man was merely a prototype; men were never intended to remain men of dust.

There would be a second Adam to bring the second part of God's glorious plan for humankind into effect. God made the first Adam a living, animate creature with an eternal soul, and his progeny were like him. So the second and final Adam (Jesus Christ) has through His resurrection become a life giving spirit, who shares His resurrection life with all those who are willing to receive it by faith and so become His children.

15:46 However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.

Here was the divine order. First, the natural creation, and then the new creation – both are brought into existence by Christ. Just as we were born as descendants of Adam with bodies like his, of the dust of the earth, so having been born again of God’s Spirit we shall be clothed with spiritual bodies which find their origin in Christ’s heavenly nature, with no part of their composition originating from the earth.

15:47-48 The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the one from

heaven, so too those who are heavenly.

We shall receive new bodies like Christ's glorified body. Christ not only came from heaven, but dwells there now, and so His resurrection body is fitted for living eternally in heaven. We are given very few glimpses of the resurrection body of Christ in the gospels, but from them we can ascertain certain facts. It was visible when He wished it to be.

He was manifested in personal and visible form in one place and could be miles way, without motion, in the next instant. He could be touched, He could eat and speak, and when He wished to be was easily recognisable. Barred doors and walls were no barrier to His entering. According to Paul this resurrected Christ fills the entire universe with His presence (Eph. 4:10). What a resurrection body!

We cannot begin to comprehend its glories, but we shall be changed to share in its likeness.

15:49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly TM Man. (NKJV ) It was for this purpose that Christ shared our humanity: in order to destroy death and bring us to eternal life (Heb. 2:14-15).

15:50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

It must be made clear that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. One day we shall share heaven with God, who is an eternal Spirit but how could a body subject to death and decay live in a place where there is no decay?

Š Sibel Aisha

5:51-52 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. In a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Paul reveals a matter which can only be known and understood by divine revelation (this is why he calls it a mystery). Firstly, not every Christian will die. Hence our own deaths are not the necessary precursor to resurrection - Christ's death and resurrection are. But whether we are to be among those who live until Christ’s coming, or are among those who die in the Lord, our end state will be the same. We shall all be transformed, for we shall receive a new body fitted for eternity (Phil. 3:21).

This event will happen instantaneously, quicker than the smallest time that can be measured, for time to God is immaterial. In the Old Testament, trumpets were sounded to indicate particular events. Here, the event being heralded is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His saints; it is the last trumpet because it is the final unveiling of God's eternal purpose for His people (1 Thess. 4:16). God alone knows the time of this unveiling. It is not clear that a physical trumpet blast or sound is 30

meant by these words. Indeed it is highly unlikely. Since sound travels significantly more slowly than light and our change shall happen at above light speed, the occurrence will be over before a physical sound could ever have time to reach our ears. So the sounding of the trumpet has spiritual rather than physical significance. The idea of a trumpet blast which no one was expecting indicates the suddenness of this coming change, whilst the twinkling of an eye indicates both its speed and its silence (for the twinkling or reflection of light in the eye makes no noise at all). When men work they invariably make a noise, but when God works there is no sound. This is why the Temple stones were to be fashioned away from the Temple site (1 Kings 6:7).

When God’s living stones are gathered together to be at last His final dwelling place, there will be no human agent in the change.

15:53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

In order to live and reign with Christ, the saints must first be changed in the way Paul has described. Although we are at present subject to decay and death, we shall be so no longer. We shall have need of a different kind of body in heaven, or as Morris puts it ‘the body is but the clothing of the real man. In the life to come the real man will put on another suit’.

15:54 Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

The present frail body will be done away with and we shall have new bodies like Christ's. This will fulfil the prophecy of Hosea (Hos. 13:14), who predicted the ultimate abolition of death with all its effects (see Rev. 21:4). Death is to be swallowed up in victory; or completely consumed in Christ's victory, the victory He has won by His death and glorious resurrection.

Though this victory has already been won on behalf of the church, it awaits the time when the last believer is gathered in before it will find its ultimate fulfilment in our lives.

15:55-57 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The reality of the resurrection is the motivation behind the selfless, fearless service which Paul described earlier. Death has no more venom or pain for the Christian. What harm can it do us?

None! That is not to say a Christian

will not experience physical pain in dying; but rather that death is not an event to be feared by the believer. It cannot separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39).

Death cannot keep our bodies any more than it can keep our souls, for spirit, soul and body we belong to the One who has conquered death.

It was because of our sin that death had power over us, for the law pronounced the death sentence on sinners – the soul that sins shall die (Ezek. 18:4). It was because of Adam's sin that sin entered the world, bringing death to all men; not only physical death but also separation from God. Jesus Christ has delivered us from the death sentence of the law, for He was punished in our place fulfilling the law's justice. Hence we are now free, so that ‘the terrors of law and of death with me can have nothing to do’.

Living in the Resurrection

Light

of

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15:58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved!

Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Having concluded his defence of the all-important doctrine of the resurrection, Paul exhorts his readers that rather than allowing false teaching to influence them to behave badly - to live for now - they should allow the blessed and glorious truth that Christ is alive to motivate and inspire them to live for eternity. The fact of Christ’s resurrection guarantees our own resurrection to eternal life; our eternal life is secured because Christ has risen from the dead, and so we may look forward to it with confidence.

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The truth of the resurrection has not been shaken by the generations of those who have sought to assail it. It remains the unmovable rock and foundation of Christian doctrine. It produces an unshakable conviction in the lives of those who believe and know their risen Saviour. Consequently, the Christian who is trusting Christ’s resurrection should be characterised by stability in Christian life and dedication in Christian service. They will abound in exuberant activity for Christ, being fervent and purposeful, for they have the expectancy of a blessed goal in view.

Yet they will not merely depend on human activity for success, for the truth of the resurrection is revealed in the risen life of Christ working in and through His people, motivating and empowering them for acts of service. In this sense Christian service is not so much what we do for the Lord as what we allow the Lord to do in and through us (even as Paul reported not what he had done but rather what God had done with him in Acts 14:27; 15:4). As a result of His resurrection, wherever the disciples went to preach the good news, it was the Lord who worked with them, and confirmed the word with the accompanying signs (Mark 16:20).

Whenever such divine activity is seen within the church today, it can never be in vain, for nothing God does is ever empty or void, and His life is within us, moving His purposes forward to their happy conclusion.

By doing the work of the Lord and by desiring things spiritual, we can never be the losers, but only winners! We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!

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